COTSWOLD LINE 150 PAST EVENTS
On Friday 17th January, a talk was given to Finstock Local History Society by John Boynton, the author of the historical book, "The Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway", which was published early in the year.
On Friday 14th March, Derek Potter, the Chairman of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group gave a talk to the Charlbury Society on the history of the Cotswold Line and of th CLPG. The meeting was attended by around 75 people.
On Tuesday 18th March and Friday 21st March, railway film evenings were provided by Michael Clemens at Honeybourne and Ascott-under-Wychwood. Around 80 members of the public attended each event and Thames Trains provided an extra stop at Ascott-under-Wychwood to allow people to return home afterwards.
On Wednesday 7th May - the 150th ANNIVERSARY of the FORMAL OPENING of the Line, First Great Western specially arranged for one of their new Class 180 Adelante trains (seen, below, entering Moreton-in-Marsh station) to replace the normal Thames Trains' Class 166 Turbo on the 0948 London Paddington to Hereford and the 1303 Hereford to London Paddington services. A party of invited guests travelled on this train on the 150th anniversary of the special train for dignitaries and Directors of the Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway.
Photo: Dave Pagett
On Thursday 15th May, Derek Potter, the Chairman of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group gave a talk to the Wychwood Historical Society on the history of the Cotswold Line and of th CLPG. The meeting was attended by around 70 people.
On Saturday 17th May an 8 mile walk was organised by the Cotswold Wardens from Oxford railway station to Hanborough. This was the first in a series of 5 station to station walks extending from Oxford to Honeybourne.
Also on Saturday 17th May a Coffee Morning and Exhibition of Railway Memorabilia was held at the Reading Room, Combe.
On Sunday 1st June a DISPLAY of RAILWAY PHOTOGRAPHS was held at the Oxford Bus Museum, Hanborough station.
On Wednesday 4th June - the 150th Anniversary of the public opening of the line, five people took part in the WEST OXFORDSHIRE HEALTH WALK from Charlbury to Finstock. The walk was led by Mike Breakell, second from right in the photograph below, wearing the Brunel style hat. Lunch was taken at the Plough Inn, Finstock.
On Sunday 8th June the COTSWOLD LINE 150 GALA DAY - the main event of the programme - was held at Moreton-in-Marsh station and in the Womens Institute Hall nearby, with short ceremonies at Hanborough and Charlbury stations. For further details and pictures click HERE.
On Saturday 21st June about 15 people took part in a WALK from HANBOROUGH to CHARLBURY, organised by the Cotswold Wardens. After seeing the "Flying Scotsman" pass by, lunch was taken at the Cock Inn, Combe. The walk then passed the North Leigh Roman Villa. It was the second in a series of 5 walks.
On Saturday 19th July, there was a 10½ mile WALK from CHARLBURY to KINGHAM, organised by the Cotswold Wardens. It was the third in a series of 5 walks.
On Sunday 27th July, a CHARLBURY SOCIETY WALK around Charlbury was held with a commentary on its history, including a visit to the Museum.
On Saturday 16th August, there was an 11 mile WALK from KINGHAM to MORETON-in-MARSH organised by the Cotswold Wardens. It was the fourth in a series of 5 walks.
On Wednesday 17th September, the FIRST GREAT WESTERN POWER CAR NAMING CEREMONY, in which Lady Jill Parker unveiled the name plate on First Great Western HST power car number 43127, "Sir Peter Parker 1924 to 2002. Cotswold Line 150" was held at the Old Oak Common Maintenance Depot of First Great Western. The name plates, were funded by the Cotswold Line Promotion Group, partly from its "Cotswold Line 150 Fund" and partly by a donation made in 1997 by the widow of a former member, Mr T V Lodge of Reading. A replica of the name plate will eventually be displayed at Charlbury station.
The original ceremony at Didcot Parkway station on 19th June had to be cancelled at the very last minute due to the line at Burnham, between Reading and London, being closed by a lineside fire and the train and some of the guests being stranded in the London area.
The photos above show (left) the redundant dais being dismantled by a member of First Great Western staff on 19th June and (right - photographer, Brian Clayton) the power car bearing its nameplate at Bristol Temple Meads station on 2nd July 2003.
In the above photos, Lady Jill Parker has just
unveiled the name plate while in the right hand one, a replica name plate is being held by
John Ellis (Vice Chairman, Cotswold Line Promotion Group, Chris Kinchin-Smith (The
Managing Director of First Great Western at the time) Ernie Akers (formerly the man
in charge of Charlbury station, which was regularly used by Sir Peter Parker) and Lady
Jill Parker.
On Saturday 20th September in glorious sunshine, the CHARLBURY STREET FAIR was held. This year the theme was 150 years of the railway at Charlbury. The Cotswold Line Promotion Group had a stand at the Fair and also arranged for the Charlbury Taxibus to put in an appearance, suitably decorated, in the evening parade.
The Cotswold Line Promotion Group's stand at Charlbury
Street Fair and the decorated Taxibus.
Also on Saturday 20th September the Cotswold Wardens held their final one of their series of Cotswold Line 150 walks. This one was 12½ miles from MORETON-in-MARSH to HONEYBOURNE and 22 people took part in it. It was the fifth in a series of 5 walks.
On Saturday 18th October, the Cotswold Line Promotion Group organised the final event of the Cotswold Line 150 Programme - a walk from HONEYBOURNE to EVESHAM. Together with the 5 walks mentioned above, organised by the Cotswold Wardens, this completed the route all the way from Oxford to Evesham. 16 people took part in the event in glorious sunshine.
The party of walkers at Middle Littleton
Throughout the Summer, a SMALL
EXHIBITION of RAILWAY MEMORABILIA was held in CHARLBURY MUSEUM.