Speaking as someone who is involved (on a small scale) in the restoration of vintage machinery etc I can say that there is a big interest among younger folk of engineering from days gone and I know of many lads, and a few lasses, who are involved with continuing the tradition. Some I know of are involved with the various preserved pumping stations around the UK and are learning engineering at college or in their day jobs, others are involved with steam railways etc. Some are already skilled in lathe work and at least two are designing and building their own engines so rest assured our Heritage will be in safehands for many years to come. Fred’s stuff, though a lot of the smaller items have been purchased previously by folk visiting the centre over the years, will be auctioned off in the New Year and a lot of the items are there just as he left them, it is a shame that the centre can no longer continue but everything has a certain time span.
Pete.