Lancashire Telegraph 22nd October 2024
DEREK JENNINGS, Member of SELRAP
Tributes have been paid to a leading East Lancashire rail campaigner following his death earlier this month.
Derek Jennings was a founding member of the Skipton–East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) in 2001.
He died last week aged 89 after a short illness following a cancer diagnosis.
He had been on the executive committee of the group, which campaigns to re-open the closed line from Colne over the Pennines to Skipton.
Barrowford resident Mr Jennings also chaired SELRAP for many years.
He was also a member of the East Lancashire Line Association (STELLA), volunteering to look after both Brierfield and Nelson stations along the route.
Fellow SELRAP founder and its first chair, Steve Broadbent, said: "Derek was a dear friend and the nicest man you could ever meet."
The group's media officer and executive committee member, Jane Wood, said: "Derek was a founding member of the SELRAP campaign group in 2001.
"He had been a conscientious, passionate, and very well-respected member of SELRAP’s Executive Committee ever since.
"As our chair for many years, Derek had steered the executive through many tough challenges, always with a very positive attitude.
"In the later years of life, Derek was still helping with the important role of membership secretary building up the individual membership of the campaign to approximately 500 members.
"He had become very well-known over the years to our many supporters.
"Over the last few months, he had also been instrumental in arranging some key meetings for the group.
"Derek was passionate about campaigning to improve all local railways for the benefit of the local communities.
"Everyone at SELRAP will miss Derek very much, especially his thoughtful and wise approach to community campaigning.
"We remain committed to completing the Skipton-to-Colne project which he, and others, founded all of those years ago.
"Our thoughts are with his family, and many friends, at this sad time.
"Whatever the weather he was always busy campaigning for SELRAP. We shall miss him."
Former Pendle MP, Andrew Stephenson, said: "Derek was a tireless campaigner and really lovely gentleman.
"It was a pleasure to have known him and worked with him over many years.
"I am sure his loss will be keenly felt by his family, friends and all at SELRAP."
SELRAP, which has led the campaign to re-open the 12-mile trans-Pennine Colne to Skipton line closed in the 1970s, is hopeful the new Labour government may opt to re-instate the line for which draft plans have already been drawn up.
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