On a cold but sunny January day on Friday (January 19), over sixty guests assembled at Station House outside Kents Bank station for a very special event. Chair of Network Rail Lord Hendy and mayor of Grange-over-Sands Cllr Roger Handley, unveiled the original British Railways ‘totem’ sign for Kents Bank station.
It was rescued at auction by friends and supporters of the Station Library, with over £2000 raised to buy, transport and erect the sign. A further ceremony took place in the library itself, wherePeter and Roger unveiled a plaque marking the offical opening of the Railway Library. Paul Salveson, and fellow trustees John Kitchen and Linda Nuttall, welcomed the guests which included friends from Community Rail Network, Northern, Network Rail, British Transport Police, Railway Heritage Trust, Westmorland and Furness Council, Friends of Kents Bank Station and Foreshore, Furness Line Action Group (FLAG) Cumbrian Railway Association, National Railway Museum, local residents and many other rail groups. 
The guests enjoyed traditional Lancashire Hotpot and vegetarian chili. Several guests brought along books they donated to the library – thanks Christian, Tony and Raymond.
“It was a day to remember,” said Paul Salveson, manager of the library. “We’ve got some more events planned in the future including a monthly series of talks – next is ‘Railways in the Lake District’ by historian Martin Bairstow on Wednesday February 14th at 14.00. The next library open day is on Saturday February 10th from 11.00 to 16.00.”
Leave a Reply