Final whistle sounds for much-loved rail worker

A RAILWAY worker has retired after more than 40 years in the job.

Nick Pointon, 64, from Crompton Road in Macclesfield, has stepped down from the platform after 43 years.

The grandad-of-two and former Royal Airforce man grew up in Macclesfield and went to Ash Grove Primary School and the former Central Secondary School For Boys.

He joined British Rail in 1973 and became a senior clerk, then, when the railways were privatised, he moved to Macclesfield station as a customer service assistant.

He said: “It’s been wonderful, I’ve met so many people from different walks of life including TV actresses Joanna Lumley, who was lovely, Denise Welch, and Tricia Penrose, from Heartbeat.

“Sir Cary Cooper from Poynton says hello to me too - that’s very nice when a knight of the realm says ‘Hi mate, how are you?’.”

Railway man Nick even met his wife, Beryl, who he married 12 years ago, on the job, when she was working at Manchester Victoria station and he was based at Piccadilly.

His proudest moment was on Remembrance Day, 2002 when he upgraded four people going to a remembrance service in Macclesfield to first class and was given an official thank you for his kindness.

He said: “They were these three gentleman and a lady. I spoke to management and had them upgraded to first class.

“One of the gents asked me my surname - I didn’t know who he was but days later I got a letter inviting me to lunch at the Great Hall at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea with Brigadier Kim Ross OBE and his wife.”

During his tenure Nick has worked at Manchester Piccadilly, Stoke-On-Trent and Macclesfield, where he has worked for the last 17 years. He will now take on the role of full-time house husband to Beryl, a telephonist at Macclesfield Hospital.

He said: “I plan to spend more time with the grandchildren, who are the light of my life.”

Staff at Macclesfield station put on a special buffet to mark the milestone. He was also presented with a gold pocket watch from his colleagues.

Andrew Stokes Owen, customer service team leader at the station, said: “Nick is larger than life. He is a real cheeky chappie who used to call his female customers ‘my ladies’. We’re all really going to miss him.”