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for the abandonment of the
Festiniog Railway. It was announced in the March issue that a fund had been started by Leonard Heath Humphrys to preserve the line. Mitchell's loyalties were divided, but he decided that the Festiniog Railway was the better scheme of the two. He told Rolt of his decision to
410:. One of the exhibitors was Keith Smith. Mitchell got into conversation with him and it was felt that there might be demand for a book on the railways in the area. Three publishers were approached but all rejected the idea. Mitchell spent ÂŁ5,000 and published the book himself in 1981. Titled
366:. Mitchell was persuaded to join the management committee. By 1954, at the age of 20, he was a director of the Festiniog Railway in the capacity of sales officer. He performed many tasks on the railway, including acting as a
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reporter visited the line, and the three volunteers appeared in a photograph accompanying the story that was printed. Mitchell returned to the line shortly after with his parents. It was during this second visit that he met
403:
378:. The town council at Blaenau Ffestiniog was unsure whether the restoration of the Festiniog Railway would be a good thing. Mitchell persuaded them of its benefits, and that of having a joint station with
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move to the
Festiniog, only to be told that by Rolt there was "only room for one preserved railway in Great Britain". The inaugural meeting of those wishing to revive the Festiniog Railway was held at a
237:. Mitchell and his wife Barbara had two daughters. In 1972, Mitchell invented a dentist's tool, the Illuminated Probing Handpiece, which won the United Kingdom a gold medal at the
202:
and being allowed to issue tickets in the booking office. On his 10th birthday, the stationmaster was a guest at his party, the only guest
Mitchell was allowed.
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was published in 1982 and other books followed. By June 2018, Middleton Press had published 617 titles. Subjects covered include
British railways,
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for the first time. Mitchell is recorded as saying that
Garraway "was to have a bearing on my life on a number of occasions subsequently".
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650:
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whilst his mother worked in photography. Mitchell developed an interest in railways at an early age, through collecting
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when he visited. The toilet was exported to many Third World countries From 1981 to 1984, Mitchell operated a pair of
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414:, it sold well and Mitchell recovered his investment. Initially, there was no intention to publish more titles, but
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303:. Barbara Mitchell died in September 2015. Mitchell died on 18 January 2021 at Middleton Lodge, Midhurst.
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college. Mitchell was one of the twelve people to attend. Other attendees included
Garraway and former
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parked in a nearby field, later moving into converted farm buildings. In
December 1962, they moved to
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406:. An exhibition was held to mark the 25th anniversary of the closure to passengers of the
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to pledge their support. Mitchell and a classmate did so. In June, the pair travelled to
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394:. Thus Middleton Press was born, taking its name from his home at Middleton Lodge,
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and guard. Mitchell helped the
Festiniog Railway achieve its aim of reaching
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214:
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142:. He was the author or editor of, and publisher of, more than 600 books on
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264:
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194:, assisting the staff with their work and being rewarded by cab rides on
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In 1978, Mitchell published his first railway item, a route map of the
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166:. The father of one of his schoolfriends was chief engineer at the
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190:. After the holiday, he spent time at his local railway station,
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382:. The Festiniog Railway reopened to Blaenau Festiniog in 1982.
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in 2008 was celebrated by travelling on a special train on the
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Johnston, Howard (June 2018). "617 publications so far...".
374:, from which it had been cut off by the construction of the
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caught
Mitchell's eye. There was a proposal to preserve the
205:
Mitchell married his wife
Barbara in 1958, whilst doing his
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154:
Joseph Charles Victor Mitchell was born on 1 March 1934 in
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and readers were encouraged to write to publicity officer
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245:, Switzerland that November and was also shown on the
402:. In 1980, Mitchell was involved in a fundraiser for
186:. He spent most of that week riding the train on the
466:. Horncastle: Mortons Media Ltd. pp. 33–37.
404:St. Mary Magdalene and St. Denis Church, Midhurst
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229:. Mitchell was a dentist. He had a practice at
158:to Wilfred and Amey Mitchell. His father was a
564:Ballantine, Hugh (2007). Mitchell, Vic (ed.).
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498:. Peterborough: Bauer Media Ltd. p. 46.
520:. Midhurst: Middleton Press. 20 January 2020
329:, where their offer of help was accepted. A
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178:. When Mitchell was 9, a week was spent at
16:British railway preservationist (1934–2021)
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494:Castledine, A. J. "The polymath pioneer".
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589:Organ, John (2002). Mitchell, Vic (ed.).
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349:magazine reported an application to the
343:An article in the January 1951 issue of
176:Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway
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532:
478:
408:Petersfield–Midhurst–Pulborough railway
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311:An advert in the January 1951 issue of
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134:(1 March 1934 – 18 January 2021) was a
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493:
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426:systems, as well as railways abroad.
539:Smith, Keith; Mitchell, Vic (1981).
90:Dentist, director, publisher, author
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13:
146:in the United Kingdom and Europe.
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672:
656:21st-century English male writers
651:20th-century English male writers
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271:. Mitchell was introduced to the
261:Centre for Alternative Technology
646:English book publishers (people)
392:London and South Western Railway
282:which he used to dredge lakes.
132:Joseph Charles Victor Mitchell
35:Joseph Charles Victor Mitchell
1:
593:. Midhurst: Middleton Press.
568:. Midhurst: Middleton Press.
543:. Midhurst: Middleton Press.
429:
591:Northern France Narrow Gauge
7:
626:People from Hampton, London
299:and carrying the nameboard
259:which was displayed at the
217:. The initially lived in a
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287:golden wedding anniversary
255:. In 1974, he invented a
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541:Branch Lines to Midhurst
518:"Vic Mitchell 1934-2021"
412:Branch Lines to Midhurst
239:Exposition de Innovation
138:, inventor, and pioneer
416:Branch Lines to Horsham
376:Llyn Ystradau reservoir
140:railway preservationist
188:Lyme Regis branch line
351:Ministry of Transport
249:television programme
150:Early life and career
641:People from Midhurst
464:The Railway Magazine
386:Author and publisher
314:The Railway Magazine
307:Railway preservation
566:Cyprus Narrow Gauge
372:Blaenau Ffestiniog
346:Trains Illustrated
636:English inventors
575:978 1 906008 13 0
291:Festiniog Railway
280:ploughing engines
273:Duke of Edinburgh
257:composting toilet
196:steam locomotives
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109:, Middleton Press
107:Festiniog Railway
95:Years active
66:Middleton Lodge,
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631:English dentists
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360:Southern Railway
319:Talyllyn Railway
301:The Half Century
252:Tomorrow's World
207:National Service
198:, visits to the
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364:Harold Holcroft
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213:. He served at
211:Royal Air Force
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164:cigarette cards
156:Hampton, London
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103:Organization(s)
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59:18 January 2021
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49:Hampton, London
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550:0 906520 01 0
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496:Steam Railway
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522:. Retrieved
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380:British Rail
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61:(2021-01-18)
45:1 March 1934
25:Vic Mitchell
18:
661:2021 deaths
621:1934 births
400:West Sussex
265:Machynlleth
231:Petersfield
172:610 mm
79:Nationality
72:West Sussex
615:Categories
524:25 January
430:References
424:trolleybus
296:Palmerston
200:signal box
41:1934-03-01
504:0143-7232
472:0033-8923
362:engineer
235:Hampshire
180:Axminster
168:2 ft
98:1951-2021
396:Midhurst
323:Tom Rolt
223:Midhurst
174:) gauge
144:railways
122:Children
68:Midhurst
368:fireman
356:Bristol
219:caravan
209:in the
192:Hampton
160:dentist
136:dentist
117:Barbara
82:British
597:
572:
547:
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470:
285:Their
277:Fowler
243:Geneva
227:Sussex
114:Spouse
327:Towyn
269:Powys
184:Devon
595:ISBN
570:ISBN
545:ISBN
526:2021
500:ISSN
468:ISSN
422:and
420:tram
56:Died
31:Born
247:BBC
241:in
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480:^
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39:(
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