"Portillo Moment" for Flying Scotsman's Designer
Hadley Wood Rail User Group decided in 2016 to commemorate the world famous locomotive engineer Sir Nigel Gresley at his home station of the 1920s. They joined forces with The Gresley Society Trust to design and fund a decorative plaque to adorn the station forecourt and planned a launch event with fun for all the family on 7th October 2017. Over 300 people turned out to see Hadley Wood’s former MP turned television railway personality, Michael Portillo, return here to unveil it in the presence of many distinguished guests, including Sir Nigel’s grandson, Ben Godfrey, and his daughter, Nina.
Philip Benham, Chairman of The Gresley Society, said, “The fact that Sir Nigel Gresley was a commuter from here makes Hadley Wood particularly special and I’m delighted that the Hadley Wood Rail User Group have wanted to mark this particular period in his life. It’s a great pleasure to see so many people here. This station has vastly improved since the days when I was Area Manager in the 1980s – particularly the improvements in access for those who might not find moving around so easy,” in a reference to the station’s new step free entrance, opened in May by Great Northern in response to a Rail User Group campaign.
Unveiling the plaque in a highly entertaining speech, Michael Portillo remarked, ‘‘Sir Nigel Gresley is a name that still provokes an extraordinarily emotional response. When I travelled on Flying Scotsman last year, there were so many people in the crowds to greet it that there were police to control them; but the police who were meant to be controlling the crowds were actually photographing the train. These locomotives were superb pieces of engineering and they do seem to capture our imagination in the most extraordinary way.”
Children from the two local primary schools at Hadley Wood and Monken Hadley also played a starring role. Pauline Hazelwood, Associate of the Guild of Railway Artists, chaired the judges of the Rail User Group’s Art Competition on “Trains Past, Present and Future” and the winners received their awards from her (resplendent in her "steam punk") and Michael Portillo. Monken Hadley Choir gave a captivating performance of a song specially written for the occasion, celebrating Flying Scotsman’s iconic journey from King’s Cross to Edinburgh through Hadley Wood. Click here to see the illustrated words and press play below to hear the soundtrack.
Philip Benham, Chairman of The Gresley Society, said, “The fact that Sir Nigel Gresley was a commuter from here makes Hadley Wood particularly special and I’m delighted that the Hadley Wood Rail User Group have wanted to mark this particular period in his life. It’s a great pleasure to see so many people here. This station has vastly improved since the days when I was Area Manager in the 1980s – particularly the improvements in access for those who might not find moving around so easy,” in a reference to the station’s new step free entrance, opened in May by Great Northern in response to a Rail User Group campaign.
Unveiling the plaque in a highly entertaining speech, Michael Portillo remarked, ‘‘Sir Nigel Gresley is a name that still provokes an extraordinarily emotional response. When I travelled on Flying Scotsman last year, there were so many people in the crowds to greet it that there were police to control them; but the police who were meant to be controlling the crowds were actually photographing the train. These locomotives were superb pieces of engineering and they do seem to capture our imagination in the most extraordinary way.”
Children from the two local primary schools at Hadley Wood and Monken Hadley also played a starring role. Pauline Hazelwood, Associate of the Guild of Railway Artists, chaired the judges of the Rail User Group’s Art Competition on “Trains Past, Present and Future” and the winners received their awards from her (resplendent in her "steam punk") and Michael Portillo. Monken Hadley Choir gave a captivating performance of a song specially written for the occasion, celebrating Flying Scotsman’s iconic journey from King’s Cross to Edinburgh through Hadley Wood. Click here to see the illustrated words and press play below to hear the soundtrack.
Other attractions included the Gresley Society and North London Society of Model Engineers, Barnet Museum, the Hadley Wood Association and refreshments by Hadley Wood WI. HWRUG also ran three competitions which raised £1,000 for Inclusion Barnet, the local deaf and disabled people’s organisation which works towards a more accessible society for all, chosen for its affinity with the station’s step free entrance.
The plaque has now been installed in its permanent location at the station entrance at a ceremony performed by Hadley Wood’s resident Gresley Society member, Eric Pearce, and attended by plaque donors. You can view the Donors’ Certificate here.
The plaque has now been installed in its permanent location at the station entrance at a ceremony performed by Hadley Wood’s resident Gresley Society member, Eric Pearce, and attended by plaque donors. You can view the Donors’ Certificate here.
