Volunteer Recruitment Day at the Spa Valley Railway on 8 May 2023

The Spa Valley Railway is looking to recruit volunteers of all ages, to join the friendly existing team of volunteers who together run this much-loved heritage railway.

‘Volunteers Day’ will take place on Monday 8 May 2023 and is the ideal opportunity to come along and learn all about the railway and find out if you could help the railway by becoming a volunteer yourself.

Led by volunteers Brian Halford and Chris Bower the event will take place between 10am and 1pm at Tunbridge Wells West Station (adjacent to Sainsburys).  There is plenty of car parking at nearby car parks as Sainsbury’s car par is for customers only.

The day will start with an introductory talk followed by an opportunity for visitors to put their questions to other volunteers about the various departments and the roles available at the railway.

This will be followed by a tour of the locomotive shed and a visit to the shop and a look inside the ticket office.

Anyone who is specifically interested in loco maintenance or workshops can separate for a separate tour with one of the loco/workshops members.

The railways commercial manager Jonnie Pay said “Volunteering can be anything from a few hours a week to much more, it’s whatever spare time you may have to come and help us.  All volunteering is important to us as we are a 100% volunteer led railway.  It’s also a great way to meet lifelong friends as well as have fun and learn new skills.

“On our Volunteers Day, everyone can join us for a complimentary train journey at either 11.30 or 14.10 between Tunbridge Wells West and Groombridge.  This will also be the ideal opportunity to hear about volunteering in the catering department which also happens to be one of the most important areas of the railway as the revenue raised from the railway’s dining trains is essential to keeping the railway open for all to enjoy.  Our dining experiences include Sunday lunches, Ploughmans lunches, Fish and Chip Suppers, Real Ale Trains, Afternoon Tea, Cream Teas and Murder Mystery evenings.”

At Groombridge there will be a tour of the station and a chance to see the refreshment hut and visit the signal box.

The train will leave Groombridge at 12.16pm and 14.56pm for the return journey to Tunbridge Wells West when everyone can look inside the guard’s compartment.

Membership forms will be available from Tunbridge Wells West Station and volunteers will again be available to answer any questions.

To register your interest in attending please e-mail  volunteering@spavalleyrailway.co.uk

To find out more about the railway and volunteering visit  www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk