Granddaughters Rosie and Georgia were among visitors who hopped on the chartered train. 

Shropshire railwayman Simon Pilkington has raised over £1,500 thanks to a private chartered train journey on the historic Severn Valley Railway. The event, organised in memory of his dad, was a special day which included visits from granddaughters Georgia and Rosie.

Simon, managing director of PRA Operations Planning, organised three return trips from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth stations, where visitors were able to hop on in return for a £30 donation to support seriously ill local children.

Commuters on the day included Simon’s granddaughters five-year-old Georgia and two-year-old Rosie. They also enjoyed a guest appearance from nine-month-old George McLeod and his parents Mark and Natalie who is cared for at Hope House. 

Nine-month-old George boarded the train as part of his virtual Land's End to John O'Groats adventure 

Simon, from Shrewsbury, has worked in the railway industry for almost 42 years in a number of roles from Station Announcer at Paddington to Shift Manager in an Operations Control Office. More recently he has been involved in timetabling and set up my own company in 2010. He is also a father and grandfather was delighted to be joined on this nostalgic journey through beautiful countryside by his staff team, fellow rail enthusiasts and his family.

He wanted to raise money for Hope House in memory of his father who died in 2015 at the age of 90.

“My father, Arthur Pilkington, was in the RAF, then a police sergeant for South Wales Police. He attended the heart-breaking Aberfan mining disaster in 1966. I dread to think of some of the sights he saw with so many children losing their lives in the incident, 116 of the 144 deaths were children.”

“He was a great father and a wonderful, generous man who gave to many charities. I have taken that mantle on and raised about £14,000 for various charities through special trains and other events, in his memory.

“I was very proud that the locomotive carried a metal headboard in blue with a police epaulette on it bearing the number 565 and saying ‘565 Special’ in his memory.”

Simon thanked everyone who made the day such a great success.

He said: “I am amazed it went so well and special thanks to Richard Dugdale who kept people fed, the traincrew of Dave Evans, Mark Taylor, Matt Robinson and Stephen Tripp, plus the guard Ashley Robinson and the whole SVR team who made it possible. Also to Alex and Dan who collected the fares and Hunter who helped with the VIPs!

"The biggest thanks must go to the passengers who came along and supported the event and therefore supported the charity. Hope House is a charity close to my heart and seeing my own children and now my own two grandchildren shows me how lucky we are and should not take anything for granted. Brilliant effort by all who attended.”

 

Fundraiser Bekki Fardoe thanked Simon for all his support. 

“We are grateful to Simon for organising this nostalgic trip in memory of his Dad. It’s a touching tribute to his kind and generous Dad, and also makes a huge difference to the lives of children and families like George’s who need us for vital respite stays and support.”

Find out more about giving in memory of someone special