Teddy Bears Rainbow Picnic - a big hit!

 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!