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150th Anniversary Celebrations
Monday 5th May 2008
Bank Holiday Monday, May 5th 2008 marked 150 years since the opening of the Watford to St Albans branch line.
The day kicked off at 11am with a short speech by the Mayor of St Albans at the town hall. Therein followed a grand procession down to St Albans Abbey station, featuring local community groups such as the Brownies, Majorettes and Park Street Players. Bells were rung at St Albans Abbey, another echo of the 1858 opening day.
From St Albans the party took the train to Watford Junction, where a fanfare by buglers of the St Albans City Band heralded the unveiling of a plaque to mark the occasion. The party then returned as far as Bricket Wood, to join in celebrations at the green opposite the station.
Here at Bricket Wood there was much to see and do, including a funfair (in honour of Henry Gray), miniature railway and traction engine rides, refreshments, a Victorian organ grinder, Network Rail's Oscar the Robot and performances from Wicket Brood Morris Dancers and St Albans City Band. Crowds flocked to the event, in no small measure due to the fine weather on offer!
At the Parish Centre, there was an historical exhibition to view, featuring displays from the Bricket Wood Historical Society, Locomotive Club of Great Britain (LCGB) and a model railway depicting 'Callowland in the 1980s'.
All in all the event was a big success. Great thanks must go to the organising team from the Community Rail Partnership, in particular Alissa Ede (Community Rail Officer), James Elliott (Group Station Manager) and John Webster (ABFLY), without whom none of this would have been possible.
Let's hope there will be similar celebations in another 150 years!
For a copy of the commemorative program, click here
For further photos, click here
