BOUNCE BACK APPEAL LAUNCHED

Appeal launched following financial loss to serial fraudster

The Avon Valley Railway Heritage Trust, a volunteer-led charity running a heritage railway between Bristol and Bath, is today launching a Bounce Back Appeal to help strengthen the Railway’s finances. This comes after financial anomalies were identified after being carried out by a former staff member. Donations can be made and more information found on our website avrht.org/bounceback Every penny donated is massively appreciated at this time.

After the resignation of Matthew Smith, a previously well-presented and respected employee of Avon Valley Railway Company Ltd, the railway has been horrified to find what initially appeared to be a few financial irregularities. This has unfortunately escalated, and we are now fully aware of the extremely serious activities involving this employee, which now look like deliberate acts of fraud against the railway.

Upon reporting the offences to the police, we have discovered that the individual’s true identity is Nathan Hudson, a wanted career criminal with a long history of scamming operations in Humberside and Edinburgh, among other locations since 2003. (https://www.humberside.police.uk/news/humberside/news/wanted/2025/january/nathan-hudson/ - Humberside Police Wanted listing containing photo of Nathan Hudson)

After an in-depth investigation it is now apparent that the Railway has been impacted by approximately £50,000, as a consequence of the activities of this person. This has affected its ability to undertake much of its planned restoration and maintenance work over the winter.  The railway can not be certain that during the time of his employment he did not have external assistance for his fraudulent activities.

READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE ON OUR BOUNCE BACK APPEAL PAGE

Nathan Hudson is wanted by Humberside Police.

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