If you are wandering down West End Lane you might have noticed a new plaque on the bench opposite Cycle Surgery. It is in memory of Dave Simcock. Who was Dave Simcock?

Dave Simcock, who died last year, was a long time committee member of WHAT (West Hampstead Amenity and Transport). On Monday May 22nd, members put up the plaque on the bench in his memory.

Virginia Berridge, former chair of WHAT, remembered Dave’s enthusiasm for anything to do with trains and railways. He was always up with the latest news and keen to attend consultation meetings called by the rail companies. He was a long-term attender of Thameslink meetings and reported on its plans for new stations and rolling stock. He was also an assiduous deliverer of the WHAT newsletter in the days when it was a paper copy.

Dave was ill for some time but never let his illness get in the way of his enthusiasm. During a meeting outside the Overground station with representatives of Tfl talking about plans for the redevelopment of the station, he became ill and an ambulance was called. Dave was attended to by ambulance staff but never lost his interest in the meeting and rejoined when he could.

Gill Becket, Dave’s partner, attended the gathering. KOVE (Kilburn Older Voices Exchange) was also there as the group had worked with WHAT and Camden to have the benches installed. Good wishes were sent by Tulip Siddiq who recalled how Dave had encouraged her to stand in the constituency. Claire-Louise Leyland, the Conservative candidate commented recently that when Camden consults it often has world experts in the field living the borough; Dave was West Hampstead’s resident expert on all matters rail related and helped WHAT punch above its weight when dealing with First Capital Connect (Thameslink) or London Overground.