At the age of 82, railway worker Don Buckley is retiring after almost 7 decades of working at London Waterloo.
It is amazing to think about all the changes that Don must have experienced through his years of working with South Western Railway and no doubt of all the people he has helped throughout his career.
It is thought that Don is the longest-serving railway employee in the country, an achievement to be very proud of.
Recently, Don was working three shifts per week to help visually impaired and disabled passengers get around London Waterloo station.
Two years ago, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rail Business Awards, with an official send off taking place on the 2nd June 2021.
Don started working at London Waterloo when he was 14 years old. As he was too young to work on the trains, he started his career as a station message boy.
Don saw the last steam train leave London Waterloo in 1967 and the great train robber Buster Edwards setting up a flower stall outside in 1975.
Don said: “I have loved working at Waterloo for all these years. The station may have changed a lot since the 1950s, but it's still such a special place and I feel so lucky to have had so many wonderful experiences working here. The people are what make the station special and I will miss my colleagues and customers immensely. While all good things come to an end, Waterloo will always have a very special place in my heart.”
Chico Coulibaly, London Waterloo Regional Manager, South Western Railway, said: “Don is a well-respected and much-loved member of our team. His wealth of knowledge about the railway, Waterloo and London is unrivalled, and he will be dearly missed by colleagues and customers alike. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Don for all his years of service and the significant contribution he has made at Waterloo. We wish Don all the very best for his retirement.”
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Did’nt Gt Train Thieves cosh a Railway man leaving him with life changing damage? How ironic later one of them flogged their wares from a main London rail terminus.