Chelfham Awards Plaque unveiling ceremony. Saturday 2nd April + more news

Several invited guests as well as various L&B Directors and staff, together with the regular Chelfham volunteers were proud to enjoy the unveiling of the Hendy & Pendle Trust Volunteers, National Railway Heritage Award plaque by the Devon North MP, Selaine Saxby

Chelfham project leader, Nigel Thompson, introduced Andy Savage (until recently, Chairman of NHRA) who gave a short talk complimenting the L&BR's contribution to Railway Heritage at Chelfham, before Selaine Saxby unveiled the awards plaque.

1. Nigel introduces the VIP guests.

2. Guests also included several from the National Heritage Rail Awards Committee who had come down from London especially for the event. Andy Savage explains how the awards work to promote railway heritage around the country.

3. Devon North MP, Selaine Saxby draws aside the curtain revealing the Awards Plaque.

4. Nigel invites all of the small group of regular Chelfham Volunteers to pose for the camera.

5. Lots of photo opportunities as our MP has a go at pulling the levers in the signal cabin, under Nigel's instructions.

6. Some limited refreshments were on offer, as Nigel makes Selaine a cup of tea.

The visit to Chelfham went very well and everyone enjoyed seeing all the latest restoration which helped us to win the award and raising the profile of the whole L&B project even further.

Latest restoration pictures from Chelfham

7. Chelfham looking good in the afternoon sunshine.

8. In March more newly restored SR style iron railings fence were installed along the up platform by the up starting signal.

9. Then just in time for the ceremony, a new station lamp (restored by Dave Bloomfield) was erected in the original position alongside the station. 

10. & 11. Up platform and Gents. Further work on the Gents this year has now capped the front wall and also a temporary fire bucket display, again as per original railway views.

12. Northern end of the Up platform.

13. The Down platform. 

14 . After further Gents work. The wall capping is complete.

Currently, restoration work continues around and inside the Gents, more SR Green iron railings fence panels to be installed, and preparations to remove more stored equipment from the trackbed.

Chelfham Station is open on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Shop and trackbed/woodland walks - bluebells out very soon.

Words and photos by Nigel Thompson, except for 1, 3, 4: Stuart Nelhams and 5 and 6: Barry Marshall.