Station friends show that they’re still ‘on track’ as they are shortlisted yet again for a national rail award.
The Friends of Buxton Station (FoBS) are excited to announce that their efforts have been rewarded once again after being shortlisted for an incredible five of this year’s Community Rail Network’s National Awards.
The shortlisting announcement follows news reported in June that the volunteers were to receive the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteers and the only one to be given out in the whole of Derbyshire in 2021.
FoBS showed they are still ‘on the right track’ when selected as one of the best in the country in five categories; this is the fifth time the Buxton group has been put forward for at least three awards in consecutive years:
- Involving Young People – working with pupils at Buxton Junior School to plant wildflowers to provide food for hungry bumblebees
- Station and community arts – for the group’s legacy artwork projects linked to their work to help bumblebees including a large fibreglass sculpture, Billie the Buxton bee and an intricate mosaic of Lightwood, home to our rarest bees
- Photographic competition – two images showing different projects attracted attention
- Heart of the community – the group have been recognised for their work outside the station environment, particularly their role in the alternative wells dressing during the cancelled carnival in 2020
- Outstanding volunteer – FoBS Chairman, Dave identified as a prime mover.
This latest recognition in the Community Rail Network awards comes on the back of the group’s triumphant wins in 2016, 2018 and 2020, when they walked away with the top honours in the small projects category for their project to light up the station’s Grade II Listed fanlight window at night (2016), best station enhancement category given for the installation of a defibrillator inside an old red phone box due to be scrapped (2018) and (2020) it’s your station platinum award given for their wider community work during the pandemic.
David Carlisle, Chairman of FoBS explained: “Of course I’m honoured to be considered an outstanding volunteer, but more importantly the whole group are pleased to be short-listed once again. We are immensely proud of our station and our voluntary work in the community, being particularly delighted that our various projects in support of Buxton’s endangered Bilberry bumblebees have been recognised.”
Dave added, “For the fifth consecutive year, we have entered the rarefied atmosphere of being shortlisted in at least three different categories. We must be doing something right. It is recognition not just for us, but for those who work with or support us – including D. B. Cargo (UK) Limited, Northern Trains Limited, High Peak Borough Council, Network Rail and the High Peak & Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership.”
Winners will be revealed at the virtual and partially-attended Awards presentation evening to be held on 9th December 2021 at Guildhall, Southampton.
Who are Friends of Buxton Station?
FoBS is an unfunded community group of volunteers working to cheer up and generally brighten up Buxton Station. Their focus shifted in 2020 towards wider community working, including helping endangered bumblebees and local independent traders struggling to recover from covid-19 closures.
What are The National Community Rail Awards?
The National Community Rail Awards recognise the important, but often unsung work carried out by community rail partnerships and station adoption groups like FoBS, who provide a welcome social and economic contribution, with their activities, to their communities.
To find out more and to follow their progress, join their Facebook group at facebook.com/fobs
Did You Enjoy This?
You might like our regular newsletter. We put all the best events, cultural highlights and offers from Buxton and the Peak District in your inbox every month.
This information will only be used to send you this newsletter. It is stored in Mailchimp.
