Farewell Ralph

When Ralph Coleman first applied to work for Railway Mission, he did not get the job. Although he had the experience and was qualified, we felt that his gifts were more suited to being a chaplain. So he became the chaplain for the East Midlands, then later reducing his hours and working in the West Midlands.

Ralph Coleman is hanging up his chaplain’s lanyard for a well earned retirement

Ralph has made a huge and positive impact on the lives of railway people and his work and dedication will be missed by the team. We wish him every blessing for his retirement.

A good read during lockdown…

Old Bill’s Tales of the Railway ‘Old Bill’ by Bill Rogerson MBE , is ‘the heart-warming tale of the life of a British Transport Police Officer and steadfast community worker. Bill looks back at his 49 years working with the British Transport Police working as a warranted officer, a civilian and a volunteer, which was sometime humorous and sometimes serious.’ Bill’s book is available from Amazon Books.

Chaplains’ Prayer & Info

Andrew Hall

Area Manager North, West Midlands, Avanti, Chiltern

As I write this I am aware that today is a ‘Day of Prayer for the Nation’ as called by many of the streams and denominations in the UK.

This should not be a nationalistic thing or an attempt to use ‘2 Chronicles 7:14 (if my people…)’ out of context but an understanding that, in the spirit of Matthew 19:26 (with human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible), our trust in God is not misplaced.

Our colleagues on the railway are under pressure, many have worked on despite very hard situations in their lives. We thank God for them and ask Him to richly bless them.

Please pray that as chaplains we encounter new ways of caring for them.

Unfortunately, I missed contributing to our last newsletter. During the first lockdown I was suddenly shocked and traumatised with the ill health of my husband. Thankfully he is now under the care and support of a specialist hospital and I am in a much better place.

I would never have considered contacting the railway staff through a

Michele Ashton

London East, Anglia,Route for Anglia Abellio, c2c, TfL East Teams meeting if we didn't have to face lockdown. For me it's transformed the way I work, to be invited to a meeting with 125 staff in attendance and give a presentation and offer support was a huge privilege and this is one of many opportunities I have had recently.

Staff are embracing a chaplain's contact and it's a wonderful to see how my role is evolving by using different ways of communicating.

I am keeping in contact with people by telephone and email. We have a good network of retired folk, many of whom live alone. They enjoy sharing wonderful stories of things that happened ‘in their day!’

Approaching Mothering Sunday, I remember one driver telling me he had forgotten to buy flowers for his mother. It was late Saturday evening.

As he was working a branch line in Cornwall he noticed daffodils on the embankment, so he stopped, got out of the cab and picked them! No one ever knew – and Mum was delighted!

I am not suggesting that we do such things, but it is important that we all try to remember folk who are lonely and offer our prayers and encouragement in any ways we can.

David Hardy

West Midlands, Gloucester, Retired Railway Staff

Dylis George

Southeastern, GTR for South Eastern routes, TfL South

Misty Copeland puts forward that, “Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.” I am a testament to this. I am part of a team that not only offers and gives support to all and sundry on the railway but supports its own impartially. ‘A burden shared is a burden halved.’

I share my pains, and struggles with my team and the unequivocal support I receive from my colleagues is amazing; we are there for each other, just as we are there for you.

The journey has not been easy, but I have pulled through day by day because I have the right team to support me. My earnest prayer is that the grace of God will be sufficient for us at all times.

A warm welcome to everyone, particularly to those of you whom I’ve now had the opportunity to ‘meet’ and get to know via the new medium. Our new medium of course being Zoom (why didn’t I buy shares in them a year ago?), Teams, Skype, Facebook etc.

It has meant that I have been able to meet so many of you to share, have a bit of fun and talk about some of the issues

Christopher Henley

South West Railway, Waterloo to the South Coast, TfL South West important to you on a one-to-one basis, and in absolute confidence. Instead of a voice on the other end of a phone we can ‘meet’ making the call more personal, if you prefer. I have also enjoyed the quizzes… If only my camera could see the answers!

Due to restrictions on going out and supporting people face to face, I have been using digital platforms much more frequently. As some will know, I enjoy engaging in conversations on social media, and I frequently receive requests for support on platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn.

Recently I supported a senior police officer through private messaging on LinkedIn, and I have also been able to support Eurostar staff both publicly and privately on Twitter.

I have also been struck by how open people are willing to be, even if we have never met them face to face. It is a credit to our organisation that people trust us. Praise God for this challenging ministry that he has given us.

Andrea Smyth

London North, ARL, Chiltern, Avanti, Eurostar, GTR, TfL North

Be a friend. Just ask.

www.ruoktoday.co.uk

Chaplains’ Prayer & Info

Dereck Grant

North Scotland

Until Christmas, I could travel around the North of Scotland where restrictions were less than in other places. This allowed me to help people in person rather than over the phone.

Even to the end of the year, I was supporting people affected by the derailment at Stonehaven. I was also able to support railway staff who were devastated by the loss of three work colleagues to cancer.

Mental health issues have increased over the last nine months. It has been challenging to support people with such issues.

Trespassing is a growing problem in my area. A driver has shared with me how difficult it was when their train hit someone. Please pray for the rail industry in the north of Scotland.

We are working with Network Rail and LNER to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Great Heck (near Selby) incident, where a Range Rover stuck on the track meant that ten people died including two train drivers.

Although the current situation is limiting our actions, we will lay wreaths

Helen Bartlett

North East, Newcastle at Great Heck and Newcastle on 28 February. The train will whistle at 10:13 am.

Network Rail has a strong interfaith body, and we have discussed some really useful topics. A Darlington colleague encourages me to help with some of the presentations. I am joining the Christian Zoom breakout room next month. Other faiths will be represented on the same day.

What a world we live in - and God is definitely at work.

This has been a time of seeing the benefits of Railway Mission being so deeply embedded into the railway community. This has ensured that contact with rail companies has remained fruitful and even potentially expanded opportunities.

I have seen that not only is nothing wasted with the Lord but that He always makes a way into His bigger Kingdom plans. I have been part of plans to continue supporting staff in the immediate future as needs present themselves, and also looking at sustainable, longer-term support options.

Please join me in praising the Lord for His faithful and innovative guidance during this time and pray that our vision is not limited to our

Colin Fraser

The Midlands for East Midlands Railway, London St Pancras

understanding, but keeps in step with the greatness of our God.

Keeping in touch by video call works, but is no substitute for being together. I have missed those chance meetings which turn out to be such important and meaningful conversations.

When I do speak to people, many are finding the situation wearing, and the impact on the industry is potentially huge and ongoing. For some, job insecurity dominates, for others, the losses we have suffered.

Please pray that we can all look forward to a brighter future in which God's works will be more clearly visible to everyone.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 in the New Testament talks about ‘the God of all comfort who comforts us so that we in turn may bring comfort to others.‘

For almost a year we have been living in a strange world and many have needed to find comfort as they have faced new challenges. The Railway Industry has been no exception.

Graham Whitehead

West Highlands and Central Scotland

Angela Levitt-Harwood

Great Northern, LNER, York to Kings Cross London

Together we have found new ways of communicating, and we've taken online courses and joined in teaching sessions. Next week I start presenting a five week remote Team Brief for Network Rail on supporting people with terminal illness both in and out of the workplace.

Many in the industry have expressed their thanks to the chaplaincy for bringing comfort in difficult situations.

In a world where the news seems to be repeated each day there has been much to be thankful for. Working from home has created some opportunities to work differently. WhatsApp groups with staff from across the network have been places where people have been able to share openly about the challenges they face, and I’ve been able to support them. Twitter has become a key part of the week to engage with large numbers of staff (@birdsnestsblog).

I’ve joined projects around Diversity and Inclusion, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and as a mentor to staff at one of the Train Companies. I’m grateful that chaplaincy has come into its own with dialogue with directors, managers and staff. Pray this continues as our work patterns change so quickly.

Mike Roberts

North West, North Wales

Chaplains’ Prayer & Info

John Roe

Great Western Railway, Paddington, TfL West

In these unprecedented times, I have learned a whole new technological vocabulary (‘Zoom’, ‘Teams’, Online Streaming’ etc.!) and, more importantly, how to use the hitherto mysterious technology to positive effect in railway chaplaincy ministry.

Whilst travel remains restricted, a high degree of contact has nevertheless been maintained with staff at all levels and functions, through online meetings, including staff induction and welfare and safety training.

It has also been encouraging to be invited to contribute a number of written and video contributions to Train Companies, Network Rail and British Transport Police internal communications, promoting our availability for support. This, I pray will continue to raise the profile and value of chaplaincy to the Rail Industry.

Whilst embracing technology, I am still wary of joining Zoom or Teams meetings, anticipating that things may not go quite as planned.

In one meeting with managers based in the South West, I clicked the link at

Andrew Buchanan

The South West for Great Western Railway the appointed time to find I had accessed what appeared to be the sound of heavy breathing and I mean ‘heavy breathing’.

Unknown to me, I was accepted into the meeting at a point where breathing exercises were taking place - very much above board but, my word, did it leave me feeling hot and clammy.

To this day, I remain fearful in pressing that ‘Join Meeting’ button so a lesson to take from this is to look at who is on before doing so!

As the new year gets going, the need to improvise with caring for railway staff has increased.

One very encouraging thing for my work with GTR Group has been the opportunity to work collaboratively with local and senior management in providing care and helping to develop initiatives to facilitate staff wellbeing.

One such initiative springs from the fact that Southern and Gatwick Express are currently recruiting Family Liaison Officers and I have been asked to offer training support for the new recruits.

As well as supporting the role personally, I have been speaking to the BTP Fatalities and Investigations Team, as well as the Training Department, to ascertain whether they might also offer support for the new role.

John Robinson

Southern, Gatwick Express, GTR for Southern Routes