Visitors parking in the field next to Toddington station for the visit of Olton Hall - masquerading as 'Hogwarts Castle' - during  the Cotswold Festival of Steam and the following few days, raised well over £5,000 for local charities.

Commercial department member and Rotarian David Brown arranged for local Rotary clubs to provide car parking assistance throughout the Festival.  In exchange, visitors were asked to drop a few coins into a bucket and the result was an outstanding £5,400.  Says David: "Not only did the events give so much pleasure to our many family visitors but they also helped to contribute a good sum of money to local charities including our own Cotswold Heritage Railway Trust.

"Seven local Rotary Clubs, aided by a team from Acorns Children's Hospice, took on the parking duties at Toddington in exchange for collecting a voluntary contribution of £2 per car for charity. Not only did this relieve stretched GWR staff from manning the car park over the eight days of the event - a considerable workload in itself - but has also enable the GWR to play its part in raising such a magnificent sum for local charities.

"A warm round of applause for the Rotary clubs and Acorns Children's Hospice - and to volunteer Pat Green for setting up the car park and providing such a warm welcome for these stalwart volunteers!"

…and special Elegant Excursions dining train raises money, too

On Sunday 7th June, a full Elegant Excursions luncheon train set out at 12.30 from Toddington station with the National Railway Museum's 'City of Truro' at its head.  Not an unusual sight, given the popularity of this excellent 'restaurant on wheels' - but on this occasion the objective was to raise money for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys as part of a wider fundraising initiative amongst Freemason's lodges throughout Worcestershire.

This is the second year the train has run and it raised well over £1,000 for the Trust, which helps relieve poverty and provide education for disadvantaged children.  Diners comprised mainly Members (some of whom are volunteers on the GWR) from Evesham Masonic lodges, with families and friends. 

Volunteer locomotive fireman and Elmley Castle Lodge member Ian Crowder, riding on the cushions on this occasion, says: "Freemasons raise millions of pounds every year for a wide range of charities and this train has made a great contribution towards the Province of Worcestershire's '2011' appeal for the Trust.  We'd particularly like to thank Andrew Goodman, who operates Elegant Excursions, for his generosity in providing the train and lunch 'at cost'."