Friends of Goostrey Station were delighted to accept an invitation to speak at the annual meeting of Goostrey Parish Council. It was an excellent opportunity to publicise our work. Here’s an overview of the presentation.

Goostrey is fortunate to have a railway station on the mainline between Crewe and Manchester. FoGS are determined to ensure that our community enjoys using it.

Since forming in 2012 (at the request of the Parish Council), FoGS have improved the station environment, fostered links with our community and researched the history of the local railway. But our most significant achievement is the conversion of the dilapidated wooden building into Goostrey Art Studio. Debbie Goldsmith, our artist in residence, uses the space for her own work, and she also runs creative sessions for our community.

Our achievements have been recognised. Cheshire is unique in having a Best Kept Station competition and we are proud to have won 11 totems. We’ve also received 17 short-listings and 4 awards from Community Rail, the national organisation that oversees over 1000 station adoption groups and 75 Community Rail Partnerships.

In 2019 we were surprised to learn that Fiona Bruce MP had submitted an Early Day Motion in parliament which praised our volunteers. And last autumn we were even more surprised to find that we had been nominated for a King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

We are always looking for new members. You will be able to talk to us on 27th June at our stall on Rose Day. Or you could meet us on the second Sunday of the month at Goostrey Station. Alternatively, please contact Craig on 01477 544111 or look at our website which has a wealth of information.

At the moment, our local Community Rail Partnership is seeking help with a Rail Safety initiative for schools. In Goostrey, the major project is to install washing and toilet facilities for those working in the Art Studio. FoGS continue to work with teachers and pupils at Goostrey Primary School, and we’re excited to be developing links with Oak Cottage School. We also offer opportunities to Duke of Edinburgh award candidates, Beavers, Cubs and Rainbows.

 

Observant train users may have noticed a new sign at Handforth Station. Since early May, the name Rhydymaen (a loose translation in Welsh indicating a ford of stone) has featured on a signpost alongside the southbound platform.

The new sign was generously donated by Transport for Wales, and adds to the many signs from different Train Operating Companies visible at the station. The Friends of Handforth Station (FoHS) are renowned for this novel method of decorating the station, and were delighted by the donation from TfW.

James Nicholas, Communications Business Partner at Transport for Wales, travelled from Swansea to Handforth to present the sign to FoHS. He was accompanied by Lowri Joyce, the Welsh Language Strategy Lead at Transport for Wales, who said, “We are pleased to provide this totem to be a legacy for Railway 200 and join the other 20 multi-national signs at Handforth.”

After the presentation and photographs, James and Lowri spent some time with the members of FoHS to appreciate their work at Handforth and to discuss similar experiences at Welsh stations

Mike Bishop, the founder and currently President of FoHS, said, “We have been campaigning ceaselessly for lifts to be installed at Handforth Station. A major element of our campaign is to decorate the station forecourt and platforms, and make it as welcoming a place as possible. Until they complete the lift work, Network Rail limit how much improvement we can make to the station, so we welcome simple yet pleasing enhancements like this new station sign.”