The Friends of Handforth Station (FoHS) are about to celebrate their 25th Anniversary.
They were the very first "Friends of a Station" group in the UK when they were formed in 1996 by local campaigners Mike Bishop and Steve Nash.
The FoHS recently showcased their first 25 years of activity, when teams from Network Rail, Northern Trains and the country-wide Community Rail Partnership visited Handforth for a tour of the station and its many unique features.
Mike Bishop, the current President, said "In the early 1990s, our station deteriorated badly. The old station building was replaced by an ugly portacabin, passenger numbers were falling, and investment was not available – for a few months it even looked like the station might be shut.
"We founded this first 'Friends of a Station' group, with the express aim of campaigning to keep the station open and to make it more welcome and more accessible for passengers. Our first major success was making sure that the station remained open, and our most recent victory has
been to secure over £2 Million funding for improved Access For All at the station."
You will be able to see a display of the FoHS work over the "First 25 Years", and their "Vision for the Next 25 Years", at the Handforth Christmas Market on Saturday 27th November.
