Published on: Tuesday, 2 October 2018
Last updated: Tuesday, 2 October 2018
Historic links between two counties, two towns and two stations have been further enhanced with the unveiling of a special history panel remembering the wartime evacuation of schoolchildren.
During the Second World War children from Lowestoft were evacuated away from the danger of bombing and fear of invasion to safety in and around Derbyshire. Since that time many of those involved have attended reunion events, often centred around the town of Glossop.
One of the five packed evacuation specials leaving Lowestoft Central Station on June 2 1940 went to Glossop with children being billeted with families in the town and nearby countryside. Many children stayed in Derbyshire for the duration of the war and have maintained connections with the county ever since.
Earlier this year a special information panel detailing the wartime evacuation was unveiled at Glossop Station with a replica board presented to the Lowestoft Evacuees Association by the Friends of Glossop Station. Working with the East Suffolk and Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnerships, rail operator Greater Anglia agreed to install the panel in the booking hall at Lowestoft.
On Saturday, representatives from the Friends of Glossop Station and the High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership visited Lowestoft Station to join with some of the original evacuees, station staff and members of the East Suffolk & Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnerships for the unveiling.
Chris Brooks from the Lowestoft Evacuees Association was originally presented with the plaque at the evacuees annual Summer reunion by Neil Williams, chair of the Friends of Glossop Station and both were present at the unveiling in Lowestoft on Saturday.
Chris said, “This display represents a tangible public reminder of the links between our two towns and two counties which have been forged since World War Two. We thank the Friends of Glossop Station for their kind gesture and are delighted to now see this on display at Lowestoft Station.”
Neil Williams, Chair of the Friends of Glossop Station added, “The links between the two towns since the war have been maintained through many families and friendships, we were delighted to present a replica of the board we had previously installed at Glossop to the Lowestoft Evacuees and thrilled to be present at the station on Saturday for the official unveiling.”
Community Rail Development Officer, Martin Halliday said, “It was a privilege to be present at the unveiling on Saturday and to meet both representatives from Glossop and former evacuees from the Lowestoft area. It is a credit to both Neil and Chris that the strong links between the two towns continue to be celebrated and the memories preserved for generations to come.”
It is hoped that links between the two railway stations will continue to grow with the support of their respective Community Rail Partnerships, both Glossop and Lowestoft Stations have seen substantial improvements in recent years through Community Rail initiatives with both organisations keen to recognise their historic links further.