|
Haslemere Signal Box trustees John Harris (left) and Jock Gardner (right) with Railway 200n ambassador Mike Lamport.
|
Great event as Haslemere joins Railway 200 celebrations
Great public support and fair weather contributed to a great event at Haslemere Station as South Western Railway staff teamed up with Haslemere Community Station and Signal Box Trust, welcoming local people to a special event marking the 200th anniversary of rail travel.
Visitors were treated to some great musical entertainment from talented young Music Works performers, and short informative talks by Mike Lamport, representing the Railway 200 steering group, and Jock Gardner, one of the signal box trustees and chairman of the Haslemere U3A railway group.
Mike has a particular connection with the area: he was born in Liphook and his father was Haslemere station master. His son is a South Western Railway guard. With earlier generations also working on the railway since 1849, the Lamports are believed to be the family with the longest continuous service.
Attractions at the Railway 200 event also included a number of games for children and a beautifully preserved Dennis Loline III double deck bus in Aldershot & District colours – appropriately showing Haslemere on its destination blind.
Station staff – with numbers swelled by colleagues from up and down the line – were aptly dressed in Victorian fashion.
The event was opened formally by Haslemere Town Crier Christian Ashdown.
Information Hub volunteers kept the doors open throughout the event, and reported much interest – possibly the highest tally of visitors yet in one day.
Generally the event was a big success – despite some threatening weather! Our thanks to South Western Railway station staff for arranging the event – and to all participants and visitors.
Visitors were treated to some great musical entertainment from talented young Music Works performers, and short informative talks by Mike Lamport, representing the Railway 200 steering group, and Jock Gardner, one of the signal box trustees and chairman of the Haslemere U3A railway group.
Mike has a particular connection with the area: he was born in Liphook and his father was Haslemere station master. His son is a South Western Railway guard. With earlier generations also working on the railway since 1849, the Lamports are believed to be the family with the longest continuous service.
Attractions at the Railway 200 event also included a number of games for children and a beautifully preserved Dennis Loline III double deck bus in Aldershot & District colours – appropriately showing Haslemere on its destination blind.
Station staff – with numbers swelled by colleagues from up and down the line – were aptly dressed in Victorian fashion.
The event was opened formally by Haslemere Town Crier Christian Ashdown.
Information Hub volunteers kept the doors open throughout the event, and reported much interest – possibly the highest tally of visitors yet in one day.
Generally the event was a big success – despite some threatening weather! Our thanks to South Western Railway station staff for arranging the event – and to all participants and visitors.
|
|
Special Haslemere event marks UK railway milestone
Haslemere Community Station and SIgnal Box Trust is partnering with South Western Railway staff to present an exciting and varied programme of FREE activities to mark this important year in British transport history.
Drop in at Haslemere Station between 11.00 and 15:00 on Saturday, September 13. There will be attractions for all ages, live music, examples of bygone transport – including a preserved Aldershot & District double-deck bus – and talks by Mike Lamport from the Railway 200 national organising committee and Jock Gardner, signal box trustee and U3A rail specialist.
You will also be able to learn first-hand about the exciting plans for redevelopment of surplus space at the station – including preservation of the soon-to-be-decommissioned signal box, development of a railway memorial garden and the opening of a railway museum in the rooms above the booking hall.
Trustees and other volunteers will be on hand at the Information Hub to tell you more abut these projects that are rapidly gathering momentum – and set to enhance Haslemere's visitor attractions. If you are not already supporting our projects but would like to become involved, we'll be very happy to talk to you. If you would simply like to know what we are doing, you could become a Friend of Haslemere Station: no cost, no obligations – simply give us your email address and we'll send you our occasional newsletters.
The Railway 200 programme for September 13 is:
11:00 Welcome ... Christian Ashdown, Haslemere Town Crier
11:10 Introductions ... Jade Morgan, Haslemere Station Manager
11:15 Live music ... Six by Six
12:00 Guest speaker ... Mike Lamport, Railway 200 Steering Group
12:15 Live Music ... New Horizon
13:00 Guest Speaker ... Jock Gardner, Chairman Haslemere U3A
13:15 Live Music ... Rob and Rax
14:00 Grand Finale ... Fancy dress competition
The Information Hub will be open from 10:00.
Drop in at Haslemere Station between 11.00 and 15:00 on Saturday, September 13. There will be attractions for all ages, live music, examples of bygone transport – including a preserved Aldershot & District double-deck bus – and talks by Mike Lamport from the Railway 200 national organising committee and Jock Gardner, signal box trustee and U3A rail specialist.
You will also be able to learn first-hand about the exciting plans for redevelopment of surplus space at the station – including preservation of the soon-to-be-decommissioned signal box, development of a railway memorial garden and the opening of a railway museum in the rooms above the booking hall.
Trustees and other volunteers will be on hand at the Information Hub to tell you more abut these projects that are rapidly gathering momentum – and set to enhance Haslemere's visitor attractions. If you are not already supporting our projects but would like to become involved, we'll be very happy to talk to you. If you would simply like to know what we are doing, you could become a Friend of Haslemere Station: no cost, no obligations – simply give us your email address and we'll send you our occasional newsletters.
The Railway 200 programme for September 13 is:
11:00 Welcome ... Christian Ashdown, Haslemere Town Crier
11:10 Introductions ... Jade Morgan, Haslemere Station Manager
11:15 Live music ... Six by Six
12:00 Guest speaker ... Mike Lamport, Railway 200 Steering Group
12:15 Live Music ... New Horizon
13:00 Guest Speaker ... Jock Gardner, Chairman Haslemere U3A
13:15 Live Music ... Rob and Rax
14:00 Grand Finale ... Fancy dress competition
The Information Hub will be open from 10:00.