The Friends of Handforth Station had a successful Work Party at the station on Saturday 30th April.  They thank all those who attended and gave up to 2 hours of their time.

The Friends picked litter, cleaned signs and their Art in a Box lockers, swept the waiting shelters, tidied up some of the inside of the ticket office, and watered and maintained much of their planting.

Two major items you should spot on your next visit to the station:

Inside the Ticket Office Handforth’s most recent Cheshire Best Kept Station Award (given to the Group for their work in Promoting Community Rail throughout 2021) has been mounted.

At the top of the Crewe-bound platform a banner advertising the 180th anniversary of the railway line from Manchester to Sandbach.

The Group were also very grateful to have received a donation from Handforth Town Council towards their Jubilee Celebrations.

On the last Saturday of May, the Friends will be running a special “Jubilee Work Party”. This will comprise primarily a drinks/food event to thank all the hard workers who have helped with Work Parties over the years.

When local artist Debbie Goldsmith heard the good news, she couldn’t stop grinning!  Her application on behalf of the Friends of Goostrey Station had been successful.  The Community Fund of the National Lottery had awarded Goostrey Art Studio, where she is the inspirational leader, ten thousand pounds!

Debbie quickly gathered together a few members of Friends of Goostrey Station and some local children who had attended her workshops. They met for a group photo on platform one at Goostrey Station, next to the iconic building where the Art Studio is located.

Two years ago, after protracted negotiations, the Victorian wooden building was restored. The latest grant will be used to improve the internal facilities. Tables, chairs and shelves have been generously donated by the Shopfitting Warehouse and the Cygnet Club, Congleton. But currently the building has no toilets or wash basins. In 2015, Friends of Goostrey Station paid United Utilities to reconnect the water supply by installing a pipe from the road to a lockable tap outside the station building. The water has helped to keep displays of flowering plants around the station healthy throughout the year.  Now the supply needs to be extended inside the building so sanitary ware can be fitted.

Rainbows, Brownies, Beavers and Cubs and their adult leaders have already enjoyed art workshops at the not-for-profit studio.  Activities have included creating animal masks and making prints of leaves and birds. There’s a car park at the station, but for a greener option participants can walk, cycle or (like the Rainbows from Holmes Chapel) travel by train.  If you’re interested in attending a workshop or bringing a group to Goostrey Art Studio, please contact Debbie Goldsmith on deborahgoldsmith@me.com .

The winners of Cheshire Best Kept Stations 2021 were presented at the Annual Awards Evening  at the Grange Theatre, Northwich on Friday 1st April 2022 by Mr Chris Jackson, Regional Director, Northern Trains Ltd.

The overall winner for 2021 was Hoylake Railway Station.

Alf Clark of Cheshire Best Kept Stations, on presenting the awards, said:

“Tonight’s Awards Evening is a celebration and a thank you for all the volunteers and community groups who do so much to brighten up our stations in Cheshire.

You are all winners! – whether or not you pick up an award tonight, this is a big thank you to you all;  a party for volunteers and for those who support & encourage you; rail industry, civic leaders and local authorities.

You deserve it.

We can celebrate something to be truly proud of at so many of our Cheshire stations.

We have seen some truly excellent work from volunteers and staff at stations right across Cheshire”

Click here for further details

Recently, local artist Debbie Goldsmith was delighted to welcome a group of Rainbows from Holmes Chapel as they alighted at Goostrey Station. Accompanied by their leaders, they had travelled by train over the viaduct high above the Dane valley.

Inside the restored Victorian station building on platform one, Debbie had prepared an exciting print workshop. ‘They did amazing work making bird prints’ she said. ‘I could hardly believe that all the girls were under 7 years old.’

The children made good use of the tables and chairs that were generously donated by the Shopfitting Warehouse and the Cygnet Club, Congleton. FOGS members are looking forward to improving the facilities further using a significant grant from the Community Fund of the National Lottery Award for All.

Beavers and Cubs from Goostrey have already enjoyed workshops at the new not-for-profit studio.  There’s a car park at the station, but for a greener option participants can walk, cycle or travel by train.

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 Goostrey Station have some exciting news to share!

They have received a significant grant to improve the interior of the restored Victorian station building which is now used by Goostrey Art Studio.

Local artist Debbie Goldsmith is coordinating events at the ‘not for profit’ Studio and she wants to offer regular art based activities. Recently she heard that her application to the National Lottery Awards for All has been successful.  Their Community Fund supports projects that will make a real difference to a local community; the money must be used to bring people together and improve cohesion.  Our grant will go towards the installation of much needed facilities which were not fitted when the wooden building was restored in 2019.

Debbie commented: “Exciting times are ahead and we are thrilled to be awarded the grant. It’s such an amazing space to work in and I am really looking forward to opening it up to our community. I haven’t stopped smiling since I heard the good news!”

Rainbows, Beavers and Cubs from Goostrey and Holmes Chapel have already booked workshops.  There’s a car park at the station, but for a greener option participants could walk, cycle or travel by train.  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