Lancashire campaign group announces death of founding member

The Skipton East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) has announced that Derek Jennings, one of its founding members, has sadly passed away.

In 2001, a group of like-minded individuals established the Skipton East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership with the aim of campaigning for the reopening of the 12-mile railway line from Skipton to Colne.

It has since become one of the most influential rail campaign groups in the country and now has over 500 individual and affiliate members.

Derek was one of the founding members of SELRAP and has remained involved as a conscientious, passionate and highly respected member of its Executive Committee.

In recent years, Derek has remained actively involved with SELRAP in the vitally important role of membership secretary and, through his efforts, the campaign’s individual membership has grown to approximately 500 members.

Many of SELRAP’s supporters have come to know Derek very well.

He has remained actively involved with the group and in recent months has played a key role in organizing important meetings for the group.

Derek was passionate about campaigning to improve all local railways for the benefit of local communities.

In addition to his dedication to the Skipton East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership, he also belonged to the East Lancashire Line Association (STELLA) and, through that organization, volunteered to look after Brierfield and Nelson stations on the East Lancashire Line.

Last year, campaigners from the Skipton East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership met with Labor Party transport secretary Louise Haigh to argue for the reopening of the Skipton to Colne railway line.

Ahead of this year’s general election, former Railways Minister Huw Merriman agreed to speak to Red Wall MPs as part of the group’s efforts to reopen the Skipton to Colne railway line.

“As our chairman for many years, Derek has led the executive through many difficult challenges, always with a very positive attitude.
“Derek was a dear friend and the nicest man you could ever meet.”

Steve Broadbent, founder and first president of SELRAP

“Everyone at SELRAP will miss Derek greatly, especially his thoughtful and wise approach to community campaigns. We remain committed to completing the Skipton-to-Colne project that he and others founded years ago.
“Our thoughts are with his family and many friends at this sad time.”