News from Friends of Goostrey Station ….

Are you wanting some gentle exercise in the fresh air?  Then look no further than Goostrey station – you’ll get a warm welcome from Friends of Goostrey Station!

We’re glad that we continue to make the station a pleasant place to visit and we’re extremely proud that our efforts have been recognised both locally and nationally.  But it’s important that improvements continue to be made – and so we’re encouraging new people to join us. Volunteers of all ages are needed.

In December, we were delighted to welcome Ian Conway and his wife Cath to Goostrey.  Ian volunteers with a group that supports the Lakes Line and Furness Railway, so he was interested to compare his experiences with ours.  Cath was keen to see where, forty years ago, her father Richardson Irving worked with Frank Pointon – where they sold tickets, signalled the train to depart and cleaned the toilets.  She was surprised that there were six employees when Goostrey station opened in 1891. But she told us that Richardson and Frank looked after the station so well, including tending the gardens on the ‘up side of the line’, that Goostrey featured in an article in the Cheshire Life magazine.

FoGS volunteers meet on the third Sunday of each month; the first session in 2023 is on 15th January. There’s a car park at the station, but you could choose greener transport by walking or cycling (there’s a new rack for your bike!).  You may have noticed a smart new noticeboard at the entrance to platform one.  It’s there to help us to publicise FoGS and Goostrey Art Studio more effectively.  For more information, have a look at our website or contact our chair Dave Roberts on 07494 976779.

News from Goostrey Art Studio – a creative hub for our local community ….

Autumn 2022 has proved a busy but rewarding time for Debbie Goldsmith!

She was thrilled that her painting ‘Mostly Sunny’ won first prize in the Inch Arts Winter exhibition. The judge Tom Croft was Sky Portrait Artist of the Year in 2018.  If you’d like to see Debbie’s work and the other entries, the exhibition continues at Inch Arts Gallery in Altrincham until 11 February 2023.

During November, in her role as the resident professional artist at Goostrey Art Studio, Debbie organised 3 successful workshops for local Beavers and Cubs. The children enjoyed using paper craft to make poppies for the Remembrance service at St Luke’s Goostrey, and to create fox and dog masks for fun.

Building on the success of the Big Draw at Crewe Heritage Centre which was part of a celebration of 185 years of the railway in the town, Debbie represented Friends of Goostrey Station at the Northern Community Rail Conference.  She provided a mindful colouring activity which was very well received by those who attended.

If you’re interested in attending a workshop or in bringing a group to Goostrey Art Studio, please contact Debbie Goldsmith on deborahgoldsmith@me.com

The Friends  of Reddish South Station are promoting A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols ….

The Friends of Handforth Station (FoHS) organised an Art Trail in the village at the end of Summer. Some 30 pictures by Manchester artist Eamonn Murphy, illustrating stations along the Crewe to Manchester railway line and their local places of interest, were displayed at various places throughout Handforth.

People used leaflets produced by the FoHS to walk through the village, admiring the various pictures. They also entered a competition, in which they were asked to note which pictures were displayed where.

The winners of the competition were delighted to meet Eamonn at the Handforth Lights Switch-On event on Saturday 26^th November. He presented each of them with their prize, which was a signed print of the picture of their choice.

Barbara Fenner, who chose a picture of one of the Marple Locks, said “Thank you so much for the lovely prize. It was an unexpected surprise because I was a last-minute entrant.”

Oliver, aged 13, said “I chose a picture of a train because I love travelling on trains and it reminds me of the freedom I have to go to different places using the train”.

Jenny Barnes, the Chair of Friends of Handforth Station said “Eamonn’s wonderful pictures, owned by the Crewe to Manchester Community Railway Partnership, are moving from town to town in the area. We are very grateful to local shops and businesses for participating in the Art Trail.”

“This initiative is part of our efforts to link the Handforth Community to its railway station, and to help encourage knowledge and use of the local train line,” she added.

The Friends of Handforth Station were saddened to hear the news of the death of founder member Barry Burkhill last weekend.

Barry helped to found FoHS in 1996 and was a FoHS committee member for many of the years since then. In his role as a Cheshire County councillor he provided many useful leads to appropriate Council officers and contacts.

John Hulme, President of Cheshire Best Kept Stations said  “I was very saddened to learn of the Barry’s passing and recall many times meeting Barry at our Best Kept Stations events.  In 2003, and the first year of Cheshire Best Kept Stations, the Friends of Handforth were commended and there was Barry alongside other Friends receiving the award (see above).

As a Friend of Handforth Station, former Mayor of Macclesfield Borough Council and former Mayor of Cheshire East Council, Barry will be sadly missed by Community Rail Cheshire”.

Mike Bishop, fellow founder of FoHS and current President of FoHS, said “Barry was a dedicated supporter of Handforth Station, most noticeably campaigning for improved access to the platforms and widened footpaths.”

Barry attended many FoHS events in his full Cheshire Mayor Regalia (including joining in one of their Folk Trains). He often represented FoHS at local meetings held by the Community Rail Partnership and Cheshire Best Kept Stations, and was also a regular attendee at the annual national Community Rail Network conferences.

Mike added “Barry worked on many of our monthly Work Parties at the station, using his own ancient lopping shears intead of those offered by the rest of our group. We shall miss him.”

The FoHS have lowered their FoHS flag at the station to half-mast, to commemorate Barry’s work on behalf of the local station.