Duke of Norfolk School Visits to Glossop Station

 On Wednesday 5th February, Friday 7th February and Monday 10th February reception and Year One classes along with their teachers and parent helpers from the Duke of Norfolk Primary school visited Glossop Station for a little tour of the historic features followed by a train trip from Glossop to Hadfield and back. Neil met the teachers at the school and then walked with them to the station. Despite some dreadful weather forecasts all 3 visits took place in good condtions! The classes involved were those of Ms Wall. Miss Sweatmore and Miss Harvey. Keith at the station kindly explained his job to the childen with skill, humour and patience and Dave and Steve at the Booking office patiently offered up the correct number of platform tickets! This year's agreed souvenir! The children are working on transport project and it was hoped that these tickets would add a degree of authenticity! Ms Walls' class seranaded everybody at the station with a rendition of the Glossop station song!! Neil would especially like to thankk Liz Marsden, a star TA from the school who explained, using her local knowledge and background the significance of some of the historical pictures.Outside Neil regaled the history of the iconic lion and bell linking the building of Glossop station  by a former  Duke of Norfolk to the name of the children's school! The children agreed that were the Duke to visit in current times the bell should be rung again! Neil would also like to thank Ms Wall for her flexibility in changing the train trip to Dinting and back when a signalling fault prevented the train from going to Hadfield. A bit of unexpected excitement! Keith and Michelle the guard to the rescue with information! Michelle's patience at Dinting as children exited carefully over the gap between platform edge and train was also much appreciated. On the other trips the children were able to admire the mosaic murals on the walls at Hadfield station created by local Hadfield pupils in a project involving Friends of Hadfield station led by Joy Hallsworth and Glossop Ceramic Artist, Adrian Holt. Miss Harvey's class as they left the train at Glossop were treated to a special blowing of the horn by the train driver in their honour! They loved this! It is hoped some pictures of our trips will appear in the FOGS' display board at the station along with an article on the visits in the Glossop Chronicle. Neil and the School would like to say huge thanks to Northern's THEO McLAUCHLAN  - Glossop Line Manager - for giving his permission for these visits to take place and for arranging the train travel. For many of the children it was their first time on a train. We hope they will come back for more!!