Greater Anglia has recognised its Station Adoption volunteers who have been working to bring their local rail stations to the heart of their communities, at its annual Station Adoption Awards.
Awards were given out to the train operator’s team of 330 volunteer station adopters – who work with Greater Anglia to improve their local stations for the benefit of the community – across 10 categories including best station, best adopter group, environmental and innovation award, and community involvement award.
The event was held at Ipswich Town Football Club’s Portman Road Stadium and included a seed swap run by the Essex and South Suffolk CRP to help increase biodiversity even further across the 61 rail station gardens managed by adopters on Greater Anglia’s network.
Greg Chandler, adopter of Brundall Gardens Station, and Sheila McGinley, adopter of Sheringham Station, both in Norfolk, jointly received the Judge’s Special Award for the tireless dedication and commitment they have shown to keeping their respective stations looking attractive for visitors since the station adoption initiative started in 2003.
Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, said: “It’s been great to celebrate the achievements of our station adopters over the past year and also reflect on the incredible transformation we have seen at rail stations over the last 20 years, a large part of which is thanks to Station Adoption.
“Our station adopters are real heroes who achieve amazing things to benefit their communities and make them better places to live with their enthusiasm to bring rural stations to life and restore their links to the communities they serve. The adopters know their stations and the needs of their community well and we are happy to support their aims through small grants and facilitating improvements.
“I am delighted that we can also recognise and thank them through the Adopter Awards – we’ve seen some fantastic and innovative projects this year and I would like to thank them all for their continued hard work.”
A full list of winners, including Community Rail Network members Wrabness Station Adopters and Lowestoft Central Project, can be viewed here.
