Great Western Coffee Shop

GWR to commemorate 75 years since Victory in Europe

Great Western Railway (GWR) will mark 75 years since the end of World War 2 and peace was declared in Europe by naming six trains after remarkable individuals involved in the conflict.

Those being honoured represent the armed forces, the intelligence services and the world of politics, and remember the sacrifice, bravery and tenacity that helped defeat Nazism.

Among others, those to have an Intercity Express Train named after them include:

   •    Harry Billinge MBE from St Austell in Cornwall, a veteran of D-Day
   •    Wing Commander Ken Rees from Wales, Wellington Bomber pilot who was imprisoned in Stalag Luft III
   •    Alan Turing from London, who led Hut 8 at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, responsible for breaking of German ciphers.

GWR Head of Communications Dan Panes said:

“Naming trains and locomotives is a long tradition of the railway and one which GWR continues, supporting and promoting the people and communities we serve.

“I am really pleased we are able to honour some of the heroes of the war effort, continuing to help tell their incredible stories, and especially during this year where we remember all those who gave so much.”

The six trains will be named during March and April in the run-up to VE Day at the beginning of May.

The first of those to be honoured is Odette Hallowes, a French citizen who lived in London and Devon/Somerset. Odette became a Special Operations Executive and the most highly decorated spy of the war.

A special ceremony will take place at Paddington station and will be attended by members of Odette’s family on Friday 6 March.


Odette’s granddaughter, Sophie Parker said:

“It means so much to our family that Odette is being recognised and remembered in this most moving way. Odette’s story is one of courage, dignity and hope; all of which were so important to her during her wartime service, and in overcoming the torture she suffered.

“I know Odette would be extremely humbled by this honour, and would want it seen as a tribute to all those brave women of the Special Operations Executive, especially those who never returned home.”

“We are thrilled that our grandmother is being recognised and remembered in this fantastic way. She was an incredible woman whose bravery and courage, not only from her wartime service, but also as she lived with the effects of the torture that she suffered.

“I know she would be humbled by this and would want it seen as a tribute to all those brave women of the Special Operations Executive, especially those who never returned home.”

BBC points west mentioned this on its local news on Thursday,

not sure if we might get some film footage from Points West on the tea time News.

I’ll have some photos later too.

I do not understand what all the coloured stripes represent.
The rainbow stripes are generally accepted to represent gay pride.
The brown and black are presumably a sign of respect for dark skinned people.
The pink for "non binary" I think, but is that not included in the rainbow stripes?

But what is represented by the light blue and the white stripes ?

I do not understand what all the coloured stripes represent.
The rainbow stripes are generally accepted to represent gay pride.
The brown and black are presumably a sign of respect for dark skinned people.
The pink for "non binary" I think, but is that not included in the rainbow stripes?

But what is represented by the light blue and the white stripes ?

The white, blue and pink represent the trans community.  Here's a link to the full explanation of the new Pride flag https://www.verywellmind.com/what-the-colors-of-the-new-pride-flag-mean-5189173# (https://www.verywellmind.com/what-the-colors-of-the-new-pride-flag-mean-5189173#).  It says "Traditionally, the colours pink and baby blue have been used to represent whether a baby is a boy or a girl. Here, the colours denote those genders. The colour white represents people who are transitioning, intersex, or identify outside of the gender binary."  [I've amended the spelling of color from the original US English.]