My picture is 98 year old Mrs Mary Middlebrook in a beach hut at Southwold last week. Mary travelled on the Southwold Railway in the 1920s when her family used to come on holiday, nearly every year, to Southwold, travelling from Seven Kings, Ilford to the town via Liverpool Street and Halesworth where she remembers the footbridge connecting the two lines. Mary also remembers being allowed to kneel up on the seat and wave to relatives at Laurel Farm as the train passed through Wenhaston. There was woven rush matting on the seat she recalls. They stayed at Mrs Grindle’s B & B in Trinity Street. Later in the week I was pleased to show her and two of her sons around Steamworks. It was great to meet them all.
Oliver and Robin have now rebuilt the 7 1/4″ Opel steam loco which now works splendidly and will be in action for rides at Founders Day next Saturday 29th September. The site will be open from 10 am and there is Afternoon Tea for Founders and Bondholders at 4pm. We look forward to seeing you.
John Bennett 25.9.18