The Bonded Warehouse

The Bonded Warehouse, Canal Street
Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 4LU

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You Are Here: The Bonded Warehouse > Latest News > Long serving SNT volunteer recognised by Lord Lieutenant.
Thursday, 6th Feb 2025

Earlier in the year the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands decided to recognise the 50th anniversary of the legal entity called the West Midlands County by recognising 50 residents of each of the 7 Boroughs for their voluntary service during that time.

Our very own Chris Dyche, a long-standing Trustee at Stourbridge Navigation Trust, was justifiably one of those to be recognised. He was invited to a prestigious gathering in the Great Hall of the University of Birmingham on the afternoon of Sunday, 23rd June, accompanied by his daughter, Sharon Steventon, to be recognised by the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Sir John Crabtree CVO OBE.

It is so pleasing to all of the fellow Trustees at SNT and indeed the Severn Valley Railway to see that he is to be honoured at such a high profile event for his significant voluntary efforts.

Chris has made a massive difference to the community and is an exemplary example of volunteering. His voluntary work started at least 50 years ago as a Member of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society (SWCS) from the early 1970’s.  During the 1970’s he was a member of the Society’s Stourbridge Sub-Committee, and involved in the early restoration work on the Stourbridge Town Arm Canal. (At that Time the Canal was totally unavailable & the Tow Path impassable in places). He then became Treasurer of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society in June 1979, a position he held until June 2020 before a step up to Chairman of SWCS for four years in early 2001 – 2004. Following this, he also served a year’s term as the Society’s President and is now a Society Vice President.  Ultimately he was awarded Membership of the Society in 2008.

When the Stourbridge Navigation Trust was formed as a stand-alone organisation c1984 he became Trust Treasurer. Stourbridge Navigation Trust Ltd incorporated in 2002 and he became Financial Director, a post he still holds today. He also serves as Financial Director of Fellows, Morton & Clayton Ltd. (A full owned subsidiary of Stourbridge Navigation Trust Ltd.) .He is actively involved in most of Stourbridge Navigation Trust’s activities including holding key responsibilities for the Trust’s Annual Open Weekend from which started in 1983 and runs to date.

As an addition to the above waterways oriented roles Chris was an ordinary member of the Severn Valley Railway from the late 1960’s and became a regular volunteer at Kidderminster station as a Booking Office Clerk since 1996. He rose to the position of Chairman of the SVR’s Stourbridge Branch for about the last fifteen years.

So, you can just imagine the time and effort that Chris has selflessly put into these organisations and surely they would be lesser entities if he had not been around.

Once again hearty and well deserved congratulations to Chris who has volunteered with SNT for the whole of the 50 years and more.

He confesses to being a bit overwhelmed by this recognition, as he isn’t an accolade person, but he did report that he thoroughly enjoyed the event at which he was accompanied by his proud daughter Sharon.

Stourbridge Navigation Trust, based at The Bonded Warehouse, is always on the lookout for new volunteers so it is perhaps an opportune time, inspired by Chris’s achievements, to issue a plea to people who might be looking to do some voluntary work at the Trust or indeed to become a Trustee – if you wish to get involved at whatever level please get in touch and you will be made most welcome – it’s very rewarding and has a good social atmosphere with like minded local people.