28th October, 2024
Story and photographs by Andrew P.M. Wright,
Swanage Railway official photographer and press officer.
Dedicated and caring volunteers who maintain the Swanage Railway’s award-winning heritage station at Harman’s Cross – which has been built from nothing since the late 1980s - are donating surplus off-cuts of wood to a community group for use in its carpentry classes.
The National Lottery funded Durlston Pleasure Grounds project in Swanage supports ‘The Shed’ – located at the Victorian Durlston Castle - which is an accessible centre for the local community enabling people of all ages and abilities to socialise, learn new skills and volunteer in supporting the Durlston Country Park and its acclaimed National Nature Reserve.
Bob Bunyar, the Swanage Railway’s volunteer manager at Harman’s Cross station, said: “Throughout the year, we word hard to maintain the wooden heritage buildings at Harman’s Cross, as well as wooden fencing, so there are always off-cuts of wood that previously would have been burnt.
“We are delighted that our off-cuts of wood are not wasted and are instead being donated to ‘The Shed’ at Durlston Country Park to help with its community carpentry classes and activities which is a very worthwhile, positive and practical cause.
“It’s very pleasing to know that we are able to help another voluntary group in the Isle of Purbeck after the suggestion to donate our surplus off-cuts of wood from my wife Suzanne when I told her we had to clear out a timber store at Harman’s Cross station,” added Bob who has been a dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer for more than 30 years and lives in Swanage.
The son of Harman’s Cross station volunteers Terry and Judy Tovey is a regular user of ‘The Shed’ where he puts his wood working skills to good use in making items - such as bird feeders, bug houses, key tags and other wooden gifts - for sale in the Durlston Castle shop and at various fairs, including the Swanage Christmas Market in December.
Terry and Judy’s son also occasionally helps his parents with maintaining the gardens at Harman’s Cross station which regularly draw admiring praise from train passengers.
Swanage Railway Trust chair Frank Roberts said: "As a resident of Swanage for 40 years, I have always endeavoured to support the wider community in the Isle of Purbeck so I am delighted that this new initiative has proved to be of mutual benefit to our dedicated volunteers at Harman’s Cross station and at Durlston.
"These are difficult times for many people and organisations so the Swanage Railway will continue to support recycling moves to help other local groups," added Frank who lives in Swanage and has been a dedicated Swanage Railway volunteer for 40 years.
Most people think Harman’s Cross station has been in existence since the Wareham to Corfe Castle and Swanage branch line was built in the 1880s but it only started to be built by dedicated volunteers in the late 1980s when the Swanage Railway’s relaid tracks arrived at Harman’s Cross.
Bob Bunyar explained: “Maintaining Harman’s Cross station is like the Forth Bridge in Scotland, there is always painting and maintenance work to do. It’s a continual effort by our dedicated and good humoured team of volunteers to keep the station looking good and we always start out day with a cup of tea!
“The station gardens are also a big asset and last year we were awarded a Silver Gilt in the Community Rail Gardens Competition which covers railway stations in the south west of England - from Cornwall through to Hampshire - and we were also awarded a Royal Horticultural Society award for the management of our gardens.
“We have projects to do now the main peak heritage train operating season is over and new signage is being made for the station booking office, waiting room and platform numbers. A recent job was the renovation of our station lights where the metal work had rusted on five lamp heads and needed replacing,” added Bob who lives in Swanage.
The friendly Harman’s Cross station team always welcome new volunteers and meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am until 2pm. Anyone interested is welcome to visit the station on those days to have a look and enjoy a chat.
New volunteers are welcome across the Swanage Railway and anyone interested in finding out more should contact the volunteer recruitment and retention officer Lisa Gravett on 01929 475212 or email iwanttovolunteer@swanagerailway.co.uk. Details about volunteering can be found at swanagerailwaytrust.org/volunteering.