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26 Issue 24 - December 2017 - Times Pershore Times - December 2017 - Issue 24 7 Steam, diesel and mince pies! Winter Newsletter railway’s infrastructure had gone and many thought reopening an impossible task. “Now we operate over 13 miles of railway Blue plaque unveiling line – and next year it will be 15 miles long. The line has over 900 volunteers who have painstakingly created everything that you see today!” Last day of the railway’s season will be New Year’s Day. Says Ian: “This coincides with the New Year’s Day race meeting at Racecourse so if you fancy a ‘day at the races’ then you can leave your car at Toddington and let the train take you to www.pershorecivicsociety.org.uk within yards of the main racecourse entrance. Steam in the Cotswolds: Crisp cold air condenses the steam coming from ‘Manor’ class locomotive no “The last race is at 15.40 which should leave 7820 ‘Dinmore Manor’ with a December 2016 train from Toddington to Cheltenham Racecourse plenty of time to catch the 16.40 return (picture Malcolm Ranieri) service to Toddington – and miss the traffic There’s lots going on after Christmas on Buckland which is tantalisingly close to jams when everyone tries to leave at once!” the GWSR! Broadway station, which will open on 30th “You don’t have to go to the races though - What’s the best antidote to cold turkey after March next year. just come for the ride!" Christmas? Well, it’s hard to beat a trip on a The big event of the post-Christmas period The railway is operating every day from steam – or heritage diesel – train on the however, is a ‘mixed traction’ gala on 29th Boxing Day until New Year’s Day. Full Warwickshire Steam and 30th December which will see two steam details and train times can be found on the Railway! locomotives as well as three of the railway’s railway’s website at www.gwsr.com Running between Cheltenham Racecourse magnificent historic diesel locomotives in Services resume on 10 March 2018 with and Little Buckland near Broadway (the action. It will be a reminder of the 1960s trains between Toddington and Cheltenham railway reopens all the way to Broadway when diesel traction gradually took over from Racecourse only. The line will be fully next year!) the line runs along the bottom steam. Some trains will be double-headed or reopened to Broadway on 30 March – again, William Dowty and his son who was a pioneer of aeronautical Dowty family were present with edge of the Cotswold escarpment with work with a locomotive at each end – and full information is on the railway’s website. became Sir , were engineering and the founder of the plaque unveiled by George glorious views across the winter landscape to services will be operating over the full length Competition! honoured by Pershore Civic Dowty Aviation formed in 1935 Dowty jnr. the distant Malverns. of the line. Society on Sun 19 November, making aircraft equipment in Following the ceremony After the frenetic ‘Santa Special’ season of Ian Crowder, spokesman for the railway If you would like to win a family ticket (for when a blue plaque in their name Cheltenham, everyone adjourned to the Star December, when the railway expected to commented: “This is an event that has up to two adults and three children) for a day was installed at No. 29 High inventing the first internally Inn when many of the Dowty carry more than 10,000 visitors to meet something for everyone – and you don’t have out on the magnificent Gloucestershire Street (originally known as sprung aircraft wheel and going family met members of their Father Christmas, the end of the 2017 season to be a ‘railway buff’ to enjoy the best of rail Warwickshire Steam Railway during 2018, Rembrandt House) and today on to make landing gear for extended family for the first sees plenty of action on the line with trains travel from the 1960s. then answer this simple question: owned by Persora. Frank Whittle's jet-propelled time, and had an opportunity to running every day up to New Year’s day. “Many of the locomotive types operating “How many mince pies does the railway William 1856-1913 was a Gloster aeroplane. view the photographic exhibition This is also a chance to help polish off the used to work over what was known as the expect to be eaten over the chemist and early pioneer of The company was acquired by and help complete the family last of the 15,000 special-recipe mince pies ‘Honeybourne Line’ in British Railways’ Christmas period?” photography, optician and dentist the TI group in 1992. tree. made locally for the railway over the days. And it is a reminder of what can be Send your answer by email to the Pershore and his son George 1901-1975 Numerous members of the Christmas season! achieved with determination and lots of Times,...or drop a card to us at the office.…. Boxing Day sees a full steam-powered day single-minded volunteers. Correct answers will be put into a hat and the Diary of Future Events 2018: Wed 4 July on the line along with diesel railcar trips “When the GWSR first settled at Toddington winner will be drawn on Thursday 21st All talks are 7pm for 7.30pm in Bournville Village Trust with between Winchcombe, Toddington and Little back in 1982 all the track and most of the December by the Editor St. Andrews Hall, Pershore Duncan Cadbury

Thurs 25 January 20 September Dates for the Diary Talk by Nicholas Coleridge Worcester Cathedral Library Useful telephone numbers Chairman of Conde Nast December January Tues.12th 2.30pm Mothers’ Union Thurs 4th 7.30 Information & Advice Publications and involved with ‘Christmas Meeting’ Pershore Heritage and History Pershore Post Office 01386 552608 the Victoria and Albert Museum More talks are in the pipeline Society meeting at Wulstan Hall, Pershore Library 01905 822722 so watch this space! Pershore Tourist Information. 01386 556591 Fri.15th 7.30pm Priest Lane. Seasonal theme “We Tues 6th February Pershore Town Hall 01386 561561 Johnny Coppin’s ‘All on a Winter’s Three Kings”. Visitors are very Citizens Advice 0344 411 1303 Geology of Night’ welcome Wychavon District Council 01386 565000 Talk to be given by Liz Presented by FOPA, a seasonal Pershore Hospital 01386 502070 Etheridge on what should be a mix of traditional carols, new NHS Non Emergency 111 fascinating insight into the songs, humorous readings and Find a NHS Dentist 111 history of the rocks that make up Pershore Medical Practice 01386 553346 folklore, Tickets £17.50 from Blue, our now familiar landscape. Broad Street, Pershore or from If you would like to Abbotswood Medical Practice 01386 552424 shiningfriends.com West Mercia Police 0300 333 3300 Wishing you publicise Police Non Emergency 101 Fri 2 March Sat.16th 7.30pm any events happening in Age UK 01386 422700 Annual General Meeting with all a very happy RSPCA 0300 123 4999 guest speaker Jack Hegarty MD Pershore Choral Christmas or around Pershore RSPB 01767 693690 Concert of Wychavon District Council Tel: 01386 803803 Vale Wildlife Hospital & Beauchamp Community, Malvern Christmas Including Christmas Carols and Rehab.Centre 01386 88228 speaking on conservation. extracts from the Messiah, tickets or email: Travel 23 September saw a visit to the the poor of the parish. Both the Centre £12.50, students & Pershore Railway Station 0845 700 0125 Beauchamp Community where Almshouses and St Leonards Sat 19 May children £6 and Side £7.50, [email protected] National Rail 0345 748 4950 Emergencies our group was led into a Church, a masterpiece of Tour of Droitwich by Civic student/child £3.50 from Blue, Editorial is free! Society Broad Street, Pershore. Crimestoppers 0800 555111 spacious quadrangle to see the Victorian Gothic architecture, Tues.19th 7.30pm Women’s Gas 0800 111 999 elegant Victorian almshouses were designed by Philip Charles Fellowship Pie & Punch with Water 0800 783 4444 which were dedicated in 1864 as Hardwick, a member of the Tues 12 June Electricity 0800 328 1111 Visit to Elgar’s Birthplace entertainment from Pensham Oil - Marvin Cox 01562 60354 homes for the retired workers Oxford Movement. Singers from the Madresfield estate and