Memorial Retreat
Click here to go to the GWR Trust web page where you can find out how you can remember a loved one on our Railway in our Memorial Retreat.
Additional note:
PEOPLE REMEMBERED ON BENCH-MOUNTED MEMORIAL PLAQUES
There are 28 memorial plaques mounted on benches at our main railway stations. Some of the plaques go back more than two decades. They are records of past volunteers, railway workers and passengers who loved the railway and who were themselves loved by family and friends.
The railway allowed people to remember their loved ones with a plaque dedicated to them attached to a bench seat. But over the years the number of plaques being requested grew to an unsustainable level, so the railway created the beautiful Memorial Retreat at Toddington station where plaques to honour the life of loved ones can now be installed (see above).
The following is a list in alphabetical order of surname of the memorial plaques on benches at our stations. This list gives the name of the deceased person, the wording on the plaque and the location of the bench.
|
Given Name |
Surname | Wording on Plaque | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joanne | Balderstone | In loving memory of JOANNE BALDERSTONE 1939 - 2011. She was a working member of the On Train Catering Team and loved this station and spent her time working on the G.W.S.R. | Winchcombe Station, bench on Platform 2, between Waiting Room and Discovery Coach. |
| Margaret E | Bamford | In memory of MARGARET E. BAMFORD 1913 - 2003. A lady who loved the Cotswolds. Sit and rest awhile | Cheltenham Race Course Station, bench on Platform 1, north end of Platform. |
| John | Blandford | Donated by Kenneth John Blandford in memory of JOHN BLANDFORD | Winchcombe Station, bench on Platform 1, south of Footbridge. |
| Sybil | Bosworth | SYBIL BOSWORTH 1913 - 1997. A devoted supporter, for over 60 years, of her husband's love of steam | Winchcombe Station, bench on Platform 1, outside fenced picnic area near Winchcombe running in board station sign. |
| Ron | Brisling | Remembering RON BRISLING who certainly lived his life at full steam | Broadway Station, bench near Platform 1 inside fenced seating area |
| Roger | Carver | ROGER CARVER 1941 - 2014. A much loved family man who spend many hours working on this railway | Winchcombe Station, bench on Platform 2, south of Discovery Coach. |
| Keith | Clarke | In memory of KEITH CLARKE. Member of GWR Building Dept, with fond memories from his wife Dawn and Family | Winchcombe Station, bench on Platform 2, north of Waiting Room. |
| George Bernard | Colley | In Memory of GEORGE BERNARD COLLEY 1907 - 2004. Past member of Carriage and Wagon Team | Winchcombe Station, bench on Platform 1, south end of station building. |
| Pauline | Dunn (née Willett) | In loving memory of PAULINE DUNN (née WILLETT) 1932 - 2014 | Winchcombe Station, bench on Platform 2, between Waiting Room and Discovery Coach. |
| WJ (Bill) | Ellesmere | In memory of W.J. ELLESMERE (BILL) 20 July 1925 - 30 March 2011. Station Master Winchcombe | Winchcombe Station, bench on Platform 1, outside the Tim Mitchell building. Note: The new Carriage and Wagon building visible from the southern end of Winchcombe Station and opened in 2015 is called the Bill Ellesmere Paintshop, Winchcombe in memory of Bill. He was a volunteer at the railway and left a very generous bequest towards the building's construction. |
| Barbara June and John Douglas | Ellison | In memory of happy times. BARBARA JUNE ELLISON 1931 - 2003, JOHN DOUGLAS ELLISON 1931 - 2009. Gone but not forgotten | Winchcombe Station, bench on Platform 1, just south of Tim Mitchel Building. |
| Bevan & Elizabeth | Field | In memory of BEVAN & ELIZABETH FIELD. Life long friends of the railway. Donated by Patrick & Mary Brotherton & Stanley | Toddington Station, bench on Platform 1, north side of footbridge. |
| Mike | Flay | MIKE FLAY. A platform soul to the end of the line | Cheltenham Race Course Station, bench on Platform 1, south of Snacks By Tracks Refreshment Cabin. |
| Norman (NCI) | Gibbs | In Memory of NORMAN (NCI) GIBBS Great Western Railway fireman and Cheltenham Racecourse Volunteer. Died June 2011. "A proper job" | Cheltenham Race Course Station, bench on Platform 1, between Booking Office / Waiting Room building and north end of platform. |
| Leslie | Groom | With fond and loving memories of LESLIE GROOM 1930 - 2005, who spent many a happy hour here. Forever in our thoughts. | Toddington Station, bench on Platform 1, between footbridge and north end of Platform. |
| Horace | Haines | In memory of HORACE HAINES, 7-3-1913 to 10-3-1994 | Toddington Station, bench on Platform 1, north north end of Platform. |
| John Alexander | Harding | In loving memory of JOHN ALEXANDER HARDING for his love of trains | Winchcombe Station, bench on Platform 2, next to north end of large Winchcombe running in board station sign. |
| Roger | Hawkins | With thanksgiving for the life of ROGER HAWKINS 1928 - 2005. Who served the railway with distinction for many years | Toddington Station, bench on Platform 1, south end of station building. |
| Joe | Ledeux | In memory of JOE LEDEUX 6-3-1932 - 3-7-2000. Oh how I long to travel back and tread again that ancient track - Henry Vaughan 1622-1695 | Toddington Station, bench on Platform 2, under Waiting Room canopy. |
| Paul and Kathleen | Mackintosh | In loving memory of PAUL MACKINTOSH (1926 - 2007). A true lover of steam railways. And his wife KATHLEEN (1931 - 2009). From all the family. | Toddington Station, bench on Platform 1, south end of Platform. |
| Raymond Derrick | Matthews | In loving memory of our father RAYMOND DERRICK MATTHEWS 4-9-22 - 3-4-99. Dad operated steam and diesel trains over this, his favourite route, for many years. He is greatly missed by Sheila, Angela, Jeremy and Tina | Toddington Station, bench on Platform 1, south of south end of station building. |
| Sylvia and Albert Edward | Meadows | In memory of SYLVIA MEADOWS 24th July 1933 - 5th April 1993 and ALBERT EDWARD MEADOWS 24th September 1928 - 20th October 1997 | Toddington Station, bench on Platform 2, under Waiting Room canopy. |
| Ron | Page | RON PAGE 27.10.31 - 7.9.05. Ron loved the GWR | Cheltenham Race Course Station, bench on Platform 1, in front of Booking Office / Waiting Room building. |
| Barrie | Pickett | In memory of BARRIE PICKETT, May 1934 - March 2016. For many years a volunteer buffet car steward and cook on this railway. Remembered with great affection and respect by his family, friends and colleagues | Winchcombe Station, bench on Platform 2, between Waiting Room and Discovery Coach. |
| James Samuel | Rous | JAMES SAMUEL ROUS 1939 - 2015. A railway enthusiast | Winchcombe Station, bench on Platform 2, south of Footbridge. |
| Roy | Smith | MR ROY SMITH "Journey's end". In loving memory from all his family 23-12-36 to 30-08-05. Will be sadly missed | Toddington Station, bench on Platform 1, near Booking Office. |
| Ron | Tilling | Seat donated by the family and friends in loving memory of RON TILLING (1929 - 2003) to celebrate his love for steam trains | Cheltenham Race Course Station, bench on Platform 1, north of entrance ramp from car park. |
| Doreen | Walters | In memory of DOREEN WALTERS 2014. A friend of Broadway Station | Broadway Station, at ground level in small garden near Platform 1 inside fenced seating area |
