On 25th July the DfT announced that the Glossop and Buxton Rail lines were to be officially designated as Community Rail lines. Good news! The 2 lines now join 19 others in having this designation including famous lines like the Esk Valley, Cornish Branches, Tarka line, Lakes line..... Rail Minister Norman Baker said of the designation that he wants to encourage communities to become more closely involved in the services and stations. He hopes that innovative and cost effective services will be developed. Alan Chapman, Northern's Interim MD, welcomed the announcement saying the designation would help both lines to prosper, benefiting local people and visitors. County Councillor Damien Greenhalgh Chair of the High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership also welcomed the designation saying it brings well deserved recognition to the exhaustive work of the partnership in its efforts to improve stations on these lines and their services. Mike Rose of the partnership is to be praised in particular for all his hard work compling the case for the designation. This has taken several years. We at FOGS  are delighted with thee designation and the status it brings and look forward to further shared projects to improve the stations and services on the Glossop Line!

 On Wednesday 17th July Neil visited the DfT in London for an ACoRP Station Adoption meeting. It was one of the hottest days of the year as he made his way to the venue. Hosted in a cheerful and professional manner by ACoRP's Brian Barnsley and Neil Buxton it was a very interesting seminar with representatives from various lines and stations from around the country. We were able to share what we were most proud of - Neil spoke about the recent 5 station Teddy Bears Picnic event on the Glossop Line as well as discussing shared problems. Three DfT officials joined in the day and it was good to share experiences with them and hear their perspectives on Community Rail in the UK and the huge amount of work being done by volunteers. Neil was particularly impressed with the work going on at Leighton Buzzard, led by Sylvia and at Benthem led by Gerald, on the Leeds to Morecambe line. Mike Franklin, of Network Rail, gave a presentation on Community schemes around the country. Pictures were shown of Glossop station's embankment garden featuring before and after ie current! Mike was generous in his praise of the work being done at Glossop and praised, in particular, the involvement of Pete Gaskell and Russell Pike of Network Rail in getting this scheme off the ground and for continued involvement.
   Last week Neil visited Joy at Friends of Hadfield to discuss work on the storyboard project. Whilst there  he was able to see all the work going on to transform the approach to the station with newplanting schemes. It was also a delight to seethe new art work on the station all done by young children at local schools. The scenes feature areas around Hadfield eg Torside reservoir. They are bright and colourful with a mosaic by Glossop based ceramic artist Adrian Holt. Well worth a look! Joy is to be congratulated for all her hard work in getting this project to fruition!

 On Saturday 6th July between 11.00 and 13.00 the five station friends' groups at Broadbottom, Dinting, Glossop, Hadfield and Hattersley held their first joint Teddy Bears Picnic on the Glossop line in conjunction and with the support of, Northern Rail. It was the first time that Dinting and Hadfield had been part of this family event and we warmly welcomed them! Also joining us for the first time was The Rainbow Trust - the  charity supporting families with terminally ill children. They brought along the famous Rainbow characters of Bungle, Zippy and George to the trains and stations. We say a huge thank you to their sterling work on a very hot day and also to Paul Marsh for ensuring their travels were safe and happy ones. They were a big hit with the children with high fives the order of the day! At Glossop Caroline England decorated the waiting room for two innovative storytelling sessions. Andrea Strogen and Hilary Bennett were kept busy with children's teddy making - our thanks to Simon Denvers for the supply of wooden teddies and rainbows. Glossop Model Railway Club grabbed attention with a working layout. Eric Pass masterminded free food supplies and Jacqueline Horne had a happy couple of hours tagging and naming teddies! Paul Kiddy helped with timetable details and Neil, sporting a black eye, made tea! Visitors tended to come in waves relating to train arrivals and departures. We welcomed Theo, and son Declan - in a very cool panama - and Steve Magner of TfGM. Steve has generously helped with publicity costs. Also visiting was Damien Greenhalgh, one of our new Derbyshire County Councillors. Damien kindly spent a lot of time talking to participants. At Broadbottom face painting and hook the crab was in full swing and at Hattersley the bouncy castle and other games ensured a good turn out! John LeGrove tirelessly spent time time up and down the line ensuring all was well and filling the paddling pool at Broadbottom! John Kimpton travelling with Bungle, Zippy and George and Paul took a range of photos capturing the day (Click here for John's photos) which we will also display at the station soon! Our thanks to Kate Dring of The Rainbow Trust for her help/organisation - Kate was seen at one point disappearing on the train with a bucket beyond Hattersley! And to Paul Marsh for coordinating the links to the Trust on behalf of the five station groups. And thanks, of course to Northern Rail and in particular Theo McLauchlan for organising the free travel, creating the teddy bear stickers and for his ongoing support and interest. We hope everyone enjoyed the five station teddy bears picnic!

 On Saturday 6th July another first for the Friends of Groups on the Glossop line! A 5 station Teddy Bears Picnic will be held between 11.00 and 13.00. The stations involved are Hadfield, Glossop, Dinting, Broadbottom and Hattersley. By kind permission of Northern Rail free travel will be permitted between all 5 stations from 11.00 to 13.00 for teddy bears, children and accompanying adults.
  We are delighted to welcome Dinting and Hadfield stations to the event for 2013!
 At each station there will be friends groups' reps to meet and greet teddies and families and to help them with their journeys!
 The main activities will centre on Broadbottom, Glossop and Hattersley stations. At Broadbottom there will be games, face painting and other activities. At Glossop there will be a themed storytelling session and craft making activities. Glossop Model Railway Club will also have a working layout on display. At Hattersley there will be a Bouncy castle, games and a static fire engine exhibit. All activities will be free and free refreshments for teddies and children will also be offered at Broadbottom, Glossop and Hattersley stations.
NEW FOR 2013 BUNGLE, ZIPPY AND GEORGE!!
Due to the involvement of The Rainbow Trust - the children's charity supporting families with terminally ill children -the popular television animal characters of Zippy, Bungle and George will also be making appearances on the trains and stations to join in the fun!
So do come along to any of the stations for a teddy bears picnic with a difference! 
  We would like to thank Steve Magner at TfGM for help with publicity costs and Theo McLauchlan, Northern's Area Manager at Guide Bridge, for his ongoing support and, in particular, for arranging the free travel.

 In common with the late season summer has now come to Glossop Station! Bunty Gibson and Chris Haris, helped by Neil, have now created attractive summer flower displays in the window boxes and hanging baskets. The hanging basket outside the sation has kindly been provided by High Peak Borough Council and is beginning to look a treat!