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• Can nothing dampen their enthusiasm...
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There was nothing very summery as 90 people gathered for the DMU at Bishops Lydeard Station on Friday 20 June. The weather had closed in and everything was grey and dank. However, this didn't dampen the spirits of our intrepid travellers as the train set forth for the new turning triangle and junction with the main line at Norton Fitzwarren, not as though you could see that much once you arrived there. With Ted Cubitt happily clipping tickets and Margaret Bartin selling raffle tickets as though they were going out of fashion, Peter Nurse, our driver, changed ends and the train headed for Crowcombe, where it was equally dank. Chris Austin, the Company Chairman, was looking somewhat damp by the time he had welcomed everyone to the event, thanked the Station Group for all their hard work in carrying out the refurbishment and inviting Lady Gass, HM Lord Lieutenant of Somerset to cut the ribbon and declare the Waiting Room and Kitchen re-opened. Lady Gass, was accompanied by her two sisters, all great, great grand daughters of Sir Peregrine Acland, who founded the WSR in 1856 and was the first Chairman of the Company. Having cut the ribbon Lady Gass was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Mike Hodge, one of the joint station masters
Our guests then collected the first course of their picnic supper and retreated to the train to keep dry. Braving the rain again they came back to the waiting room to find some very non-fattening desserts!. As night closed in Chris Austin picked the Raffle Prize winners and twelve lucky people went home with prize in hand. The train departed and the catering crew, Jan Cubitt, Doreen Smith, Gill Southwood and Margaret Bartin were left with Ted Cubitt and yours truly to clear up. Besides those mentioned above the station group would also like to thank Bob Livermore and Martin Southwood, our signalmen, Nigel Mann our guard, Peter Linford, buffet bar and David Bartin, David Bates and Dave Salter for tidying up the train before it reached Bishops Lydeard and getting rid of twelve bags of rubbish. This small and dedicated band worked very hard to create what I believe was a very enjoyable evening and which raised just over £700 for the Station Restoration Fund
Raffle Prize Winners...
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| | Family Rover Ticket - WSR Plc | | Dave Salter
| | 1 litre of Whisky | | Sue Lee
| | Fresh Rainbow Trout | | David Eva
| | Bottle of Port | | Pat Hunt
| | Bottle of Champagne | | Joy Beckwith
| | Lap Top Tray | | Mrs G A Austin
| | Print of Crowcombe Heathfield Station | | David Cross
| | Chocolate Biscuits | | Ann Cowling
| | Brooch | | Sylvia Ray
| | Pill Box | | Rosie Steel
| | Paperweight | | Hollinshead
| | 2009 Railway Calendar | | Neil Freeman
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Many thanks to Peter Martin for the above report...
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Larger size pictures can be seen on the June 2008 picture page...
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Midsummer Madness 2008
