1 The name of the Association is North Tyneside Steam Railway Association.

2 The object of the Association is the education of the public by promotion, support and assistance and improvement of the North Tyneside Steam Railway In furtherance of the above but not otherwise, to do all such lawful acts or things as are incidental to the attainment of the primary objects of the Association, as far as may be necessary or desirable to do such acts or things in collaboration with any person, body, institution, authority or otherwise.

3 Ordinary membership of the Association shall be open to any person who is interested in the objects of the Association. Men and women aged 60 or over shall be eligible for ordinary membership on payment of the annual subscription fixed for junior membership in accordance with Clause 4.

4 Junior membership shall be open to any person who has not attained the age of 16 years of age on payment of the subscription for the current year. Junior membership shall not entitle a person to vote at meetings of the Association.

4a Family Membership shall be open to up to two adults with up to three children who have not attained the age of 16 years of age on payment of the subscription for the current year. Family membership will entitle the holders to one vote per family at meetings of the Association.

4b Concessionary Membership shall be open to any person who is unwaged and in receipt of State benefits on payment of the annual subscription fixed for junior membership in accordance with Clauses 4. Concessionary membership will entitle the holder to vote at meetings of the Association as if he/she were an ordinary member.

4c Student membership shall be open to any person who is 16/17 years of age who is attending a full time course of education on payment of the annual subscription fixed for junior membership in accordance with Clauses 4. Student membership will entitle the holder to vote at meetings of the Association as if he/she were an ordinary member.

5 The annual subscription for all classes of membership shall be fixed each year at the Annual General Meeting and shall be payable in advance The subscription will apply to the period 1st April until 31st March in the following year

5a The Association may offer honorary membership to such persons as are considered worthy by way of their contribution to the objects and work of the Association. Such members will be elected on their names being proposed and seconded at the Annual General Meeting and endorsed by three fourths of the members present. Honorary members will have the same eligibility as ordinary members in the affairs of the Association.

6 Any member may terminate his or her membership at any time by notice in writing to the Secretary.

7 The Committee may on a resolution passed by three quarters of the members thereof discontinue the membership of any members of the Association whose subscription shall be three months in arrears or for any other reason at the absolute discretion of the Committee Provided that all members shall have the right to be heard by the Committee before a decision is made.

8 The management of the Association shall be vested in a Committee consisting of:

(a) Chairman, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary.

(b) One representative appointed by North Tyneside Council, without voting rights (being an elected representative or an officer of the Council).

(c) Not more than six other members.

Five members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum.

9 Election of officers and members of committee shall be for a term of two years. The elections shall take place at the annual general meeting and those elected shall take office at the end of the AGM at which they are elected. All members of the committee may be re-elected for a further term or further terms of office. The chairman for the time being of the committee shall also be the chairman for the annual general meeting.

10 The Honorary Treasurer shall keep accounts of all monies received and expended on account of the Association and shall present such accounts at the annual general meeting of the Association. A banking account shall be open on behalf of the Association and all cheques drawn upon the said account shall require the signature of at least two nominated members of the committee. At least once in every year the accounts of the Association shall be audited by one or more qualified auditors or independent examiners as defined by the Charity Commissioners.

11 The financial year of the Association shall end on 31st day of December in each year and a general meeting of the members shall be convened by the Honorary Secretary as soon thereafter as possible, and in any case within three months for the purpose of receiving the annual report and balance sheet for electing the officers and committee for the ensuing year and to consider any other business as may be necessary. Fourteen days notice of such meeting shall be sent to all members.

Ten ordinary members present shall constitute a quorum at the annual general meeting. In the event of a quorum not being present the matter shall be adjourned to such place, date and time within the ensuing fourteen days as the chairman shall decide, and the ordinary members present at such an adjourned meeting shall constitute a quorum.

12 An extraordinary general meeting may be convened at anytime by a resolution of the committee or on the requisition of at least twenty ordinary members of the Association A meeting held on such requisition shall be held within twenty one days of receipt of such requisition by the honorary secretary and the honorary secretary shall give to the other members of the Association fourteen days notice of such meeting. A quorum shall be the same as a quorum at the annual general meeting.

13 Matters not herein before provided tor and not involving an amendment to this constitution may be dealt with by the committee.

14 The Association in general meeting by a resolution passed by not less than three quarters of those ordinary members present and voting may amend this constitution provided that no amendment shall be made which will cause the Association to cease to be a charity at law.

15 If the Association decides by a majority of not less than those ordinary members present and voting at an Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting to discontinue the work of the Association any money or property belonging to the Association after payment of all expenses and liabilities properly incurred shall be distributed to charitable institutions having similar objects to the Association.