Film star Jenny Agutter, who starred in the original The Railway Children as well as Railway Children Return films, has recorded a platform announcement to encourage commuters at Thameslink's Denmark Hill station to vote for it in a national competition.
Denmark Hill station in south London is one of the four finalists in the Rail Delivery Group's ‘World Cup Of Stations' which celebrates Community Rail Week and is being held this week from today, Monday, 22nd until Friday, 26th May.
The contest is an online competition, in which members of the public vote for their favourite station. The semi-finals are on Thursday, 25th May and the final is next Friday, 26th May.
Jenny Agutter's announcement that commuters on Denmark Hill's platforms will hear from PA speakers all day today, Monday, 22 May is:
“Hi, this is Jenny Agutter. Please join me in voting for our fabulous Thameslink station, Denmark Hill, in the World Cup of Stations competition. You must do this today, by searching #WorldCupOfStations' online or on Twitter. It won't cost you anything. Thank you!”
Jenny Agutter's won a BAFTA for her role in Equus and is currently starring in BBC 1's Call The Midwife as Sister Julienne. Denmark Hill is her local station. If Denmark Hill is successful in getting through to the next round of the competition, Jenny will be making further announcements.
Denmark Hill has been transformed by a series of quirky mechanical curiosities and artwork thanks to the efforts of The Camberwell Society in partnership with Thameslink. The Camberwell Society is one of many communities across the country that have entered into formal partnerships with their local rail companies to support their local stations.
Chairman of The Camberwell Society Nick Mair with retired engineer Tony Coleman has created an exciting display at Denmark Hill station of mechanical oddities and bizarre objects, such as a ‘Chaos Wheel' where buckets attached to a penny-farthing bicycle wheel steadily fill and rotate to demonstrate unequal equilibrium. Other strange displays include a 5-metre tall marble run with ball bearings that are then hoisted up on carriages.
Two major hospitals, King's College and the Maudsley, are served by the station, and a recent upgrade provided a new second entrance to ease overcrowding, a bicycle hub with space for 85 bicycles, and solar panels on the roof of the new entrance that generates more power than the station building consumes.
Tony Coleman said: “Thameslink's Denmark Hill is such a fabulous station that serves our community and two major London hospitals that are a lifeline for thousands across the capital.
“With the many improvements we've seen to the building and its solar-powered roof, as well as the artwork coordinated by The Camberwell Society, this station really is worthy of winning this national competition. Please cast your vote, by searching #World Cup Of Stations online.”
Tim Dunn, TV presenter and shortlist judge in the World Cup Of Stations competition, said: “I had the tricky task of selecting the shortlist of 48 stations – tricky because it represents the work of 48 groups of chuffing ace volunteers.
“The time, energy and love each group gives is because of a love of our shared railway and their communities too. It might seem bonkers, but this competition showcases the hard work of hundreds countrywide, then amplifies and celebrates all in community rail. Remember: like a football World Cup, the winners each day need more and more support – in every battle, it's the one with the most votes who wins!”
