Fairlands WI Gets A Virtual Tour Of Scenic Preserved Railways

Published on: 15 Mar, 2016
Updated on: 14 Mar, 2016

The Guildford Dragon NEWS welcomes reports and news of events from Women’s Institute groups that meet in the borough of Guildford. They will be published in this section of the website. Email details to guildford.dragon@gmail.com

From Val Dillon

The Flying Scotsman was one of the steam trains featured in the presentation at Fairlands WI open meeting in March.

Paul Whittle, whose talk was entitled teaming on – a Tour of some of the UK’s Most Scenic Preserved Railways, showed photographs of steam trains at home and abroad and encouraged those present to revisit the heritage railways in this country.

Paul has a repertoire of different talks about steam trains around the world and had visited Fairlands WI before with a talk about the Darjeeling Railway.

The audience was captivated by the sight of huge steam trains travelling through beautiful countryside wreathed in clouds of steam and smoke.

In Britain, Dr Beeching caused many railway lines to close in 1963. Tracks became disused and engines and rolling stock were sent to scrapyards. However, amateur enthusiasts set up workshops and brought about the opening of many heritage railways across the country. Thomas the Tank Engine days are especially popular and one can enjoy cream teas, fine dining or real ale on tap on many of the lines such as our local Watercress Line.

The competition at the March meeting was for Thoughts of Spring, and some interesting items were submitted. Spring is sprung. The grass is riz. I wonder where the birdies is!

A recent outing to the Milestones Museum had been a huge success. Friend and relatives had joined members on a 49-seater coach and had taken a trip down memory lane with ration cards and sweets to buy which they remembered from their childhood. It had been a good community excursion which Fairlands is well known for.

On the Queen’s 90th birthday on June 12, Fairlands Community Centre will be the venue for a big picnic with entertainment and children’s activities. Fairlands WI will be providing tea and home-made cakes during the afternoon. This will be yet another occasion when the community will enjoy coming together.

At the next WI meeting on April 13 the presentation will be by our local Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice. At this meeting there will be no competition.

Fairlands WI meets on the second Wednesday of each month at Fairlands Community Centre, starting at 8pm. Visitors to meetings pay a nominal sum of £2. If you are interested in finding out more about us, call Jenny Page, president, on 01483 538426 or Angela Linington, secretary, on 01483 233967.