JPD Cheshire Best Kept Stations Awards Evening; 19th January 2006
Pictured above: Clr Norman Edwards (Mayor Macclesfield Borough Council); Mrs Mary Edwards; (Mayoress of Macclesfield Borough Council); Mike Bishop (Chairman, Friends of Handforth Station); Mike Cooksley (Chair, Visit Chester & Cheshire); John Hulme; Matt Gantley (Group Head of Training, JPD Group Ltd); Mary Bishop.
There was standing room only last Thursday (19th Jan) at Northwich Railway Station when a High Sheriff, three Mayors, managers from Northern Rail and over 60 local volunteers awaited the judges decision on the JPD Cheshire Best Kept Station Competition.
Overall winner of the competition was Handforth who has been previously commended in 2003 and won the Macclesfield Borough Award last year.
On receiving the award Mike Bishop, Chairman of Handforth Station said “I am delighted we have won this award as it says a big thank you for all those volunteers that work at Handforth Station. It is much appreciated”
Pictured above: John Hulme; Alderman Ron Carey; Clr Norman Wright (Mayor of Vale Royal Borough) Mrs June Wright (Mayoress of Vale Royal Borough); Clr Mrs Lesley Cotterill (Mayor of Northwich).
Northwich Railway Station also scooped a Special Award for its new booking area and the £500,000 Zone development which opened late last year.
Now in its third year the Cheshire Best Kept Station Competition, organised by the Plumley based JPD Group, seeks out and awards those railway stations that have improved their appearance and added value to the travelling public.
Pictured above: Matt Gantley(Group Head of Training, JPD Group Ltd) and the High Sheriff of Cheshire (Mrs Carolin Patton-Smith).
The Cheshire High Sheriff, Mrs Carolin Patton-Smith, who had ridden in specially for the event said “I am absolutely thrilled with these awards as it gives the local youngsters a positive focus and they will be drawn into helping the community. This is what my own charity Cheshire Crimebeat is all about”.
Mr Mike Cooksley, chairman of Visit Chester & Cheshire, who presented the awards said “The Tourism Board is pleased to support this competition because our railway stations are one of the key gateways for our visitors and provide a first and lasting impression of the county. I applaud those volunteer groups who give their own time to make our stations a safer and better place”
It was not only Handforth and Northwich that were winners. The Forestry Commission picked up an award for its work at Delamere Station and the North Cheshire Rail User Group won two awards for their work at Helsby and Frodsham stations. Mobberley, whose Village Society looks after the station, won the Roberts Bakery award.
Mr John Hulme, former chairman of JPD Group, said “Organising this competition is now a serious challenge as it has generated so much interest in our local railway stations. The judges found it a difficult job this year as there were over 15 stations contending but with the Northern Rail, Tourism Board, Vale Royal Borough Council and local businesses like Roberts Bakery giving their support to the competition, it makes it all worthwhile. We have also this evening, launched the 2006 Competition and we would encourage local community groups to contact us if they would like to get involved at their local station.”
The Competition now has its own website www.bestkeptstations.info (or click on the link on the right) where you can follow the competition and get on-line information and train times for all the stations in Cheshire.