Hello to all our Friends & supporters

What a year we are having (again!). It doesn't seem too long since we last put pen to paper(actually it isn't!); we hope you enjoyed our project special. We know at least some of you did and thanks for all the compliments and support we received.

Once more we have a packed newsletter and progress to report.

Well - we are on the way! A motion, in support of our campaign to lobby TfGM for the reopening of 'our' line was proposed by Councillor Iain Roberts (pictured left). The motion also, as the Mayor, Councillor Chris Murphy, pointed out, in a rare occurrence, had 3 seconders: Councillor Walter Brett, pictured top right, Councillor (& TfGM committee member) Paul Bellis, pictured centre and Councillor Peter Burns, (who commented that he had not been a third seconder before!) pictured bottom right.

Friends Dot, Dave, Alan & Kim were there to witness this event and know that you will be pleased, but not surprised, to read that we were eloquently and ardently seconded by Walter in support of the motion, and enthusiastic cross-party support was also given both by Paul Bellis (Conservative) and Peter Burns (Independent). The motion was agreed unanimously by the council and we could barely wait to get out of the council chamber to express our delight!

If you wish to hear it for yourself, go onto the Council website where there is a webcast of the whole meeting.

It remains for the Friends to thank Andrew Gwynne MP, all his work and who initiated the first meeting with both Stockport & Tameside Council leaders as reported in our last newsletter. We keep saying it Andrew, but we really could not do this without you! We also need to thank Council Leader Sue Derbyshire, Walter, Tom Grundy & Andy Verdeille for all their hard work within the council to make this happen as well as Liberal Democrat Political Assistant to SMBC, Jason Good & Labour Political Assistant to SMBC, Matthew Rhodes, who also worked so hard to get everything right.

This comes hot on the heels of the equally good news that Tameside Council agreed a similar motion the week before - so thanks to Councillor Kieran Quinn, Councillors Allison Gwynne, Dawson Lane and Brenda Warrington for their help. The Tameside motion, incidentally, includes the re-opening of Droylsden Station which is a cause very close to Cllr Quinn's heart so it coincides perfectly with the Campaign group's aims.

We are now confident that with both our councils' backing we can start to make real progress - at least the powers that be within Transport for Greater Manchester will realise we aren't going away!!

Those of you who read the Stockport Express Article (16th October issue) were probably frustrated if not a little confused by Councillor Fender's comments at the end of the article, as they bear little or no relation to the Campaign Group's aims. This week's Express (3oth October) should contain letters both from FORSS & Andrew Gwynne to dispute Cllr Fender's comments so watch this space. We have had correspondence with the TfGM Chief Executive, Dr Jon Lamonte who has read our reports and replied to us. A reply will be on its way back to him now that the Councils of Stockport & Tameside have given us their full backing.

Our first Coffee Morning last year, considering how cold it was, gave us so much heart with the encouragement we received, we had no hesitation in holding another event this year. It is such a great cause and everyone has been touched by cancer in some way- it seemed to make sense to contribute again - and you didn't let us down!

The sun shone this year and people came early and we were busy all morning, selling coffee, cake, tomatoes, crab apple jelly and biscuits.

Dot will definitely have to make more Bara'brith next year - the most popular confection of the day!

Friend Rob risked life & limb to put up the bunting up outside the station! We were delighted to welcome Andrew & Allison Gwynne, MEP Chris Davies & PA Jackie Wilson (who also helped us out with the coffee and cake selling).

pictured above: Dot, Andrew & Allison Gwynne

above: The Mayor & Mayoress of Stockport, Chris & Dot Murphy

right: Jackie Wilson & MEP Chris Davies

The Mayor & Mayoress were also there to open our landscape project (more later).

Friend Terry Rourke had already begun fund raising with a raffle in which songs related to train travel were chosen for a small donation and Allison drew the winners for us:

Below: Terry & Dot with the full song board

Allison draws the winner of the raffle The winners were: 1st prize: £25 - 'Iron Road' Jean Cocksey 2nd prize:£10- 'Trans Siberian' Dave Ashworth 3rd prize £5- 'Perils of Pauline' Maureen Flynn

Thanks very much Terry - the raffle raised £60!

We also managed to give cake to the conductor and driver of our weekly train - who, it must be admitted, were slightly bemused!

Alongside the main aim of the morning we also took advantage of being able to officially unveil our 2013 landscaping project on the station which has transformed our somewhat tatty frontage into a smart platform that is now really impressive (well, we think so anyway!!)

above: Friends Keith, Kim, Terry, Tom, Noel, Mayoress Dot, Mayor Chris, Friends Dot & Dave. top right: Dot & Dot! right: The Mayor & Mayoress with Walter right: MEP Chris Davies with Friend Dave Ashworth

above & right: The Friends & Coffee Morning Customers celebrate the unveiling

The morning went really well with one lovely gentleman asking if we couldn't do this every week!

Once again McDonalds, on Sandy Lane, Reddish, made invaluable donations of cups, stirrers & sugar - thanks to all the staff.

Thank you everyone -

we raised the magnificent total of

£352 -

£152 up on last year

we are absolutely delighted and really grateful - you did us proud again!

thanks also to Graham Kelsey & Rob Crompton for additional photographs

When we heard that a special train was stopping at our station on Sunday 8th September around 3.45pm; and people were going to actually alight for a few minutes; and not being ones to miss an opportunity, we made plans to go, set up a stall, talk to whoever it was about anything they wanted to!! So, off we went, and set up and waited for them to arrive.. and we waited.....

and waited......

and waited......

and waited....

pictured variously, Dave, Dot, Martin, Ian, Tom, Noel, Terry, Graham, Sue, Keith, Margaret, Ian, Alan & Kim

We were, an hour & 10 minutes later just starting to pack up and head off home (in fact the tablecloth was off and the table dismantled) when we heard the cry ..'It's here, it's here' and then you have never seen us move so quickly!

The table was back up in a trice and then the train arrived..

...and out jumped a group of Transpennine staff for a quick group photo before jumping back on to continue the journey.

Obviously they were surprised to see us and when we asked, explained they were so late due to trouble at Ardwick, so couldn't have the scheduled stop. The train was a special charter for the 'Branch Line Society' - a group of train enthusiasts who visit station yards, boxes, and engine sheds and had paid handsomely for the privilege to raise money for the 'Railway Children' charity - a very worthy cause. Transpennine staff posing for pictures at Reddish South

Our disappointment was clear and, bless 'em, they offered to take us to Stockport and then drop us back and we could issue leaflets etc on the train. Dot, Dave & Noel stayed to look after the store while Friends Terry, Graham, Alan, Ian, Margaret & Kim boarded. So it came about that for the first time in over 20 years, passengers were actually picked up at Reddish South Station, taken to Stockport and brought back!!!!! You can imagine our excitement!!

However, no time to enjoy the ride - Graham with Kim close behind went down the carriages announcing who we are, what we do and asking for support .

We had a five minute wait at Stockport then back up the line again. We met up with some Branch Line members who were very welcoming to us and had a quick chat about why we were both there.

Graham Kelsey in full flow on the train!

Graham Jolly- Branch Line Society

from L to R: Tim Brown, Transpennine; Friends Graham Kelsey, Terry Rourke, 'just a Branch Line member' Tom Gilbey, and gentleman I didn't get the name of; Friend Ian Barker. In no time at all we were back at Reddish South after a bit of a surreal but exciting and rewarding afternoon!

hurried goodbyes from Transpennine staff after emergency magnet purchase!!

above: the Transpennine train driver happy to give us a picture

Incidentally, we have got Christmas Card leaflets to help raise money for the charity if anyone is interested in purchasing Christmas cards. There are some beautiful train pictures.

Departure after unscheduled stop!

Again considerable thanks are due to the Branch Line Society and Transpennine for being so generous, accommodating and welcoming. We've promised to stay in touch! They had managed to stop at Denton, (and they generously supplied us with a photo) but unfortunately it was so delayed Alan & FODS had gone home!

This is what we were hoping for!! (thanks to Graham Kelsey & the Branch Line society for additional photos)

Well, we do normally headline our newsletters with these excellent trips, but, you will agree that we have been more than usually busy this last month or two!

However, it should not take away what was a fabulous trip with, as usual, very good company and a thoroughly enjoyable day.

We had Ged & Phil on board who entertained us well (despite the professional heckler who came with them again!) and we had a long but really good day- always highlighted by the fact we can stagger on (it was 6am!!) and stagger off again!

Friends Dot & Dave

Friends Walter & Dave

As you can see our accommodation was very acceptable!

Ged & Phil 'Two Blokes with a Guitar'

Its amazing what you can find on what you think is going to be a reasonably straightforward day out - King Kong on a miniature Empire State Building....and gorillas popping up everywhere!

It was 'GOGOGORILLAS' project in aid of the 'Break' Charity and the 'Born Free Foundation' - similar to the Manchester 'cow' and the recent 'Gromit' decorating projects. There were 52 gorillas in all, dotted around Norwich -there was a competition to find them all but we didn't have the time! They were due to be auctioned in early October. We did manage the Cathedral however, which was beautiful to visit and the castle which might have been a little too interactive for those of us over 10 years old!! below: Norwich Cathedral

Inside Norwich Castle (the interactive bit was on the ground floor!)

We had the usual banter on the way back home - and met up again with Bobby Ball - not working this time, but a passenger!

Norwich were playing Southampton that day - and even though Norwich won we all agreed you've never seen such glum fans on the winning side ever! We had to ask who won!!

pictured above R to L: Phil, Dave (Wilson), Walter, Bobby, Ged, Dave (Ashworth),Dot, Alan & Tom pictured: Dot, Bobby, Phil & Ged

We have been spoilt this year - our third trip (and the second in a fortnight) was the Mid Cheshires (in collaboration with Compass Tours) trip to Carlisle via the Settle- Carlisle line going and the scenic coastal route coming back.

We were disappointed that we could not embark at Reddish South due to timing difficulties but were at Stockport at the much more civilised hour of 9.30am. The Cathedral was beautiful and two hours was all too short a time to see this beautiful city - it is well worth a visit. pictured right and below: Carlisle Cathedral

The trip home was beautiful (we saw seals!!)but too dark to take good photographs. As you can see, the picture below shows it was raining heavily when we got home so apologies for the quality. pictured below - The Rovers Return!

Many congratulations to Friends Treasurer Dot & Website Manager Dave who celebrated their Ruby Wedding Anniversary on the 20th October 2013- Here's to the next 40!!