Kentish Express Ashford & District
What a lovely name (and it won me £12)
Like the whole country, the KE office was full of expectation in advance of the birth of the new Royal baby last week.
But while staff here were naturally hoping the birth would all go smoothly and safely for mum Kate Middleton and the new babe there was special interest in the name chosen for the new arrival.
That’s because we held an office sweepstake with all those participating invited to suggest a possible boy’s and girl’s name.
For several days we were all on tenterhooks, and that continued as after the birth we then had to wait more than 24 hours until the name was actually announced.
The suggested names were mainly those favoured by the Royal family and tradition i.e. Albert, Edward, Charles, Philip, James, Victoria, Mary, Alice, Alexandra and Elizabeth.
But there were also a few rank outsiders i.e. Samuel, Amelia and Marguerite!
The sweepstake was won by advertising manager Zoe Hall, who correctly selected George the Channel Tunnel rail link and the High Speed Line to St Pancras.
Steam trains regularly pass through Ashford International station on their way to and from Canterbury but this autumn one will be stopping to pick up passengers for the first time.
On Thursday, September 19, residents will have the chance to board a steam-hauled Cathedrals Express passenger train and ride on it to the picturesque city of Salisbury.
The locomotive A1 Class 60163 Tornado will be stopping in both Wye and Ashford as it heads west through Surrey, Hampshire and Wiltshire, en route to Salisbury, where passengers can spend several hours before re-boarding for the return journey.
There will be four classes of travel, ranging from £99 in Standard through to the top class Pullman style dining experience, that costs £225 per person.
Steam Dreams chairman, Marcus Robertson, said: “We ran our inaugural Cathedrals Express trip from London to Canterbury in 2000, so we’re delighted to be starting from Canterbury for the very first time and picking up at other Kent stations such as Ashford and Wye, offering residents the chance to experience the thrill of travelling by steam. It promises to be a spectacular journey, taking in some fabulous scenery across four counties as we make our way between two of Britain’s most famous cathedral cities.”
For more information call 01483 209888 or visit www.cathedralsexpress.co.uk