Published on: Friday, 19 October 2018
Last updated: Friday, 19 October 2018
Villagers, councillors and representatives of Greater Anglia gathered in Bures on 16 October to bid a fond farewell to two long standing community heroes.
David and Anne Taylor, who have lovingly tended Bures rail station for almost 40 years, are bidding farewell to the station and the village for a new life in the Cheshire peak district.
And to ensure that their good work at the station is continued, the Taylors have created an 8-page guide to caring for its gardens and waiting shelter to pass on to the next volunteer - in the hope that their high standards and commitment will be continued.
The Taylors ‘adopted’ Bures station after moving to the village in 1980 and joining the local rail user association.
At that time the station was threatened with closure and the group fought a campaign to save it.
From then on, the Taylors took it upon themselves to keep the station clean and tidy, to encourage people to use it more.
Later, they arranged for the station’s overhead power lines to be moved underground, enhancing the feeling of rural peacefulness there.
Their dedication to their community is also reflected in their involvement in the Stour Valley Project, taking part in river surveys and listed building surveys over the years.
The Taylors were given a special send-off by Bures Hamlet Parish Council on 16 October as a thank you for everything they have done for the village over the years.
Train operator, Greater Anglia will be seeking a new adopter for Bures station who can fill the shoes of the two dedicated ‘station adopters’.
Greater Anglia’s Community Engagement Manager, Alan Neville, who runs the Adopt A Station scheme, said:
“David and Anne have been looking after Bures station since long before the scheme was set up to make it a welcoming place for their community.
“They’ve worked closely with Greater Anglia managers over the years to suggest improvements, mowed the lawns, created stunning flower displays and looked after the waiting room.
“Their dedication to the station has been breath-taking and touching and we are determined that the new adopter will carry on their legacy and continue their fantastic work, as we know that this is very important to David and Anne.”
“I’d like to thank them for everything they have done over the years to make Bures station a lovely place.”
Greater Anglia presented the couple with a Judges Special Award, champagne and flowers at its Adopters Awards ceremony on Friday (12 October).
David Lee. Chairman. Bures Hamlet Parish Council, said, “We are immensely grateful to David and Anne for all their hard work in good times and bad for keeping the station and surroundings looking so good over many years of dedicated service.
“Their work has done so much to enhance the appearance of the station for the travelling public and the parish in general.
“We thank them most sincerely and wish them every success in the future in their new home. They will be greatly missed.”