Railway Celebrations at the Station
A Weekend of Fun!
150 Years of the Railway 1859-2009
Railway Celebrations
Gillingham Imperial Silver Band
Wessex Highlanders
Gillingham Imperial Silver Band
Saturday 2nd May
11.00 am - Procession from Gillingham High Street to Gillingham Railway Station with the Town Band, Pipe Band, Steam Traction Engines, the Town Mayor and Councillors.
Former railway workers 'on parade'
11.30 am - Unveiling of a commemorative plaque on the station platform
Above: gathering of dignatories for the unveiling of a plaque
Various Stalls, Displays, Model Railway Exhibitions, Sideshows, Musical Entertainment and Refreshments were available in the area of the Station Yard, Rose's Yard and Somdor House.
Members of Gillingham Fire Service
In the afternoon entertainment was provided by
Town and Pipe Bands, Dance display by "Step in Time", Dorset Accordion Band, Songs and drama by Gillingham Arts Workshop
A themed event at the Olive Bowl followed in the evening with buffet supper and included a
performance by Gillingham Arts Workshop, archive film and photograph
show using computer projector and an exhibition of railway artefacts and photographs.
A
steam train excursion on West Somerset Railway was arranged the following day, 3 May, with a coach from Gillingham Car Park to Bishops
Lydeard to board the train to Minehead. After 3 hours at the seaside the return was by steam train to Bishops Lydeard and then coach and return to
Gillingham. The event was a sell-out.
Update 24 July 2009