Five volunteers with a combined total of 250 years’ service are honoured by Mid-Hants
THE Mid-Hants Railway has celebrated the sterling service of its ‘Fab Five’ – volunteers who have worked on the Watercress Line for a combined total of more than 250 years.
Long-service certificates were presented to Brian Lawes, Mark Walden, Steve Hayden, Chris le Corney and Jim Russell at the line’s annual general meeting in Alton on February 3.
The line’s CEO, Rebecca Dalley, and president Richard Lacey thanked the men, who each received a certificate to mark the 50-year service milestone.
Rebecca said: “We are fortunate to have these men as part of our valued team of 450 volunteers, who are the lifeblood of The Watercress Line. Without their support and expertise, it would be impossible to keep this much-loved heritage railway running.
“We are always keen to hear from anybody who would like to get involved as a volunteer; please see our website for more information and get in touch.”
Jim Russell joined the fledgling heritage railway in Alresford in 1973, aged 16. He became a signalman in 1981, a foreman of signalmen in 1983, a district signalling inspector in 1986/7 (and continues in the role), then a guard and shunter in 1987, and passed out as a diesel driver in 2003. He was elected to the Mid-Hants Railway Preservation Society board in 2000 and was chairman for seven years.
Dedicated service
Jim joined the Board of Mid-Hants Railway Ltd in 2005 as the director of safety, standards and operation until 2010. He became chairman of the rules and regulations committee until 2019 and rejoined the Mid-Hants Railway Ltd Board in the same year as the director safety and standards.
Chris le Corney became a volunteer in 1973. He has always been involved in restoring wagons and vintage carriages and recreated a c1960 freight train. He is chairman of both the wagon group at Alton and the
Mid-Hants Croydon group.
Steve Hayden joined the railway in 1972 and helped to lay the track from Ropley to Four Marks, and from Alton to Four Marks, to get the fledgling line up and running. He still works twice a week on building and gardening projects and has been a member of the permanent way group for the past 15 years.
Brian Lawes first became involved with the railway in 1973 to fight the proposed line closure, and then worked on preserving the line. He was appointed permanent way manager, helping to get trains running from Ropley to Alresford. He now volunteers for the miniature railway, T-Junction and shop.
Mark Walden shared an early love of trains with his grandfather and volunteered in 1973. He has been manager of the building department, and he received a lifetime achievement award in 2016 from the Transport Trust.
➜ Find out more about volunteering at https://watercressline.co.uk/volunteer/