We enjoyed meeting everyone including familiar friends - Joy from Hadfield and Babs from Hattersley and Stephen from SEMCoRP. We met for the first time Alison from Northern and Jackie from Network Rail both of whom had taken a trip to see Glossop Station earlier that morning. We appreciated their interest and kind comments. We would like to thank David Waite and Dawn at Guide Bridge for their practical help and good humour!! And also thanks to Theo for involving us in this interesting occasion. We were pleased to learn that customers using Guide Bridge like the new facilities and that footfall has increased.
On Thursday 11th December Baroness Kramer Transport Minister formally opened the new Ticket office/Waiting room and Car Park at Guide Bridge Station. She was accompanied by Alex Hynes Managing Director of Northern, Theo McLauchlan Glossop Line Manager and Matthew Worman Client and Stakeholder Manager for Northern. Friends of Glossop Station had been invited to offer the refreshments at this event by Theo and a splendid spread had been prepared by the indefatigable Bunty Gibson and her team! Also taking centre stage on the table in the conference room was a lovely railway themed floral arrangement skillfully created by Christine Kimpton with the help of her husband John. The occasion was marked by a blue ribbon opening and a plaque unveiling. Alex welcomed the Baroness to the station and thanked Friends of Glossop for its participation. Picking up on this theme Baroness Kramer thanked FOGS for bringing its community spirit down the line! We were happy to do so especially as the Glossop Line is now a designated DfT Community Rail Line. The Baroness was then given a tour of the ticket office backstage before leaving to see the progress of work at Manchester Victoria.
We enjoyed meeting everyone including familiar friends - Joy from Hadfield and Babs from Hattersley and Stephen from SEMCoRP. We met for the first time Alison from Northern and Jackie from Network Rail both of whom had taken a trip to see Glossop Station earlier that morning. We appreciated their interest and kind comments. We would like to thank David Waite and Dawn at Guide Bridge for their practical help and good humour!! And also thanks to Theo for involving us in this interesting occasion. We were pleased to learn that customers using Guide Bridge like the new facilities and that footfall has increased. Friends of Glossop Station extend a warm welcome to our new artists who have their work on display in the Waiting Room's Station Art Gallery - Marie Brookes and Roselyne Quilis-Edwards. Both are Glossop based artists who have exhibited elsewhere. Roselyne's work feature some dramatic seascapes and Marie's feature woodland scenes and landscapes. All pictures may be purchased. Marie can be contacted on 01457 866581 and Roselyne on 01457 867137. Our thanks to John Kimpton for painting the backdrop and to Northern for their ongoing support.
FOGS would like to thank GLOSSOP GARDEN CENTRE for their generous donation of the Christmas tree to the station. Now decorated with handcrafted baubles created by children at the station's recent Christmas Gala and lights switched on by Northern's Managing Director Alex Hynes, the tree provides a cheery and seasonal greeting to all users at the station.
![]() On Saturday 6th December Friends of Glossop Station held their annual Christmas Gala. Father Christmas, arrived promptly on the 11.47 Northern train from Lapland was greeted by the largest crowd of children and adults since the event began five years ago! Moving to the waiting room Father Christmas greeted each child personally before handing over a free gift. Over 100 gifts were given along with satsumas and sweets given out by FOGS' Jacqueline Horne At the end of the session Santa's face was redder than the pictures of him seen on Christmas cards! (Click here for pictures of the day) Our other special guest was Alex Hynes, Managing Director of Northern Rail. We were delighted to welcome Alex as it was his first visit to Glossop station. With the help of his young nephew Ned, Alex switched on the Christmas tree lights at around 11.30. He then made a short speech complimenting FOGS on its work at the station as well as stressing Northern's commitment to Community involvement. Alex was then given a short tour of the station ahead of Santa's arrival which allowed him to explore the station's features and recent developments such as the newly established Twig cafe. His eye was caught in the waiting room station Art Gallery by the new paintings of Glossop artists Marie Brooke and Roselyne Quilis-Edwards. Alex stayed for over two hours and chatted to many people proving to be a most amenable and interested guest. On his departure he was given in a presentation box a gift of Bunty Gibson's famous rocky road cake and a framed montage of Glossop station images created by Paul Marsh. Folk Group SPINDRIFT provided seasonal music and Glossop Model Railway Society provided a popular interactive layout for the children. Christine Kimpton's Craft making stall allowed childern to make decorations for the station's tree and their own homes. Nearby Chris and Barbara cheerfully manned the raffle with a first prize of a Northern Rail Day out. FOGS would like to thank everyone for their support. In particular Theo McLauchlan Glossop Line Manager and all the FOGS' backstage team who made this event possible. To Ian Dalton, Janet, Dave, Graham and Claire - our local Northern Staff our thanks for their patience and active help! Much appreciated! And of course special thanks to Father Christmas and Alex for joining us on the day. To view photographs of the day click here. Please check local papers including Glossop Chronicle and Buxton Advertiser for news too. |
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January 2021
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