An innovative new sign has been put up at Handforth Station, thanks to a partnership with a sensory loss charity and the Friends of Handforth Station (FoHS) ….

Those who pass by the station can now practice their skills in British Sign Language (BSL) by spelling HANDFORTH using fingerspelling.

The idea was put forward by Mike Bishop, founder of FoHS, to the Cheshire-wide sensory loss organisation, DSN.

Mike said: “We were looking at ways in the first lockdown to continue to work with the community and we thought it would be a great non-contact, socially-distanced activity that people could participate in.”

The BSL fingerspelling boards are on display on the station concourse, easily visible from the road over the bridge. They include information on both FoHS and DSN.

Mike added: “The boards have been very popular even now in the third national lockdown. Local people are using their daily exercise to walk by the boards and practice their BSL – which is exactly what the installation was intended for.”

Whilst FoHS welcome locals to view the new boards, they are encouraging people from out of the area to follow government guidelines and sit tight until it is safe to visit.

Gill Reeder, executive at DSN said: “We have been so pleased to have worked on this project with such a community-focused organisation despite the global pandemic! As an organisation we work towards a world were people with a sensory loss can communicate effectively and live healthy independent and fulfilling lives, and this is one way to help with that mission.”

Gill added: “We very much look forward to when lockdown is lifted so we can all visit and see the community giving BSL a try!”

You can now enjoy Platform Poetry when you are awaiting the Mid Cheshire Line services at Altrincham Interchange ….

Bev, a volunteer at Altrincham Interchange. writes ….

Last year I was approached by the Friends of Altrincham Interchange to help restore the platform planters when I noticed a couple of redundant notice boards on platform 4.

A platform poetry board immediately came to mind.

Once I had the permission to proceed, I contacted my friend Pam Bradshaw and we selected poems  – train themed for the first display.

We have had success with public poetry displays on nearby Barrington Green in Altrincham which were noted as inspirational by the RHS.

My nephew made up the vintage style sign for platform 4 and local children donated art work.

Pam, who has published a book of poems, set about writing poems about a hare and a rabbit on their train journeys from Altrincham.

To date three of their poetic adventures have been displayed.

Public poetry displays are a welcome distraction, especially in these times.

The Friends of Goostrey Station send their latest News for January 2021 ….

More evidence that Goostrey Station is on the right track!

In last month’s magazine, we announced that FoGS had received a special award in the Cheshire Best Kept Station competition.

But in 2020, FoGS was also shortlisted in two categories in a national competition organised by Community Rail. Entries came from groups of volunteers and from people employed by Community Rail Partnerships. This year, for the first time, the awards were announced online and that allowed many more people to attend the event.

Last year, FoGS won the photo category in the national competition.  This year, Goostrey didn’t win but FoGS members were delighted to have their achievements recognised.

The FoGS entry for the Most Enhanced Station focussed on the restoration of the wooden Victorian ticket office because the work has transformed it into a building which a local resident plans to use as a centre for art education. We submitted a 200 word summary, a 600 word detailed description and 6 photos. The category was won by Haslemere station.

The judges for the category called It’s Your Station awarded points for gardening achievements, environmental responsibility and engagement with other organisations. Points were totalled and entries placed in bronze, silver, gold and platinum groups.  The FoGS entry described our displays of flowering plants and the efforts to improve biodiversity and sustainabilty. It also included the work of Goostrey Community Primary School and Goostrey Cubs, the commissioning of artwork for two banners and negotiations with companies such as Network Rail, Northern and United Utilities. Goostrey was placed in the gold group.  Buxton and Handforth were among those stations which achieved the platinum level.

Chair of FoGS, Dave Roberts was impressed that so many station groups across England are working with their local communities. The diverse array of projects included one which encouraged musicians to generate songs to promote travel by train and to highlight safety issues on the railway.