Great Western Coffee Shop

Yesterday, a walk very early in the morning found me passing Goring Station at 0730. There was a sign advising that waiting rooms were locked but that the ticket office was open. In front of the doors leading into the ticket hall was a very large box where one could post "Thank you for caring" notes - presumably in acknowledgement of staff continuing to work.

A nice thought, but then I've sometimes wondered whether Goring residents have shown more interest in their station than appears to be the case with neighbouring ones; they've planted shrubs etc in the station garden beds.*

I did look around to see if there was a copy of Metro  but didn't spot any.

Come midday, after meandering, I found myself walking past Pangbourne Station, where there were a dozen Metros. I was greeted by that disembodied voice advising a deserted station that "to ensure a timely departure ...", first on platform 1, then on platform 2. I wandered off, wondering if such warnings would continue after Armageddon.

During my walk, I met hardly anyone, and felt the risk factor to be lower than in my hour or so rambles around the suburbs. Further clarification: I don't make a point of getting Metro, especially as it takes me only five minutes to read; it did save me going into a Pangbourne newsagents just to buy a more substantial newspaper.

* A few years ago at Tilehurst I spotted Ernie, the affable ticket-man, doing a bit of planting in the afternoon - when he would have been off-duty. He told me that FGW (as it then was) or possibly Network Rail had a small fund to buy plants.  But a long cry from the days when station gardens were a matter of great pride and rivalry.

You remind me of this film, for some reason: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AVBEwTIfDM

It takes you that long?  :D

In the mid to late-2000s, I had a recording of the old FGW help point at Melksham Station announcing the 1910 departure to Southampton Central as my ringtone, and I often found myself wondering similar thoughts  ;D

There is indeed a dedicated group who compete in the "Britain in Bloom" competition (I think that's what it's called). They featured in a TV program recently but I cannot for the life of me remember which one!
 
Back in the 1980s was a station manager at Tilehurst who took a lot of care with planters and the like. Older forum members with a better memory for such matters may be able to fill in the details.

Somewhat surprising ...


Our team too appeared in the TV series - we have a very keen local group and I suspect that this year the main categories will almost entirely relate to residential gardens and best street.   Our bloomin' team will be nothing if not law abidin, in both spirit and letter!    But I doubt there will be a "South West in Bloom" with us judged against other town.