Alfie Hewish, an 8-year-old passionate supporter of the Severn Valley Railway (SVR) from Telford, Shropshire, has embarked on a heartwarming mission.
His goal is to have his picture taken on 100 steam and diesel locomotive footplates to raise funds for the SVR. So far, Alfie has captured memories on 67 footplates and cabs and collected almost £800 for the SVR's Survival Fund.
Alfie's passion for steam engines began when he was two years old; he is a regular visitor to the SVR, which he describes as his happy place. In 2019, with help from his grandmother, he even became a shareholder.
The SVR Charitable Trust reports that their Survival Fund has amassed £457,000 in donations since its launch in April.
The fund aims to collect £1.5 million in response to the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, the Ukraine conflict, post-Brexit complications, and the prevailing cost-of-living crisis.
Alfie's journey has led him to various events and locations, such as the SVR's Autumn Steam Gala and Diesel Bash. His dedication has even taken him on travels further afield.
Alfie's mother shared details of some of his adventures. They spotted and bagged a footplate visit on LNER Class A4 4-6-2 (“Pacific”) Sir Nigel Gresley at Shrewsbury. “Our family vacation to Cornwall allowed us to explore the Lappa Valley narrow-gauge railway and the Bodmin & Wenford Railway,” Louise said. She expressed her gratitude for the support they received at every location, noting the tremendous help and enthusiasm from the locomotive crews and station staff.
One of Alfie's most memorable experiences was visiting LNER Class A3 4472 Flying 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive Flying Scotsman in Chester. Reflecting on his journey, Alfie expressed his admiration, “It was surreal to stand on the same metal where Sir Nigel Gresley might have stood. The Flying Scotsman is one of the world's most iconic locomotives. I'm motivated to reach my goal of 100 footplates!”
Jonathan ‘Gus' Dunster, managing director of SVR, expressed his gratitude to the generous supporters. “Their contributions demonstrate the significance of SVR in their hearts,” he said. While appreciating the current aid, Dunster emphasized the journey ahead and encouraged more contributions.
If you wish to support Alfie's commendable footplate challenge, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/alfie-hewish-footplatechallenge.
