Alan Pegler

Alan Francis Pegler OBE, FRSA (16 April 1920 – 18 March 2012) His mother, Enid, was the daughter of amateur golfer Frederick Schomberg Ireland, the subject of Bernard Darwin's book, Green Memories. Raised in the Nottinghamshire village of Sutton cum Lound, he was educated at Hydneye House School, Sussex, and Radley College near Oxford.

4472 "Flying Scotsman"

Pegler first saw LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman in Wembley at the 1924 British Empire Exhibition. A group called "Save Our Scotsman" were unable to raise the £3,000 scrap value of the locomotive that would prevent this. Pegler stepped in and bought the locomotive outright, with the political support of Prime Minister Harold Wilson. To comply with American railway regulations, it was fitted with a cowcatcher, bell, buckeye couplers and an American-style chime whistle. Starting in Boston, Massachusetts,

On 13 October 2018, his ashes were taken on board the Flying Scotsman for a journey from London King's Cross to York. As he had wished, they were scattered in the firebox as the train ascended Stoke Bank. His daughter Penny Vaudoyer was on the footplate.

Legacy Alan Pegler was known throughout the world for his contributions to the preservation movement, being famously involved with two of its greatest achievements: the saving of the complete Ffestiniog Railway, and of probably the world's most famous steam locomotive, Flying Scotsman.

A mosaic plaque to Alan Pegler was installed in the booking office at Retford Station, and unveiled on Retford Heritage Day 2024 (14 September 2024). Those attending the unveiling included Penny Vaudoyer, Alan Pegler’s daughter.