FOCS presented with Winners’ Cup

The awards ceremony was held last week at the Castle Garden Centre in Sherborne, whose owner Louise Burks was one of the judges for Station Christmas and presented the volunteers with a voucher for plants.

Representatives from Tisbury, Gillingham, Templecombe, Sherborne, and Yeovil station volunteer groups were also present to receive their award certificates from the Mayor of Yeovil, Cllr Evie Potts-Jones.

Cllr Potts congratulated FOCS on winning the overall winners’ cup and had a special message for the volunteers at Yeovil Junction, who have been helping make their station environment special, by promising to come down and help them.

Chairman of Blackmore Vale Community Rail Partnership, Derek Beer, complimented all the station volunteers for the work they have put in over the last two difficult years. Mr Beer said: “They have worked tirelessly to keep the station environment special with flowers and plants, working within strict Covid rules for most of the time.

“Fortunately, most of the work has been in the fresh air, but volunteers have still had to wear masks and keep clear of passengers when working on the platform.”

FOCS were thrilled to receive the top award for Crewkerne station and their Christmas decorations and said that teamwork was an important part of their success.

Secretary Gail Coleshill said: “We have such a good team at Crewkerne Station. We all play a part and work together to help our station be a friendly and smart place for passengers and we help them to understand station information.

“We have also set up several platform planters to grow colourful insect friendly plants. This is yet another award for FOCS, who also won a top score of 'Outstanding' last year in the South West in Bloom, It's Your Neighbourhood class.”

Gail also said that it was good to be back at the Castle Garden Centre, which is used by volunteers, who enjoy travelling to Sherborne by train, to purchase plants for their stations.