Michael Seymour
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
Michael Seymour was the FR's first Archivist and the first chairman of the FR Heritage Group.
He was an early volunteer with the traffic department, being Guard on the very first (Simplex-operated) public passenger train of the preservation era on 23 July 1955. He became interested in the archives when he noticed much of the "Old Company's" paperwork being thrown out. He collected what he could and in 1957 was appointed the official Archivist. He also set up the earliest Museum displays. Later he also became Chairman of the FRHG (founded by David Ronald) on its formation in 1984 until 1996 when he retired and assumed the position of Honorary President of the Group.
Also a talented graphic artist, his artwork featured on company publicity, share certificates, stamps of the Railway Letter Service and headboards.
Born in 1931 and educated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, following National Service in the R.A.F., Michael trained as a teacher of modern languages, working for most of his career at the Perse School, Cambridge, until taking retirement in 1984 for family reasons. He died in 1999.
Michael wanted to see a replica of The Boat, a whimsical gravity inspection vehicle used by the Spooner family in the 19th century. When Michael died, he left money to build a replica. The body was started by a boatbuilder away from the Railway and, by Vintage Weekend, 2005, made its first appearance on the line. He also left money to ensure publication of The Spooner Album.
There is a "Personal Portrait" of Michael Seymour in FRM 97 on page 37 and an obituary in no. 165 on pages 356-8.