
Our guest from Northern was Natalie Loughborough Customer Service Director who was a most engaging and amenable guest. And a very hands on one too as she helped admirably with the queue to see Santa! Joining Natalie was Theo McLauchlan Glossop Line Manager whose support in the preparation for this event has been significant. Our sincere thanks to both especially as we recognise that this is the last time that the event will run under the current Northern franchise. Natalie was presented with a delightful seasonal candle holder created by FOGS' indefatigable Bunty Gibson! Also joining us for the first time as guests were Andrew Walker and his wife Linda. Andrew is Partnership officer for The High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership. We thank them both for joining us and to Linda for her sterling work in helping Santa! Andrew has given much time and valuable advice to us this year.
In conclusion we'd like to say that we appreciate the patience of passengers boarding and leaving trains during the two hour event as they encountered a very busy station! Our thanks as well to Matt Worman Client and Stakeholder Manager at Northern Rail for his generous provision of goody bags ( and to Stuart Patrick from Friends of Rose Hill for a reserve back up ), Christine and John Kimpton for looking after Santa and to Sean McGrath from Guide Bridge for invaluable assistance. Mike and staff from Twig cafe really entered the spirit too with free goodies for the children. We enjoy working with you Mike! We were also very touched to see the return of a disabled guest who, along with his parents, makes the trip to our event every year by bus and train from Chorlton as they say our gala marks the start of Christmas for them!
A very Happy Christmas from all of us at FOGS and a peaceful New Year.