A society for railway enthusiasts has appointed its first female chairperson in its 53-year history.

Ella Marcar was voted in as the first woman chair of the Gravesend Rail Enthusiasts Society (GRES) at the group’s AGM in September.

Ella had served as a committee member for many years, including the roles of publicity officer, secretary and treasurer.

She shares her passion for railways with her husband George, who is the society’s exhibition manager.

Founded in 1970, the society holds meetings twice a month in the Emmanual Baptist Church in Windmill Street, with talks on any and every issue connected to the railways.

Over the last weekend, they also hosted a model railway show at the Northfleet School for Girls where the deputy mayor was in attendance.

Mrs Marcar, 54, said: “I am honoured and proud to have been voted by the GRES members as the first female chair in over 50 years of the society’s existence.

“It provides a positive message that roles previously considered to be male-only are now open to all people.

“Our model railway show over the weekend was a terrific event supported by our fantastic members, attended by hundreds of people, young and old, local or from further away, all of whom told us that they had a good time and enjoyed themselves.

“One of our visitors was the deputy mayor, Daniel Adewale King, and I was pleased to show him around and allow him to have a closer look at our model railway layout, Gravesend West Street, based on the real station that closed in 1968.”

More details about the society can be found here.

The society meets on the first Tuesday and third Thursday of every month, at 7.45pm. If you are interested, just turn up. The first meeting is free.

The next meeting, is tomorrow, Tuesday, November 7, when Tim Kendal will give a talk on the controversial topic of How Beeching Saved The Railways.