Introducing Didcot’s Marmalade
RATHER than something one might spread on a slice of bread, this story relates to an alternative interpretation of the headline – a sweet looking feline.
Marmalade is one of the Didcot Railway Centre's shed cats. The lack of visitors during the latest Covid-19 enforced shutdown has perhaps made her the only member of the team at the railway centre who thinks lockdown is a good idea.
Great Western Society (GWS) volunteer Frank Dumbleton writes: “I took this photograph of Marmalade on January 23. She was sitting on the station bench so she could keep an eye on Pete Gransden, a GWS volunteer who was working in the distance. Pete feeds her, so she likes to know where he is and when the next meal is coming.
“In the background is the set of driving wheels from No. 6023 King Edward II which were cut through when the locomotive derailed at Barry scrapyard, and a new set had to be made as part of the locomotive's restoration.”
Do you enjoy making a fuss of a friendly cat or dog who spends a lot of time at a heritage line? If so, please send a high-res photograph and some details to gevans@ mortons.co.uk – we'd be delighted to showcase them in our Next Stop column.