The Gresley Society has 'lost the plot'

The petition to reinstate the mallard on Sir Nigel Gresley's statue is now well past 2,000 signatures and the number continues to rise daily. With some 8 months before the statue is due to be unveiled at King's Cross station, there is till plenty of time to 'save the duck'. In addition to those who have already signed the petition, the mallard's inclusion is supported by many eminent railway people, including: authors Don Hale, Michael Williams, Christian Wolmar; artists Malcolm Root, Jonathan Clay, Matthew Cousins, Philip D. Hawkins; magazine editors Robin Jones (Heritage Railway), Howard Johnston (Steam Railway), Nick Pigott (Railway); and former National Railway Museum Director Andrew Scott. Readers of Steam Railway magazine will be aware that the Gresley Society Chairman, David McIntosh, has resorted to insulting supporters of the mallard's inclusion, calling them (in the current issue) 'duck fanatics' and saying he has no intention of listening to their opinions on the statue, as the 'vast horde care nothing about Sir Nigel Gresley'. Mr McIntosh appears rattled by David Wilcock's detailed analysis of the statue debacle that was published in the previous issue of Steam Railway. Wilcock's conclusion to the article, entitled "So much for the Gresley legacy," was: “I wonder if, in the light of overwhelming public opinion in favour of keeping the mallard, the Gresley Society council is big enough to take the issue back to the boardroom table, and think it through again? It might be prudent at the same time to reassess whether its core function is to perpetuate the memory and legacy of the great man – or to pander slavishly to the whims and fancies of his descendants. It can’t do both. To use a well-worn, but entirely apt phrase, it seems to me the Gresley Society has lost the plot.” Whatever pressure Mr McIntosh finds himself under, many people - including longstanding members of the Gresley Society - are saying that this latest outburst is offensive and unacceptable. Right now, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to raise awareness of Sir Nigel Gresley and his work, by way of an iconic, memorable, statue that will be seen by millions over the next 100 years or so. We will persist with this campaign to get the mallard reinstated until all lines of persuasion have been exhausted. There are (at least) 9 such lines to go down. Signing the petition, as you have done, is the first. Please consider doing one, some, or all of the others too, which are detailed on the campaign website here http://www.gresleyduck.org/a-call-to-action-to-save-gresleys-duck/ In life, Sir Nigel Gresley gave us flair and imagination. Let's not deny him those now.