TRIBUTE TO BILL TRITE - FORMER LONG-TIME SWANAGE RAILWAY VOLUNTEER TRUSTEE & DIRECTOR

Story and photographs by Andrew P.M. Wright,

Swanage Railway official photographer and press officer.

Tributes are being paid to former long-time dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer trustee and director Bill Trite who has died unexpectedly at the age of 77.

In 1991, it was Bill who led the fight to save the Isle of Purbeck heritage line from collapse in a financial crisis that threatened the very existence of the then fledgling Swanage Railway.

Bill passed away at his home in Swanage, which overlooks the heritage line, with Swanage Railway volunteers receiving the sad news on Sunday, 11 May, 2025.

A volunteer director of the Swanage Railway Trust for 22 years - and a volunteer director of the Trust’s trading subsidiary, the Swanage Railway Company, for 15 years - Bill was also the chairman of both organisations for many years.

A former mayor of Swanage and chairman of Purbeck District Council, Bill was a long-time Swanage, Purbeck and Dorset councillor who was a town councillor for Swanage and a Dorset Council councillor for Swanage at the time of his unexpected death.

Volunteer Swanage Railway Company chairman Gavin Johns – who served with Bill as a Swanage Railway Trust director for many years – has led the tributes to the former stalwart volunteer who became involved with the Isle of Purbeck heritage line in the late 1980s.

Gavin said: “The Swanage Railway sends its condolences to Bill’s partner Cheryl - as well as his friends and colleagues – while we look forward to celebrating his life and recognising the important contribution that he made in many areas of the community and especially to the Swanage Railway.

“Facing the Swanage Railway’s financial crisis in 1991, Bill was the right man in the right place at the right time. Thanks to Bill’s strong leadership and his inspiring calls to arms, the financial crisis turned to triumph in 1995 when the Swanage Railway extended its heritage passenger train services to Corfe Castle and Norden.

“Learning of Bill’s death was a shock across the Swanage Railway as well as to the wider community in the Isle of Purbeck and Dorset.

“Bill lived and breathed the Swanage Railway for many years with his dedicated contribution being vital to the survival and development of the heritage line loved and cherished by so many people.

“Bill performed a significant role on the Swanage Railway that has ensured the longevity of the heritage railway and its historic reconnection with the national rail network near Wareham in 2007,” added Gavin who is a volunteer signalman on the Isle of Purbeck line.

Working as a marketing consultant in London, Bill joined the Swanage Railway’s team of dedicated volunteers in the late 1980s when its two-mile extension from Herston to Harman’s Cross was nearing completion.

Gavin explained: “The Swanage Railway reached a critical point in 1991 when a major financial crisis threatened the project’s very existence.

“Bill led the vital and challenging recovery plan by assuming the chairmanship of the Swanage Railway Trust - taking difficult but critical decisions with the trustees and the directors of the Swanage Railway Company to re-set trading expenses and income while also securing significant support from members, key creditors and business partners.

“Railway members and volunteers in 1991 recall that Bill knew the only way for the railway to survive was to limit expenditure to just coal, water and the telephone.  All other expenditure was more or less banned – a determined approach essential for survival.

“Thanks to diligent attention and professionalism, the Swanage Railway was saved and is now a thriving heritage line, in the best British tradition, that contributes more than £15 million a year to the Isle of Purbeck economy; a situation largely due to Bill’s determined and inspiring leadership.

“Bill held the chairmanship of the Swanage Railway Trust, and its Swanage Railway Company trading subsidiary, until 2008 when he retired as a director of the company to focus on his other interests. Until 2022, Bill remained a director of the Swanage Railway Trust where his interest and influence in the body responsible to the railway’s membership remained considerable.

“Even in later years, Bill brought rigour to Swanage Railway Trust meetings – ensuring, as best he could, the continued well-being and prosperity of his legacy.

“To have achieved this enduring legacy is remarkable and all who love the Swanage Railway, as well as the Isle of Purbeck, will share some gratitude for the vision and hard work that Bill led on that has achieved this,” added Gavin who is a volunteer signalman on the Isle of Purbeck heritage line.

Bill’s funeral will be at St Mary’s Church, Swanage – opposite the railway station – on Thursday, 5 June, 2025 at 11.30am. All those who wish to attend will be very welcome.