The Friends of Goostrey have kindly shared an extract from the May edition of the Goostrey Parish Magazine which was written by Chris Burgess …. 

At present, Government advice about social distancing and self isolation means that FOGS working parties cannot take place.

It’s fortunate therefore that in March there was a double celebration for FOGS members.

The Campaigns Award 2019 from the Best Kept Cheshire Competition was mounted on the bridge wall and the plaque in memory of our first chairman, Cyril Caulkin, was unveiled.

Both events had already been postponed in January and February because of stormy weather.

But now we have time to reflect on some of the successes of our volunteer group and also to plan for future activities.

After FOGS was founded in 2013, one of the first improvements to Goostrey Railway Station was the refurbishment of the passenger shelter on the Crewe platform.

This allowed Becky Cowell, deputy headteacher at Goostrey Community Primary School, to mount displays of pupils’ work.

The first exhibition was entitled Cold. One window of the building displayed words such as ICE, SNOW and FROST in huge letters. Another had descriptions of Ice Age animals which made the reader shiver.

For example :

• The deserted icy plain
• The giant glacier gleaming in the distance like the end of the earth
• A huge circle of mammoths protecting their vulnerable young
• Glittering snow like magic dust

Inside the waiting room, passengers were greeted by huge models of three penguins and a polar bear in front of a wall covered with elaborate decorations in ‘cold’ colours.

The whole display was particularly effective at night when illuminated by the station lights.

Subsequent displays have included Rainbows, Orang Utans, Going Places, the Owl and the Pussy Cat, Titanic, the Queen’s 90th birthday and Remembrance.

Each has transformed the shelter and they have been greatly appreciated by passengers and parents.

Comments have included :

What a lovely display to cheer us up on our rainy train trip home to Buckinghamshire

Great use of this space

Goostrey Primary school has some very talented pupils

I wish our school did something like this

I regularly walk the dog via the station now to see the artwork

In addition, the exhibitions helped the school to achieve Artsmark Gold and Rainbows was part of an Art Trail during Goosfest 2014.

Then, in 2016, FOGS received the Art Award from the Cheshire Best Kept Station competition and in 2017 the group was shortlisted in a national competition.

Members of FOGS have two plans for the future that relate to the school’s artwork.

First, they look forward to the displays resuming when our lives return to normal.

Second, the shelter again needs repairs to the roof and to the woodwork, so, as in 2013, pressure on the rail authorities is required.

New volunteers are always welcome even though we cannot physically be at the station at present.

FOGS members are involved in planning the future use of the station building, the installation of cycle racks in the car park and the improvement of passenger safety on the bridge.

For more information, please contact Dave Roberts (Vice Chair) on sharp-shooter@talktalk.net

The Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership are proud to announce their Childrens Art Competition …..

The Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership has announced a children’s art competition called the MY CHESHIRE POSTER AWARDS to provide a teaching resource for children who are unable to go to school due to the Coronavirus.

They have teamed up with Chester artist Nicky Thompson to design the awards which are open to all Cheshire children aged 4-11.

The awards are split into 2 age categories: 4-7 and 8-11…with a winner and two runners up in each bracket.

All winners and runners-up will receive a professional set of coloured pencils, and the two overall winners will see their designs adorn 12 station platforms on the Mid Cheshire Line Stations that connects Chester to Manchester via Northwich, Knutsford, Altrincham and Stockport.

The inspiration for the competition is Nicky’s recent Made In Chester exhibition at The Grosvenor Museum.

Click here to look at some of the entries that have already been received.

John Hulme, a member of the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership and President of Cheshire Best Kept Stations said:

“We hope this project will help teachers and mums and dads by providing an interesting art project to work on with their children, and it will give everyone an opportunity to look at Nicky’s iconic artworks and the history behind them.

“The competition is open to all school children up to 11, no matter which city, town or village you come from.

“All we ask is that the painting is of your favourite place in Cheshire.

“We are working on something really special for the prize giving event, so watch this space!’

Mr Mark Barker, Chair of Cheshire Best Kept Stations said: 

“This poster competition is a great way of involving children in a worthwhile project and helping them to think about their towns and communities.”

Mr David Briggs, the Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire said:

“This Art Competition has my full support and I am looking forward to seeing our children’s paintings of beautiful Cheshire.

“In these fast changing times, this is a fantastic opportunity to bring out the best in our children and a unique way of keeping them occupied.

“I wish everyone who enters this competition every success.”

Marketing Cheshire’s Nicola Said commented:

“We are delighted to be sponsoring this competition…Nicky’s posters are so beautiful and colourful, we hope that the young artists of Cheshire can use this inspiration to create something magical that will cheer us all up at this difficult time.”

Nicky Thompson said:

“It’s a lovely little competition and I am really looking forward to seeing what the young artists of Cheshire come up with.”

The awards are open until 1st May 2020 and the judges are Nicky Thompson, John Hulme and Katrina Michel (Director CH1 ChesterBID).

Click here to enter the competition and download the template. There is also a downloadable Teacher Resource.