Barbara Mine, Chair of the Friends of Bishopstone Station, has been named as one of the official Coronation Champions for volunteering.
The nomination from Southeast Communities Rail Partnership (SCRP) means Barbara has been recognised by Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort as part of the official Coronation celebrations in conjunction with Royal Voluntary Service.
With the support of Her Majesty The Queen Consort, a passionate advocate of volunteering and the President of Royal Voluntary service, the Coronation Champion Awards were launched to recognise exceptional volunteers from across the country at this momentous point in history.
Across the UK, Barbara and 499 other Champions dazzled the judging panel with the impact of their work, their inspirational stories and unwavering commitment to volunteering.
Tim Barkley, chair of SCRP, said: “Many congratulations on behalf of everyone at SCRP to Barbara Mines for being chosen as one of the volunteers to be named as Coronation Champions.
“She has led the team of volunteers at the Friends of Bishopstone Station in bringing a redundant station building back to life and it’s great that the new community hub is now so well-used thanks to her and her team’s tireless efforts. Barbara has been the driving force behind the project since 2016. The first phase of the restoration would not have got over the finish line without her at the wheel.
“We hope Barbara enjoys being part of the Coronation events and knows this award is so richly deserved. She embodies the spirit of partnership working at the heart of community rail.”
Jools Townsend, chief executive of Community Rail Network, said: “All of us at Community Rail Network are delighted to hear of Barbara’s fantastic accomplishment. As well as leading a passionate group of volunteers, Barbara has shown such dedication in spearheading the renovation project at Bishopstone Station, transforming a previously neglected and unused space into one which is warm, welcoming and beneficial for the whole community.
“This makes Barbara a great ambassador for community rail, a grassroots movement that’s all about bringing people together and helping communities get maximum benefit from their railways and stations. We congratulate Barbara on being recognised at such a high level for her commitment to the station and the community.”
