Stanhope Silver Band performing on the Saturday evening. Photo: Sue Powley-Whittingham.
Organised jointly by County Councillor Anita Savory MBE and the Weardale Railway in the form of Manager, Claire Gibbons, there was something for everyone and all ages over the two-day event.
Cllr Anita Savory (left) and Claire Gibbons
The Inspiration train arrived on the Friday and is set to stay in Stanhope for the full week. It is an onboard museum of the history of the railways, founded, of course, in our own county. There are hands-on activities for all the family and an ocean of information on every aspect of railways in an immersive journey along several carriages. Claire was expecting around 100 people to visit on the Saturday but, in fact, those numbers trebled and even more arrived for the Sunday.
In a marquee in the station car park were trade stalls manned by crafters, mostly, from near and far. These included Emma Hindmoor from Tow Law who runs a ‘Cake cupboard’ outside her home and brought a delicious array of her home-made sweet treats. Calling her little home business, ‘Cookie and Cake Heaven’, her wares were certainly delicious and the friendly folk in the hill top town can’t get enough of them. Cheryl and Ian came all the way from Gateshead to have a stall. Ian’s very clever and unique talent for making some genius creations from basically scrap metal had to be seen to be believed. Meanwhile, Cheryl’s home-made greeting cards sat alongside them.
Emma Hindmoor from Tow Law with her cakes.
Elizabeth, Marina and Anne raising money for the Friends of the Weardale Community Hospital.
There were other, local home-crafters, including Lesley Blackett from Wearhead, Christine Bennett from Wolsingham and authors, Margaret Manchester with her series of novels and Judith Sales with her children’s books. Members of the Friends of the Weardale Community Hospital had a fundraising tombola and Wolsingham School students were there too, raising funds for their Nepal trip in a few weeks.
Outside a Pizza van had a roaring trade as did the station café and Sue Powley’s shop across the way on Platform 2. Later on, after the stallholders left, the marquee was rearranged to accommodate firstly the Mad Alice Theatre Company, followed by a stunning concert by Weardale’s own Stanhope Silver Band who played to a capacity audience, which included Dr Sam Rushworth, our local MP.
The Mad Alice Theatre Company.
On the Sunday, families arrived again to enjoy the Inspiration Train and also a Teddy Bears’ Picnic. All-in-all, it was a wonderful family event with something for everyone.
Cllr Savory said, “The Community Event Weekend at the Weardale Railway attracted more than 300 visitors to the Stanhope Station on Saturday during the day, then on the evening a full house attended a superb concert by Stanhope Silver Band who have a long association with the railway as many years ago at Stanhope Show, the band would meet the Judges off the train and march them to Stanhope Showground.
“The Concert had a novel element too as a twilight train ran from Wolsingham and back to coincide with the concert times. Those who used the service were reporting the wonderful experience with fabulous scenery.
“Sunday saw the Teddy Bears Picnic which was a free event for the younger members of the community with their parents and grandparents joining in too. The platform cafe had its busiest day since opening on Saturday. A lot of work went into pulling this event together – the staff and volunteers went over and beyond to assist the success of the event. The event pulled the community together which is what it is all about.”
The Inspiration Train
Cheryl and Ian from Gateshead with their genius creations.
