Former railwayman recognised for long service by village passenger group

A FORMER railway chargeman has been recognised at the Wargrave Festival for 53 years of service to the area’s stations.

Norman Topsom MBE, who worked in Henley, Twyford and Reading, was given a framed report on a talk about Twyford railway line which was published in the Henley Standard in December.

It featured the history of the Great Western Railway line from 1836 to the end of the Second World War.

Mr Topsom, of Gainsborough Hill, Henley, arrived at the event on a Thames Turbo train from Henley which bore his name, Norman Topsom MBE.

The presentation was organised by the Wargrave User Group and was part of the Wargrave Festival open gardens event attended by former Maidenhead MP prime minister Theresa May.

Maps of the open gardens were sold at Wargrave station and tea and cake was served to guests in the corner of the station car park.

Speaking to Mr Topsom, Mrs May said: “You were such a part of the trains on this line and Twyford station. I don’t think it could have existed without you.

“It wouldn’t have done and that is important for the Wargrave branch line as well, so we would like to present you with this historical report of the Twyford line.”

Mr Topsom, 76, said: “It was lovely because you never expect people to recognise you at work. It’s an incredible job on the railways, it’s very interesting. I worked on the railways for 53 years. I started in 1962 straight out of school.”

He began at the old town station and later moved to the parcel depot at Reading but spent most of his working life as chargeman at Twyford station. He was made an MBE in 2005 for services to the community.

Eleanor Willis, regional development manager at Great Western Railway, said: “The affection with which local people welcomed Norman is testament to the huge impact he made to so many.”