The Volk’s Electric Railway Association, better known these days as VERA, came into being on the 16th September 1995, when a like minded group of people held a public meeting in Brighton to launch the Association. It came after the Railway’s manager felt that a properly constituted volunteer group could become an important assett in helping to keep the railway in good order. Although there have been ‘difficult’ periods in the relationship between VERA and the railways owners it has now established itself as an important stakeholder in the future of this historic and important piece of railway history.
VERA provides assistance to the railway in many ways. The most obvious is in the practical assistance it gives to the Railway staff in engineering, track and infrastructure maintenance. Several members have also completed driver training and are now able to act as lunch or holiday relief for the seasonal staff members. The volunteers were also heavily involved in the restoration of the railway, which was part financed by The Heritage Lottery Fund.
Members receive four full colour newsletters a year to keep everyone up to date with what is happening on the railway. Members also benefit from reduced rate travel on the railway upon presentation of their membership card (courtesy of Brighton & Hove City Council).
Joining is easy. You can write to Phil, our membership secretary requesting a membership form:
Phil Hamerton , 18 Cissbury Way, Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5FW
Or you can email your request to membership.vera@gmail.com
Or click on this link to download a membership form immediately
As a charity we are able to claim Gift Aid from your donations / subscriptions. If you qualify please download this form and send it to the Membership Secretary at the address above.
