Bill Cubbon has been a member of the Association since 1968.  Residing in Liverpool at the time, he helped to form the Merseyside Area Group of the Association, making regular long day trips to the Island in order to attend early Annual General Meetings of the then unincorporated association of enthusiasts.

One of his initial roles in the Association was as joint Sales Officer. He and colleague Mike Lister drew together all of the various area groups’ sales operations and ran a mail order operation for a number of years, so successfully that the Association was invited by the Railway Company to run a souvenir shop in Douglas Station for the 1977 season, which then continued into the first year of nationalisation in 1978. The venture lasted only for those two years, but it had significant financial benefit for the Association’s project funds.

Bill has had a lifetime passion for railways, with the Isle of Man Railway being at the top of his interest list, so he moved to the Island in the early 1980s to continue his support activities with the Association. A decision by Government to cease volunteer work roles on the steam railway by 1982 led to the Association turning its attention to the long derelict Groudle Glen Railway. Bill played an active part in its restoration, management, operation and development over the ensuing 20 plus years. He is still a Director of Groudle Glen Railway Co., Ltd., and periodically assists with driving its trains and other activities.

As chair of the Association’s board of directors, Bill aims to represent as many members’ views as is possible at management meetings in order to help set the direction of the Association and achieve realistic outcomes.  He is also a keen photographer and videographer and can often be found at the lineside - sometimes at the drop of a hat! - if ever a there is a special train movement, often suffering for his art!