If the establishment is dishing out awards for 2013, it should look at one particular collective of people.

For progress, only one company, as far as I can see, in the South East stands out. Due to its forward planning, raising private finance, having a dedicated voluntary workforce and perseverance, it re-opened the railway line linking a mainline station in East Grinstead.

I am referring to the Steam Locomotive Society of the Bluebell Railway.

Despite enduring one of the worst planning blunders of dumping rubbish in a cutting – a blunder which if someone was to write a book on planning blunders would be top of the list – this society makes the politicians who control our national, privatised railways look like a bunch of amateurs.

James Greed, Wheatfield Way, Brighton