A Severn Valley Railway volunteer has raised more than £1,500 in memory of his close friend who died earlier this year. 

After locomotive driver Keith Hall died in June, his friend and colleague Rod Derry wanted to do something in tribute to him. 

With the agreement and support of Keith’s family, he set about raising funds in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) after witnessing the devastating effects of the illness on Keith. 

Mr Derry has also paid tribute to his friend who died just short of his 80th birthday.

Mr Derry said: "I saw a great friend, who was supremely fit and active, destroyed by a cruel illness. 

"So much research is needed before the outlook for sufferers will improve. 

"Keith died a few months short of his 80th birthday and we lost a fine engineer, a mentor and friend." 

SVR managing director Jonathan 'Gus' Dunster, volunteer driver Rod Derry and Phil Clayton of the MNDA SVR managing director Jonathan 'Gus' Dunster, volunteer driver Rod Derry and Phil Clayton of the MNDA (Image: John Oates)

Mr Derry arranged for a collection to take place during the SVR's recent Autumn Steam Gala using collection boxes and buckets supplied by the MNDA. 

He enlisted the help of many colleagues across the railway and managed to raise more than £1,500 for the charity. 

Phillip Clayton, from the MNDA's Hereford and Worcester branch, visited the SVR's Kidderminster Station to receive the funds raised from the managing director Jonathan 'Gus Dunster and Mr Derry.