Cheshire Best Kept Stations

5th February 2019

Frodsham scoops another station award ....

Frodsham railway station has scooped another award at the 16th Cheshire Best Kept Stations Awards Evening held on Tuesday 5th February 2019.

Frodsham Station won the 'Best Kept Gardens Award' which means it has received accolades in this coveted competition every year since 2005.

Alsager railway station was named Cheshire’s Best Kept Station 2018.

The Awards were presented before 160 guests at The Grange Theatre, Hartford, Northwich by Professor Garfield Southall, Dean of Science and Engineering at the University of Chester and Chair of North Cheshire Community Rail Partnership.

The Evening was attended by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire and twelve mayors from boroughs, town and parishes across Cheshire.

In his closing remarks to the Awards, the Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire, David Briggs, gave special thanks to those stations that had commemorated the First World War as many of our soldiers left for the war from their local railway station and never returned.

Merseyrail were the 2018 lead sponsors of the Evening.

On presenting the awards, Professor Southall said:

“It has been a great pleasure for me to present these awards this evening and it has been an eye-opener to see how much volunteering there is on our railway stations in Cheshire.

“My thanks go to all those Friends Groups and rail staff that make our stations lovely gateways to our cities, towns and villages across the county."

On announcing the Awards, Mark Barker, chair of Cheshire Best Kept Stations said:

“Tonight's Awards Evening is a celebration and a thank you for all the volunteers, community groups and rail staff who do so much to brighten up our stations in Cheshire.

"Frodsham Station has won the Best Kept Gardens Award.

The judges found the approach to this station has some very colourful flower beds in front of the station building.

These continue onto the platforms and brighten up what would be a very dull waiting environment.

A pleasure to see this high standard of gardening.”

John Hulme, President of Cheshire Best Kept Stations, said:

“I can recall Frodsham railway station winning its first commendation back in 2005.

“It has gone on to win an award every year since then being top winners in 2011, 2014 and 2017.

“This is all thanks to Janet and Philp Briggs who I must pay a special tribute to.

“It is always a pleasure to visit Frodsham railway station and see their plants and gardens.

“They truly deserve the Best Kept Garden Award 2018.”

Ian Whitley, Publicity and Volunteer Officer of the North Cheshire Rail Users Group (NCRUG), said:

“We are pleased with yet another win for Frodsham station. 

“It is an absolute credit to Philip and Janet Briggs who manage the gardens there in what is NCRUG's 30th Anniversary year.”

Marina Farey, Community Rail Officer for the North Cheshire Lines, said:

“I am delighted with the win for Frodsham and also the wins at Ellesmere Port and Warrington Bank Quay railway stations. 

“Frodsham has won many awards over the years and their gardens are impeccable through every season. 

“Well done to the North Cheshire Rail Users Group volunteers.”

James Nicholas, Communications Manager for Transport for Wales Rail, said:

“We were delighted that Frodsham won the award for Best Kept Gardens and full credit must go to our fantastic volunteers there.

“The station is a really special place at the heart of the community. As one of the first awards we have picked up as Transport for Wales, this award symbolises what we hope to achieve over the next 15 years; developing stations at the heart of communities.

“The Cheshire Best Kept Stations awards stand out as the only competition of their kind in Britain and really do set a benchmark for great community work, serving to inspire others to make a real difference in their towns, cities and villages.”

Further details can be found at bestkeptstations.org.uk

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