East Garston

Fund Raising - Tales of the Lambourn Line with Author and Rail historian, Kevin Robertson - 2008

The coming together to recount and reminisce about all that this branch line meant to people who travelled or worked on the train or whose ancestors helped to build the line, has met with a huge demand for tickets. We have been extremely pleased that the idea of those who were there, telling their favourite stories, (even those that we understand may not have been told in public before!) has appealed to so many people.

250 people gathered at East Garston village hall last Thursday and Friday to hear from those who were there, the story of The Lambourn Valley Branch Line which closed in 1960, but which continues to fascinate not just those who live in the Lambourn Valley, but those from much further afield. People came from Bristol, Banbury and even North Wales to hear tales and reminiscences told.

Kevin Robertson, railway historian and author, who has recently published his second book on the line, “The Lambourn Branch Revisited” , gave an often amusing, extremely thorough and excellent account of the line from start to finish. Some even more amusing tales were revealed by those who worked on the line, or travelled on it to school or work, much to the enjoyment of the audience. The evenings were chaired by The Revd Tony Cumberlidge, the Vicar of Lambourn, Eastbury and East Garston, himself a railway man as his father was Station Master on a North Wales Main Line. The evening was enhanced by his particular brand of amusing tales from childhood.

According to several well known East Garston residents, the evenings were probably the most successful occasions that have taken place in the village for many years. It was a huge team effort and raised £2,100 for the All Saints Church, East Garston, restoration fund.

Churchwarden Sally Wright said that the response to the event was phenomenal. “We could almost have sold the tickets twice over.We would like to thank all those who helped or came.”

Photos : Martyn Wright
Text : Sally Wright