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Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 4:58 pm
by John McAleely
I've been sent the announcement below by Iain Rice:

Greystar Publishing/Finescale Review

Following the sad demise of Bob Barlow – and with him the nascent Finescale Review – Bob's family and friends have been trying to sort out the position with subscribers/unfulfilled subscriptions to the periodical. (The companion publication, Narrow Gauge and Industrial Modelling Review, has reverted to Roy Link and carries on in publication, with all subscriptions being transferred). All this has taken some time and a lot of effort, but at last the process is completed.

All of Finescale Review's subscribers have been contacted and offered a choice of a refund or of donating their outstanding balance to charity. It is pleasant to be able to record that the vast majority of subscribers chose the latter option, with the result that a donation of over £3000 has gone to MacMillan Cancer Care.

I attach a copy of the letter of thanks that Rowena Barlow, Bob's widow, wrote to all those who contributed so generously, and for the support and consideration she received from the finescale railway modelling community at large. She would be grateful if this could appear online or in print where appropriate to let people know the outcome and to thank the many well-wishers who have been in contact by various means since Bob's death.

Greystar closure release.pdf


A goodly number of people have also asked whether copies of the three editions of the Finescale Review that did appear will be available at any point. This is the next item on the agenda and it is hoped that it will be possible to make an announcement soon..

Iain Rice

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2016 7:08 pm
by Albert Hall
I am perfectly happy that the balance of my subscription has gone to MacMillan because they do a fantastic job. However I was not contacted to be offered the choice. I subscribed from issue 2 having been very impressed with the first one.

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 7:47 am
by Jol Wilkinson
Like Mike and Albert, I too wasn't contacted but am also happy that any outstanding subscription went to a worthy charity.

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 9:57 am
by bevis
I was another subscriber not contacted but have no problem with the final destination of the funds.
Bevis

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 11:26 am
by LesGros
I too, was another subscriber not contacted, but like earlier posters, have no problem with the final destination of the funds.

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 12:10 pm
by Mike Garwood
Did they bother to contact anyone? In the same boat as everyone else and nope I don't mind where the monies ended up. Just surprised at the lack of communication.

Mike

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 12:41 pm
by jon price
Yes they did contact people. I got an email. It may be that they couldn't work out which was the complete mailing list.

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 2:02 pm
by David Knight
Further clarification can be found here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index. ... ?p=2264351

Cheers,

David

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 6:25 pm
by Albert Hall
I have no doubt in my mind that the statement relating to ALL subscribers having been contacted was made in good faith. Under the circumstances it must have been no mean feat for Mrs Barlow to have contacted 900 individuals. What this does say about Bob Barlow's standing and reputation in the hobby is reinforced by the fact that so many felt inspired to take out a subscription so soon after initial publication. I do wonder what the actual number was.

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 8:14 am
by Re6/6
Albert Hall wrote:I have no doubt in my mind that the statement relating to ALL subscribers having been contacted was made in good faith. Under the circumstances it must have been no mean feat for Mrs Barlow to have contacted 900 individuals. What this does say about Bob Barlow's standing and reputation in the hobby is reinforced by the fact that so many felt inspired to take out a subscription so soon after initial publication. I do wonder what the actual number was.


Agreed.

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 4:17 pm
by waveydavey
I've heard nothing from her so I guess she's not managed to get round all 900 yet.

Cheers

David

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:44 pm
by martin goodall
I have not heard anything yet, but I think I may have been one of the first to suggest to Iain Rice shortly after Bob Barlow's untimely death that donating the balance of the subscription to a suitable charity might be the best option for subscribers. I will happily donate whatever balance is owing to me, preferably to a cancer charity.

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 7:35 pm
by John McAleely
Iain Rice has been in touch to say he is aware of the comments on this thread, and is hoping to be able to follow up over the next few days.

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:26 pm
by John McAleely
Iain has been in touch this evening, and wants to pass on the following:

Greystar Publishing/Finescale Review

Further to the notices posted a few days ago, it has become apparent that in spite of our best efforts, a number of Finescale Review subscribers fell through the net and did not receive an e-mail or letter back in February. Unfortunately, at the time Bob was taken ill the subscriber’s database for the Review was still in the process of being set up, which meant that reliance has had to be placed on incomplete paperwork and the mailing list, plus a modicum of detective work.

Many apologies for the omissions and thanks to those who have got in touch. It seems that most people are generally happy that the balance of the subscriptions has been passed on to Macmillan Cancer Care. If anyone wishes to discuss this or has any queries perhaps they would in the first instance contact me at iainarice@gmail.com and I’ll liaise with Rowena. We are naturally anxious to ensure that everyone is happy.

On a slightly different note, for those who have enquired about the availability of copies of the three issues of Fine Scale Review that were produced, arrangements have now been made to make these available through Titfield Thunderbolt/Wild Swan Books from their stand at forthcoming finescale shows or events, starting with ExpoEM, then Railex, the Exeter show, LarkRail in Bath, Railwells and Scaleforum. Once again, all profits from sales of back-numbers will go to Macmillan Cancer Care. Quantities are limited and when they’re gone, they’re gone!

Thanks once again to all for their understanding and support through this difficult time.

Iain Rice

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:51 pm
by David Thorpe
I'd hope I'd speak for the majority of subscribers when I say that I really don't mind if I don't get an email. I really don't mind what happens to the unexpired portion of my subscription. The less trouble Mr Barlow's family are put to at this time the better.

DT

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:40 am
by John Donnelly
David Thorpe wrote:I'd hope I'd speak for the majority of subscribers when I say that I really don't mind if I don't get an email. I really don't mind what happens to the unexpired portion of my subscription. The less trouble Mr Barlow's family are put to at this time the better.


Completely agree.

John

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:42 am
by martin goodall
Can I just add a note of agreement with David Thorpe. Anything we can do to lighten the adminisatrive burden on Bob's family and friends would no doubt be welcome.

I think it would be generally acceptable that the 'default' position should be that subscription balances will automatically be donated to charity (e.g. Macmillan Cancer Care, as Iain suggests) unless any individual subscribers absolutely insist on having their money back.

(Let's face it, in view of the very small amounts owed to individual subscribers, no-one is going to sue if they don't get their money back.)

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:09 pm
by bevis
I completely agree with Martin. I'm sure the family have more than enough to deal with as it is.

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:13 pm
by Albert Hall
I am totally in support of the proceeds going to MacMillan. During my long railway career I lost many good friends and colleagues to the scourge of cancer. Many were asbestos related - the so called 'Swindon Disease'. Next week I will be attending the funeral of a train driver who bravely fought for three years before the Big C finally beat him. A really great guy in the prime of his life who was an absolute pleasure to work with and lived a completely healthy lifestyle. One day he drove a train from Cardiff to Bristol but failed to leave the cab on arrival. When staff eventually checked on him he had no recollection of the journey even though he had complied with all signals, station stops and speed limits etc. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour and never worked again. I just find it so frustrating that something like this can happen despite all the research which has taken place, Surely this terrible disease will one day be beaten.

Re: Greystar Publishing - Subscription News

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 6:39 pm
by jasp
I too was a subscriber and support the monies going to Macmillan
There is little doubt that there will be a cure for cancer sooner or later, despite it being not one, but a series do similar diseases.
The problem is that something equally loathsome will almost certainly appear to "take its place"
Alas, has been the history of medicine over the years
Jim P