Wingfield Station

Yesterday we had a visit from the RICS National Judges ahead of the RICS Awards Grand Final in October. In May we were delighted to win the Heritage category at the RICS East Midlands Awards 2024. We now go on to compete against the other regional winners including projects such as the Lord Leycester Hospital in the West Midlands, Oxburgh Hall in the East of England and The Old Curiosity Shop in London. Tough competition! We're very proud that Wingfield Station is amongst such prestigious projects For the full list see here: https://lnkd.in/dy6AF24Y James Boon Ackroyd Construction Greenwood Projects Alan Staley Peter Milner #RICSAwards

Last year, shortly before the October opening of Wingfield Station, we received correspondence from Jennie, daughter of Vic Nagle. Jennie had spotted some information about our restoration project and wrote to tell us all about her father, who had taken Jennie and her sister to Wingfield on many occasions when they were children. This was because Vic had been evacuated here from north London in 1940 when he was 8 years old. During this time Vic lived with a wonderful family in the adjoining Station House. He was allowed to play a big part in the daily signalling of trains and Jennie told us that he had many happy and special memories. Vic told his daughters that when he arrived at the station he was the last evacuee and was left waiting for a family to take him in. Nobody came forward. Vic was obviously extremely upset, having seen all the other children collected. It must have been very frightening. However, the Station Master kindly stood up and said he would have Vic and, as it turned out, he had the very best place to be; living on the station itself! Vic last visited Wingfield Station around 5 years ago, and was saddened by how run down it had become so he was absolutely thrilled to learn about the restoration. Very sadly Vic passed away in October, so the plans to bring him over to Wingfield to see the completed restoration didn't quite come to fruition. Some of you who have visited the station might well have noticed our dedication to Vic on the bench. Last weekend his daughters, Jennie (R) and Debbie (L) visited Wingfield. Here they are pictured on the bench.

2025 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway. Railway 200 celebrates the past, present and future of rail. Yesterday we welcomed Mike Lamport, a Railway 200 steering group member, to Wingfield to discuss how we might get involved with this once-in-a-generation opportunity to make history and be part of something special. Here’s Mike, John (Wingfield Station 1947) and Peter Milner taking a closer look at the zigzag window as we walked round the exterior of the building in the rain! Check out https://lnkd.in/eaZ3KaWe for more information. #railway200 #greatbritishrailways #derbyshire #midlandrailway #midlandmainline #southwingfield #francisthompson #architecture #industrialheritage