The Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Beatrice Grant, visited the Severn Valley Railway on Friday 25 September, with her Deputy Charles Moyle and the Mayor of Kidderminster, Cllr Shazu Miah, to learn about its volunteers, community role and ambitious future plans.
The Lord-Lieutenant is His Majesty The King’s representative in Worcestershire. As a voluntary, non-political and unpaid role, the Lord-Lieutenant supports and celebrates the outstanding contributions of individuals, businesses and organisations across the county, recognising achievement, encouraging volunteering, and championing charitable and community involvement.
During their visit, the group met a range of SVR volunteers and heard first-hand about the many different opportunities available on one of the UK’s premier heritage railways. From operational roles such as driving, guarding and signalling, to customer-facing roles which help visitors make the most of their experience, volunteers are at the heart of everything the SVR does.
They also heard about the profound personal benefits that volunteering can bring, with the railway providing a sense of community, friendship and purpose for many people. For some, being part of the SVR family can be a genuine lifeline, supporting wellbeing and personal development.
Mrs Grant said:
“It is a privilege to visit this special place and to see first-hand how the Severn Valley Railway and its passionate group of volunteers are working together to make a real difference to this area of the Midlands. The strength and enthusiasm of all those that make this one of the UK’s premier heritable railways is clear to see. It shines a brilliant light on how volunteering can bring people together, working together, a sense of community and where friendships can be forged. A wonderful afternoon! I cannot wait to take a trip on the Severn Valley Railway very soon.”
Victoria Evans, the SVR’s head of commercial and customer service, said:
“Our volunteers are quite simply the lifeblood of the railway. Without them, the SVR could not operate, and their contribution goes far beyond the hours they give us. They bring their skills, experience and enthusiasm, but they also gain so much from being part of a community where they can make friends, develop new skills and feel that they are making a real difference.
“It was particularly valuable to have the Lord-Lieutenant, her Deputy and the Mayor of Kidderminster here to meet some of our volunteers and hear their stories. There are so many different ways to get involved, and volunteering isn’t just about running trains. It’s about welcoming people, creating memorable experiences and helping to shape the future of the railway.”
The visit also provided an opportunity to showcase the SVR’s plans for Kidderminster Town station.
The visitors learnt about the SVR Charitable Trust’s ambitious Raise the Roof campaign, which aims to raise £1 million to build a heritage canopy over the station’s double platform. The project would provide greater protection for visitors from the weather, complete the original vision for the station and create an impressive gateway to the Railway.
They also heard about plans for Kidderminster Town to become more than a railway station, as a welcoming hub and social space for the community, hosting events and attracting a wider and more diverse audience to the railway.
The visit included a tour of the painstakingly restored Stove R, the LMS six-wheel passenger brake No. 2886, which dates from 1932 and was fitted with stoves during the 1940s.
Victoria added: “It was wonderful to be able to show our visitors not only what the SVR preserves, but what it means to the people who give their time to make it happen. Our heritage is incredibly important, but so is our role in the community today.
“We want Kidderminster Town to become a place where even more people feel that they belong, whether they arrive as a visitor, a volunteer, a member of the local community or simply someone curious to discover what the SVR has to offer. The support and encouragement of people such as the Lord Lieutenant helps us to shine a light on the contribution heritage railways can make to their communities.”
The SVR Charitable Trust’s Raise the Roof campaign is currently raising funds for the new Kidderminster Town platform canopy. More information is available at Raise the Roof campaign.