Rail Minister Celebrates Success at Community Rail Awards!
Friends of Gillingham Station hosted a successful POP-UP Birthday event at Gillingham Station to mark the 90th birthday of HM The Queen and also the 160th year of the founding of the Salisbury to Yeovil Railway Line. The Mayor of Gillingham opened the event which attracted hundreds of people. The programme of events included music from Gillingham Imperial Silver Band, a Mini pop-up Museum, model train display, steam road engine, plant stalls, games for all and complimentary refreshments and celebratory birthday cake.
Rail Minister Paul Maynard MP opened the Community Rail Awards in Southport on Thursday 29th September 2016 where Great Western Railway and their Community Rail Partnerships scooped the top prize as Overall Winners.
In his speech the Rail Minister said: “Across the country we have seen the positive benefits that an active Community Rail Partnership can deliver. Neglected, low usage lines and tired rural stations are being replaced with vibrant community centres, independent cafes, book clubs, safety programmes for children, fabulous station art, line guides, shelters, seating, tourist information and even a return to traditional heritage style livery and signs on some stations. I want to ensure that there is long term funding available for partnerships so they can plan effectively for the future which is why we are making sure that Community Rail is getting a record level of funding and the recognition it deserves in all future rail franchises.”
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All category winners are listed below and full details of all winners and runners up projects/people can be seen in the Winners’ booklet
ACRP Community Rail Awards 2016 (1176 downloads )
The night was hosted by General Manager of ACoRP, Neil Buxton, with the awards presentations being made by the Managing Director of Merseyrail, Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde and Managing Director of Northern, Alex Hynes. Neil Buxton said “We would like to congratulate all the winners, they are all very well deserved!” he added “We would also like to acknowledge all the runners up and shortlisted projects” More than 400 guests attended the gala dinner at the Floral Hall where they helped to raise £1724 during the entertaining charity fundraising parts of the evening, with a range of great prizes being donated by several attending organisations. Alzheimers Research UK and Cancer Research UK are to share the funds.
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