Railway Mission News Winter 2016

Winter 2016

News

Inside Remembrance Roundup IRM Conference Joshua’s Support New Website for RM Resilience Feature Train Blessing Ron’s Retirement Down the Line Chaplains’ News

Inside this issue

Up Front

2

Up Front

3

From the Top

4

Down the Line

6

Remembrance Roundup

7

Joshua’s Support to Staff Member

8

Reasons to Remember

10

Railway Lines

13

In the Presence of Royalty

14

Resilience Feature

16

IRM Conference Booking

16

Train Blessing

17

Ron’s Farewell

18

Visit our New Website

19

Your Donation Helps Us

Our cover picture is taken from one of our feature stories - found on pages 8 and 9.

Railway Mission News

The recent Remembrance Service at Marylebone Station in November brought back special memories for Network Rail staff member Stephanie, which prompted her to write to thank Railway Mission.

Produced by Railway Mission Rugby Railway Station Rugby CV21 3LA office@railwaymission.org

This service was one of more than 20 organised and conducted by Railway Mission chaplains, some of which are outlined on page 6.

www.railwaymission.org

We also have some inspiring reports, news from a few of our chaplains in the field, more of our history in Down the Line, and an important feature on Resilience.

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From the Top Liam Johnston

Looking back over 2015 Railway Mission has faced a number of challenges and opportunities‌

This year we want to build on the success of last year, and see more opportunities to reach out to railway staff and passengers with the love and compassion that comes from knowing Christ as Saviour.

‌including the end of our partnership with London City Mission and the recruitment of a new southern based Railway Mission Chaplaincy Team, the rebranding of the Mission and the launch of the new updated website, but the biggest challenge was, and is, how to preach the gospel in an increasingly secular environment.

As you partner with us, through your prayers and giving, you share in the mission of bringing hope to the hopeless, joy to the joyless and faith to the faithless.

Liam Johnston is the Executive Director of Railway Mission

Yet we have seen several people give their lives to the Lord in 2015, and in the first week of January 2016 Dylis, one of the Chaplains to the London Underground, had the privilege of leading another soul to salvation in Christ.

As chaplains, we walk between the shadow and light, bringing hope and comfort to those in need, leading one person at a time from the shadow of destruction into the light of salvation.

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Down the Line by Dudley Clark Where Two or Three...

In the Autumn, one of our weekly prayer emails included a request ‘that we pray for the various Christian groups around the country that meet in railway stations and offices’.

We shall probably never know when Christian railway people first met in the

The Railway Mission Coffee Tavern and Mission Hall in Kensal Road, Westbourne Park circa 1885

workplace to encourage one another and spread the good news about Jesus, but

The request received a positive response

certainly meetings were being held at

and, with the assistance of Mr Cook the

Derby from 1857, when ‘a few men used

Station Master, meetings commenced in

to meet in a workshop, running shed, or

the Station Master’s House.

open yard to eat their breakfasts’.

Mrs Ridley and Mr Cook were supported

Two gatherings that became branches

by a committee of railwaymen. Mrs Cook

of the Railway Mission were at Bury St

visited the men and their families, and Mr

Edmunds and Westbourne Park, West

Cook became branch Treasurer, with Mrs

London. One started in a Station Master’s

Ridley as Superintendent and Secretary.

house, and the other a Guards’ Room.

By 1900, the weekly pattern of meetings

A former member of the Bury Mission

started on Sunday evening with a Gospel,

described how, ‘One day in November,

Prayer and Praise service followed by

1895, a small group of railwaymen

other gatherings throughout the week.

knocked on the door of Hexham House,

The branch outgrew its accommodation

Northgate Street. Their purpose was to

and raised funds for its own meeting

ask Mrs Arthur Ridley if she would form

place. By 1903, they had a ‘Tin Tabernacle’

a branch of the Railway Mission at Bury

that still stands today.

Station’.

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The second account comes from Guard

describes how ‘it caused Christians to

Pearce who was employed at Paddington

forget their denominational differences,

Station, which, in 1878, was ‘considerably

and stand shoulder to shoulder for Christ’.

outside the pale of religious influence’. In

Soon the hall that they had expanded into

that year a railwayman well known for his

was full to overflowing.

‘Godless behaviour’ became a Christian and set about telling his colleagues of

He concludes his account with the

what God had done for him.

following words: “…our Mission was started with prayer, nourished by prayer,

Guard Pearce was amazed by the change.

and now we keep it going the same way.”

He wrote, “for had we not drank together, and sang profane songs on God’s holy day, and now the transformation was so great that men were staggered”.

One night coming home from Birmingham, the recently converted railwayman told him about how Jesus could become his ‘personal Saviour’ too.

Soon he came to faith, and together they

Restoration Proposed

sought to ‘spread the Truth among [their] mates’. With the encouragement of a Christian lady passenger, ‘it was arranged

The Station Master’s House at Bury St Edmunds, which, it is hoped, will shortly be recommissioned by another icon in the town, Smiths Row Art Gallery, who, with the local council’s help, and in partnership with the rail industry, have proposals to renovate the old building and restore it to some of its former glory. ______________________________________

that meetings should be held in the Guard’s room, kindly lent by the Stationmaster’.

Christian literature was distributed, and various means were employed to encourage men to attend the meetings.

Guard Pearce attributed their success to

Dudley Clark is Railway Mission’s historian

‘the earnest prayer continually ascending to heaven like the evening incense’. He

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Remembrance Roundup Railway Mission chaplains across England, Scotland and Wales led more than 20 Remembrance events in November, giving lots of opportunities to meet rail workers and members of the travelling public.

the Remembrance event at Network Rail’s Milton Keynes Quadrant office complex.

Maryann Devally, Station Support Assistant for Network Rail at London’s Liverpool Street Station, said they were very grateful for the way in which Railway Mission’s Christopher Henley conducted the service there. “Perfect timing and pitch,” she added.

Our schedule included services in Manchester, Crewe, Carlisle and Lancaster led by Richard Cook, in Birmingham, London Marylebone and Kidderminster’s Severn Valley Railway by Andrew Hall, whilst at Cardiff Central and Swansea High Street they were conducted by Ron Keen. Nicola Goncalves led the service at Edinburgh Waverley, and Ruth McBean led the proceedings at Glasgow Central.

Nicola Goncalves, one of our three chaplains in Scotland, said, “Between us, we had a very busy time in Scotland. It was a real privilege to be able to pay tribute to railway workers who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.

In London King’s Cross Station, Humphrey Gillott stood beneath a giant artificial poppy in the Western Concourse to lead the Remembrance service there (pictured above). The entire station came to an eerie standstill for the minute’s silence.

“At Edinburgh Waverley Station, children from the local Gylemuir Primary School, which has been ‘adopted’ by Network Rail, sang two songs during our service.

Juvenile Pipe Major Erin Ritchie and the Cockenzie and Port Seton Royal British Legion Scotland Pipes and Drums band were among the musicians who played.”

Steve Rowe led the service at London Euston, while Brenda Mosedale conducted 6

Joshua’s support to staff member

Our charity’s aim is to ensure that nobody on the railways needs to feel alone. Here, one West Sussex rail worker* explains how Railway Mission is making a real difference to his life. *Name withheld for privacy reasons.

“I first met Joshua Shinhmar, the railway chaplain for my area, last Spring. He seemed very approachable, and, after chatting at the station where I was working, he arranged to visit me at my home.

I had just been diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by my doctor and an occupational health worker.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events.

Joshua continued to see me twice a week for a period of around eight months while I was off work, and I always looked forward to his visits, even though sometimes the things we talked about were difficult.

Over our time together, I told Joshua everything that had happened to me when I served with the Police in Northern Ireland, and we talked about the events leading up to my illness. Talking about things really helped a lot.

I cannot thank Railway Mission enough for their help, prayers and continued support both to myself and my partner. God bless you all.”

If you would like to assist Railway Mission in continuing to help and support people through difficult times, please visit our new website, www.railwaymission.org, for information about how you can make a donation.

I returned to my job on the railways in the Autumn, and Joshua has kept in touch with me to reassure me and make sure that I’m OK. In fact, we have become good friends.

I was very grateful that Joshua came with me to my various meetings with the occupational health team, the train company’s Human Resources department and my station manager (to whom I’m also grateful for their understanding and compassion).

Congratulations, also, to Joshua Shinhmar (pictured above) and his wife, Jelena, on the recent birth of their daughter, Christiana.

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Reasons to remember

One of the Remembrance wreath-layers at the new memorial plaques at London Marylebone Station was Stephanie, who works for Network Rail. Here she explains why the day was so important to her.

In 2007, my 24-year-old son, Nick, was sent on his first tour to Afghanistan with the Royal Marines. He was due to spend Christmas away from home, living on emergency rations in a very remote and particularly feisty Forward Operating Base.

Saying goodbye to Nick was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

their relatives before news is released to the Media.

Apart from the horror that the death of a soldier, sailor or airman puts loved ones through, the awful thing is that the deceased’s comrades have to carry out the often gruesome task of retrieving the body. To this day, Nick has never spoken to me about what he and his colleagues went through.

Nick, a strong and happy young man, was doing a job he was proud of, and the thought that he may return injured – or perhaps not at all – was heart wrenching.

But I held on to my resolve to not break down in front of him.

I was incredibly relieved when, after several tours of duty, Nick came home.

Away from the war zone, Nick’s favourite meal is a traditional English breakfast, so I take great delight in cooking that for him when he visits.

I wanted Nick to only have happy memories of our farewell, and to know that I was very proud of him. Yet, as we parted, we were surely both thinking the same thoughts – that this may be our last time together.

We are some of the fortunate ones. I still have my son, and we are able to go on sharing time together, whenever work permits.

I’ve since reflected that this must have been how it was for every parent, son and daughter who were parted in the First and Second World Wars.

For me, Remembrance is about showing my respect for all military personnel, past and present, and saying ‘thank you’ for all their efforts, and for the sacrifices they make.

For security reasons, communication with my son was very limited, and his occasional phone calls were very precious.

I always knew, in the back of my mind, that any bad news would be given to me face to face at home, so part of me dreaded being in the house!

When I laid my wreath at Marylebone Station, I also remembered my Grandfather and my Great Uncles, who all fought in the First World War, and – remarkably – all came home safely. I’m very grateful to Railway Mission for giving me the opportunity to take part in the service.

On one occasion, Nick phoned to say he was ‘fine’, and – as it was a word he didn’t often use – my heart sank. I later learned that a member of his unit had been blown up in front of him. It’s standard practice for the survivors of an incident to call

My son now works as a Royal Marines training officer and has a daughter called Poppy.

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Railway Lines

Credit: Flickr/Brad Wilmot , CC BY-N

News and prayer points from some of your chaplains Alan Thorpe It was a real joy to help a retired train driver, assisted by his two carers, to make a nostalgic railway journey recently. The man was able to chat about the ‘old days’ and see how some things had changed.

I’m in touch with a number of people going through difficult times at the moment, including a driver whose father has died, an office worker who is starting to rebuild his life after a painful divorce, and a retired driver whose wife has died.

I’m also supporting a ticket office worker who has the daunting task of arranging a nursing home place for her mother, and a manager struggling with workload issues. I would appreciate your prayers for these people.

Amanda Cullum As the winter continues to bite, I’m busy offering support to rail workers who are, at times, struggling to keep things moving. Many workers are outside for extended periods, and are often in need of a cheerful face and a kind word.

I’m continuing to offer help to some of the people being made redundant from

Railway Signalling due to new systems being implemented. I’m also offering a listening ear to those in debt due to the recent expenses of Christmas. Your prayers for these people would be welcomed.

Ralph Coleman I’ve been invited to be part of the East Midlands Trains’ Incident Care Team, set up to help people in the event of a serious emergency. I feel privileged to have been included.

I recently attended the scene of a rail fatality, where a young PCSO was the first to arrive, and found it a difficult experience.

I later talked with her, and, as she was a Christian, I offered her my prayers. I have also been supporting, among others, a retired rail worker whose wife had died.

Please pray that I can continue to be a help and comfort to the people I meet.

Andrew Hall As we start a new year, please join me in praying for people whose jobs on the railways have recently come to end. I’ve been speaking to a few folk who have either retired or changed roles and responsibilities, and these changes are proving a challenge for some.

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John Robinson This can be a tough time of year for many, and I’m doing my best to spread light and happiness on the railways in my patch! Please pray for people who are going through life-changing events, such as a serious illness or injury, and for families struggling to come to terms with loss.

I’d like to say a personal thank you to Ron Keen, who has just retired from his role as Railway Mission chaplain for South Wales and the Marches.

There is a new fellowship group starting, initially with staff from one of the train companies, which may be a springboard for others or for a group with wider reach.

This is the initiative of a director and has come to fruition because a new employee had the enthusiasm to get it off the ground.

Ruth McBean I’ve been greatly encouraged recently by the conversations I’ve had as a result of distributing Railway Mission’s calendars to rail staff in my part of Scotland. It’s been great to have a reason to visit people I wouldn’t normally get to see.

The annual calendar distribution is giving good opportunities to visit and spend time with rail staff in all types of locations. This always re-establishes contact with groups of retired staff who still value the work done by former chaplains.

Over recent months I have been giving regular support to a railway worker who has been going through difficult family relationship issues. Please join me in praying for him, and for others in similar situations.

The Christmas service at Glasgow Central Station went brilliantly, and it was fantastic to chat to staff and passers-by.

Dan Godwin Besides being a friendly face and a listening ear to many staff, I’ve been busy preparing and leading several Bible studies at London’s Euston Station, and have attended some at King’s Cross. These have been good opportunities to meet a range of Christians, along with people who want to find out more about the Christian faith.

Dylis George It’s a blessing to meet so many people each day on the London Underground. There are so many people in need of our support and prayers. The people I’ve talked to recently include a man whose wife is battling multiple health conditions, and a person who has just come back to work after a 10-month absence.

Helen Bartlett What a busy time it’s been! I supported the Virgin East Coast Community Ambassadors at their Christmas event at Newcastle Station to raise money for Children North East. I’ve also been buddying a Christian train driver who has been going through tough times. She has a Christian faith and so we pray for each other.

Dereck Grant The winter is, of course, a challenging time for everyone here in the very north of Scotland. Please keep rail staff in this area in your prayers.

The people I’m supporting at the moment include a person who is very lonely and is missing a former colleague.

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Railway Lines (continued)

alliance in Scotland between ScotRail and Network Rail.

Among other things, I’ve been supporting a cleaner who whose family member died, and have been visiting all the main train company offices in Newcastle.

Paul Holloway I’ve recently been helping a member of Mersey Rail who is going through mental illness. I’ve been visiting him in hospital and at home, and offering support to his family.

It was brilliant to be involved in the Dean of Durham’s retirement celebrations, when a train was re-liveried to bear his name. What an honour to be asked to lead the prayers at the event!

I’ve also been spending time off-site with another Mersey Rail employee who is experiencing problems at home. I’m also talking regularly to someone with marriage problems.

My North-Eastern patch feels like a huge mission field, so I’m taking small steps each day, making small encounters, planting seeds wherever and whenever I travel, and I’m beginning to remember people’s names.

Please pray with me for staff at Northern Rail as the franchise changes to Arriva in March.

Nicola Goncalves As we look ahead to a new year, I’m reminded of all the good things that happened in Scotland in 2015. There was the opening of the Borders Railway, the continued upgrades at Edinburgh Waverley Station, the Alliance of Network Rail and ScotRail and a new tender for the main rail company in Scotland won by Abellio.

Steve Rowe It’s been a pleasure to lead a new team of chaplains in the South of England, including London Underground. Their enthusiasm and hunger to learn, as well as the skills they bring to the support work we do, make them a joy to work with. Thank God for them.

This area is brand new to Railway Mission, so the challenges are interesting, but mostly focus around becoming recognised amongst rail industry staff, so we have come up with an initiative we call Engage2020, which involves meeting up with as many staff as we can to let them know the level of support we offer. We value your prayer for favour as we step out into, what is for us, uncharted territory.

I’m very mindful of all the railway workers and passengers we were able to support in 2015. There were people going through bereavement, work issues, money worries, mental illness, relationship problems and many other situations.

One particular person who stands out in my mind is a young widow who was struck by tragedy when she was a few weeks pregnant at the start of last year.

Thankfully, she and her baby are doing well, and the woman is beginning to look forward to the future.

Also pray for staff of some train operating companies who are unsure of their future as concessions come to an end, and bidding continues, for certainty going forward.

Please join me in praying for staff affected by the changes brought about by the 12

In the presence of Royalty

West Midlands chaplain Andrew Hall reports on his attendance at the Queen’s reopening of Birmingham New Street Station.

and unwelcoming. But now there is a bright glass-roofed atrium in the central concourse, and colour-coded routes to guide passengers to and from their platforms.

There are new shops, bars and cafes, and above the station is a new luxury shopping and dining complex called Grand Central which features a range of high street and designer brand names.

It was a great privilege to be invited to see Her Majesty, the Queen, and the Duke of Edinburgh perform the official re-opening of New Street Station in November.

The Royal visit seemed to go very smoothly, thanks to the hard work and very high level of organisation by Network Rail and their partners. British Transport Police Officers were drafted in from far and wide to ensure maximum security, especially in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks.

After five years of redevelopment work costing around £750m, it was fantastic to see the final preparations being made for the Royals’ visit.

Shortly after arriving at the station on the Royal train, the Queen and the Duke unveiled a plaque to mark the day.

They then laid a wreath on the new war memorial at the front of the station as it was dedicated by the Bishop of Birmingham.

The memorial pays tribute to rail workers killed in World War One. Afterwards, the party made its way to Bull Street for the opening of the new Midland Metro Tram stop, which links other parts of the city to the rail hub.

It was a proud day for everyone concerned, and – as you can imagine – rail staff have since been sharing stories about their brief glimpses of the Royals!

The Queen, wearing a pink coat and matching hat, and the Duke of Edinburgh went on to name a tram before talking to a group of rail workers.

I have a new office at New Street Station, and have been spending extra time on site chatting with staff and passengers while they get used to the changes.

Before the building project began, the station, which is used by around 170,000 passengers every day, was quite dark

Andrew Hall 13

Resilience Feature According to Mind, the mental health charity, anxiety and depression are among the most common mental problems, with around 10% of the population affected at any one time. Between 10 and 20% of people will experience a serious problem such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia during their lifetime.

We can’t prevent all mental health problems, but there are things we can all do to look after ourselves and others.

Psychological resilience (mental toughness) is the ability to cope with the challenges that life throws at us, and the way in which we adapt when things don’t go as well as we’d like. Stress can come in the shape of relationship issues, workplace and money worries or health problems.

Why is resilience important?

Mental toughness can help to protect us from developing mental illnesses, and helps to maintain our wellbeing during the bumps in the road.

How can we improve our level of wellbeing?

Events in life rarely go the way we’d like them to, so psychological resilience is about keeping a sense of focus and determination in spite of the difficulties we’re facing. Mental toughness enables us to learn from our (or other people’s) mistakes without us taking a devastating hit that will send us on a downward spiral towards mental health problems.

Keeping our emotions in check when something in life seems overwhelming can help to keep us going when we might otherwise fall at the first hurdle.

The New Economics Foundation – concerned with the people who make society and the economy work (in other words all of us) – recommends five things we can do to improve our wellbeing.

1.

Good levels of wellbeing are often linked to things like reduced sick-leave from work, better physical health, longevity, involvement in community activities and educational achievement.

Some people are more at risk than others of experiencing a low level of wellbeing, probably due to being socially isolated, on low incomes or unemployed, or suffering from a serious and/or long term health problem. People with fewer than three close friends are said to be more likely to suffer from things like depression and anxiety (data from mentalhealth.org.uk).

Connect with people around us. Think of colleagues, friends and relatives as the cornerstones of our lives. They need developing through us investing our time in them. Having good connections gives us support. Railway Mission chaplains aim to connect, face-to-face, with as many rail workers as possible and become their trusted friend.

2. Be active. Taking exercise that suits our ability helps us to feel good, so we could go for a brisk walk, go cycling, swimming or play a team sport.

3. Take time out to notice things around us. Being more aware of what’s going 14

One in four of us will experience a mental health problem this coming year. Just as we can develop physical health problems, our minds can also become poorly.

Here, our Executive Director, Liam Johnston, talks about psychological resilience and how Railway Mission can help.

on in the natural world can help us to reflect, and to appreciate the things that really matter. Railway Mission chaplains encourage people to take a little time out from their normal routines to look at things from a different perspective.

4. Give to others. Smiling, volunteering some of our time or doing something nice for a stranger can be rewarding and promotes a sense of wellbeing.

Railway Mission chaplains can chat with people about the sorts of things they enjoy doing, and look at how they might get involved in those things within their local community.

5. Keep learning. Doing an evening class, reading non-fiction and learning to play an instrument are all said to be good ways of keeping our minds active and giving us a sense of achievement.

What are the signs of a mental health problem?

The early signs of mental health issues differ from person to person, but can include sleep problems, poor motivation, being highly emotional, being unresponsive, demonstrating poor personal presentation and talking about low self-worth. Irrational behaviour, extreme mood swings and poor levels of concentration can also be a cause for concern.

How to seek help Sometimes it can be difficult to see a way out of situations that are troubling us.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing a mental health problem and needs help, there are several organisations that offer advice. If you work in the rail industry, you could speak to one of our chaplains. They will help you to consider a way forward, and signpost you to experts who can help.

The first point of contact for many people with a mental health problem will be their GP, who can offer treatment, and can make referrals for more specialist support.

In an emergency If someone is experiencing severe mental distress they can make an emergency appointment with their GP, or go to the local A&E department. If you are worried that someone is at immediate risk of harming themselves or others you should call 999.

To find your local Railway Mission chaplain, please visit our website at www.railwaymission.org or telephone our administrator, Anne, on 0771 897 1919.

Railway Mission chaplains exist to support rail staff Sometimes a simple chat can start the process of recovery

We’re here for you!

0771 897 1919 15

Train Blessing

BOOK NOW!

Helen Bartlett, one of our chaplains in the North-East of England, was asked to help at a special send off for the retiring Dean of Durham…

IRM Conference booking under way Bookings are being taken for the 2016 International Railway Mission Conference and Recreation Week.

A chance to experience international fellowship, be motivated and inspired, and share hope is being offered by the organisers of this year’s IRM conference in Goslar, Germany. The week of meetings and outings will run from 28th July to 4th August.

As an interdenominational Christian umbrella organisation, the IRM aims to connect rail staff, and those who support them, globally. It holds a conference and recreation week every three years to encourage people to meet face to face to share stories, ideas and fellowship.

This year’s programme will include special dinners and excursions to local beauty spots. There will be activities for children, and things for families to enjoy together. Accommodation will be at Goslar’s historic Der Achtermann hotel, which boasts modern facilities including a fitness suite. Goslar itself is a World Heritage-listed town in the Harz Mountains.

Bookings must be made directly with the IRM. A full brochure and prices can be found at www.railway-mission.net

Prayer is an important part of life for me, so I was delighted to lead the prayers at a special event to mark the Dean of Durham’s retirement after his 12 years in post.

The Very Rev Michael Sadgrove is a railway enthusiast, so he was clearly thrilled when he was shown the Virgin East Coast train, re-liveried to bear his name, on the platform at Durham Station.

The Dean boarded the train for a special journey to Newcastle Central Station, where he and a group of VIPs, including the Cathedral Choristers, were welcomed

by Virgin Trains Managing Director David Horne.

During a short ceremony on the platform before his return rail journey, the Dean blessed the train, and I led the group in prayer. I asked God to bless the Dean and his family in his retirement.

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Ron’s farewell Sadly, retirement comes to us all, but – having reached the end of my time with Railway Mission – I feel truly blessed to have seen first-hand what my witness for Jesus has been all about.

Before Christmas, I was asked to show my successor, Simon Evans, round his new patch. For our first meeting, we got together at Port Talbot station, then had an introduction session with some of the platform staff before boarding a train for Swansea.

In my final weeks in post, I met with a Network Rail manager to talk while having a cup of coffee. He is a Christian, and we chatted a great deal about the difficulties of holding a good testimony when managing other staff members wisely.

I Ron Keen (above right), chaplain for Wales and the Marches for almost 13 years, looks back fondly on his last few weeks at Railway Mission, and talks about handing over to his replacement, Simon Evans.

As we parted, the man gave me an envelope. Inside was a retirement card signed by everyone in his department.

The card was full of really encouraging comments, yet many of those people had rarely spoken to me when I had passed their desks over the years. It goes to show that people do see us around and appreciate us, even if they have no need to call on our services.

My successor is new chaplain Simon Evans.

As I showed him around, we had good meetings with British Transport Police officers and staff, visited the GWR depot at Landore, where the HST trains are maintained, and called in on other people along the way.

Everybody wanted to meet Simon!

Two meetings with Crossing Keepers in my final weeks also made me stop and think. One, a keen photographer, gave me a copy of a calendar he had produced (as I had given him one of our Railway Mission calendars). Then he told me that he had only had two calendars printed, one for himself, and one for the chaplain (me!) who ‘had been so helpful to him over the years.’

Wow – what a wonderful privilege.

Please pray for Simon as he establishes himself on the railways in Wales and the Marches.

Thank you for your support over the years.

Ron Good report

On another visit elsewhere, as I told the Crossing Keeper I was retiring, he said, “When we last met, you told me how I could find a lasting peace by believing and trusting in God. Well, that night I did it, and what a summer I’ve had!” Naturally his comment prompted a good discussion, and we talked about how he might find a local church to attend.

“I really enjoyed reading the Autumn Railway Mission News – it was very interesting. I like the charity’s smart and eye-catching new logo! Perhaps you will be producing a new lapel badge?”

– Mr Jones, Flintshire.

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Visit our new website!

Our new website, which gives information about how people can access our services and can support our work, has been launched.

‘they helped me through the hard times’ summarises our important work.

Online visitors are able to find out how they can get pastoral support, who their local chaplain is, and can read about who we are and why we care. There are also links to current job vacancies, press releases, literature resources and a page detailing the different ways people can make a donation.

The site – www.railwaymission.org – has been developed as part of Railway Mission’s new look, aimed at helping us to connect with new generations of rail workers, British Transport Police Officers and members of the travelling public.

Executive Director Liam Johnston said, “The new site is simpler, cleaner and far more eye catching than the old one. We believe it conveys our modern outlook and keeness to engage with all types of people, including young people starting off in their careers.”

Marketing Officer Rachel Dalby said, “We wanted our presence on the internet to draw people in to find out more about what we offer. With demand for our services increasing every year, it’s vital that we communicate well with our Christian and secular partners and audiences.”

The website was developed by the Manchester-based 22 Group design agency, who came up with our new logo and image during last year.

Our website’s homepage features a picture of Senior Chaplain Stephen Rowe talking to an East Midlands Trains employee at London’s St Pancras Station. The headline 18

Your donation takes us further…

How your gift could help £10 could fund a chaplain’s 20-minute support meeting with a distressed member of rail staff, a BTP officer or a member of the travelling public.

£100 could fund a series of chaplain’s visits to a sick or injured rail worker, or to the grieving family of someone who has died on the railways.

£50 could buy a chaplain some of the essential safety clothing needed to support people involved in the scene of a rail incident or emergency.

£1,000 could provide an area’s rail staff, BTP officers and members of the travelling public with support for a fortnight.

Ways to give Cheque or Postal Order You can make a one-off or regular cheque or Postal Order donation by simply sending your gft to : Railway Mission, Rugby Railway Station, Rugby, CV21 3LA. Standing Order You can make a regular donation through your bank. Email our Administrator for more information: office@railwaymission.org.

Web Go to our website at www.railwaymission.org and click onto the Donate page, where you can give via the Every Click website.

Payroll Giving A tax-efficient way to give regularly through monthly payments from your salary.

See more on our website at www.railwaymission.org.

Wills If you’d like to include us in your Will, our charity name is Railway Mission, and our charity number in England and Wales is: 1128024. Our charity number in Scotland is SC045897.

Gift Aid If you’re a UK taxpayer, we can claim an extra 25% of your donation from the Inland Revenue, as long as you meet their conditions and complete, sign and return a Gift Aid form to us.

“They helped me through the hard times” Support on life’s journey