Good old knees up promised aboard Essex Cockney Singalong Train

Published on: Wednesday, 1 June 2022
Last updated: Wednesday, 1 June 2022

A good old-fashioned knees up will get rail passengers smiling when Tom Carradine jumps aboard a train with his Ol’ Joanna for a cockney sing-a-long.

Two special trains – on 18 June and 15 October - have been organised by the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership and will run from Colchester to Walton-on-the-Naze and return.

The trains will depart Colchester station at 18.56 and travel to Walton-on-the-Naze, arriving back at Colchester at 20.52.

Tom Carradine, pianist, entertainer and Music Hall afficionado, launched his show to capture the flavour and atmosphere of a good old-fashioned knees up in the grand Cockney tradition and recreate it for audiences young and old.

Since its launch in 2014, Carradine’s Cockney Sing-a-long rapidly became a fixture on the UK’s thriving vintage scene, and he was recently recognised by the British Music Hall Society with an award for “keeping the spirit of music hall alive”.

He performed on the Essex and South Suffok’s first Cockney Singalong Train in 2019 before the pandemic and is now back by popular demand.

Tom comments, “I’m really looking forward to getting back on board for what really is a unique event! As a huge Victorian Music Hall fan I can’t wait to lead the carriage in rousing choruses of the songs which Cockney day-trippers would’ve sung on this line over a hundred years ago on their way to the seaside.”

Terri Ryland, Community Rail Partnership Officer, said, “We’re so delighted that the Cockney Singalong train is back. This is going to be a really fun evening full of songs that everybody knows and loves that will keep people smiling and singing from beginning to end. Don’t miss this chance to see Tom’s brilliant show while he’s here in Essex and book now as tickets will go fast!”

Tickets are just £5 return and are only available at www.esscrp.org.uk

The Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership aims to encourage and promote use of the six rail branch lines in Essex and supports local projects developed in partnership with community groups businesses and Greater Anglia.

Their focus is on projects that promote the stations and encourage rail travel through engagement, economic growth and sustainable active travel for all.