The Parcels Office Exhibition Space at Lowestoft Railway Station is to host a series of winter warmer sessions for the local community.

Warm-Up Wednesdays, which are free to attend, will take place each week on Wednesdays between 11am and 3pm until the end of March. Members of the public are invited to come along and chat over complimentary tea and coffee, and enjoy an afternoon talk from a line-up of guest speakers on subjects including the town’s history, transport, local industry, and community projects.

The sessions, hosted by the Lowestoft Central Project and the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership (CRP), are a variation on the Warm Space initiatives across the country introduced to help people combat the cost of living.

Martin Halliday, Development Officer at Community Rail Norfolk (parent organisation of the Wherry Lines CRP), said: “With the cost of heating homes increasing significantly, we wanted to provide an opportunity for the public to enjoy a few hours in the warmth of our restored Parcels Office, with the chance to chat over a free tea or coffee and hear from guest speakers each week giving an afternoon talk on a variety of topics.”

The first Warm-Up Wednesday session commences at 11am on Wednesday 18 January with guest speaker Alan Neville, Community and Customer Engagement Manager at Greater Anglia. Having spent a lifetime working in the rail industry, he will discuss his varied career and how he manages the railway’s extensive volunteer station adoption scheme, followed by an opportunity for questions.

Alan said: “I’m delighted to be taking part in such a worthwhile initiative. The Parcels Office is a great community space and I hope members of the public will take the opportunity to come along and enjoy some social interaction in a warm, friendly environment.”

Warm-Up Wednesday sessions are open to all those aged over 18, and those attending can choose to call in for a short while or to stay for the whole day. For further information, please call at the Lowestoft Railway Station Community Rail Shop and Tourist Information Office, open Monday-Saturday 10am-3pm and Thursdays 10am-1pm.