It is my sad duty to report the recent passing of long-serving DEPG volunteer John Cooke, peacefully at home, at the age of 78. John had been an active member of DEPG’s Williton workforce since the 1980s, and had filled many roles during that time.

Most of you that knew him will have come across him during the many years that he was one of our drivers, and I am sure his face will have been familiar to most of the WSR operational staff at some time or other. As well as being a regular volunteer at Williton, John was an active member of South Devon Diesel Traction, who run a fleet of diesel locomotives on the South Devon Railway, some of which have appeared at our Diesel Galas in the past.

 He was also a major shareholder of the group of friends that saved BR Standard 4MT tank 80064 from Barry Scrapyard and he was instrumental in safeguarding the future of the locomotive by arranging for it to be passed to the care of the WSRA. He still worked part-time as an aircraft electrician at Exeter Airport, where his diagnostic skills remained in demand. He found those same skills were easily transferable to his railway hobby and his recent single-handed refurbishment of the near-derelict electrical cubicle on Class 14 locomotive D9518, together with the complete rewiring of the whole locomotive, will remain as a lasting memorial to the high standards of workmanship he delivered so routinely.

John’s funeral will be held at St Paul’s Chapel at Exeter and Devon Crematorium at 9am on Friday 10th April

Words from Martin Howard, DEPG Chair

Picture by Peter Smith of John driving 1010 Western Campaigner