Winner Steve at his ticket office, with certificate on the shelf

Whaley Bridge stationmaster Stephen Sharp has won the rail industry’s highest award, taking top prize in the Station Staff of the Year category.  This followed on from the previous week when he had won a third place at the Community Rail Awards held in Llandudno.

In the big final at Birmingham, Steve was up against Crewe and Stockport Station staff, as well as some of the big London stations and a number of entries from London Underground.

The judges felt that this was an easy category to judge.  In the relatively short time that Stephen has been at Whaley Bridge

• he saw ticket sales and revenue increase by over 300%
• he has worked closely with the Friends of Whaley Bridge Station
• he has taken every class from the primary school on a tour of the station.

The volume of nominations he received made him a worthy winner.

The Rail Staff Awards ceremony is the most prestigious event in the railway calendar with over a thousand guests attending. Stephen not only won the national award but also £1000 in prize money, which he will be spending with his wife on their Silver Wedding Anniversary next year.

Steve and wife Paulette at award ceremony

Stephen said:  “To be judged ahead of some really big stations, is amazing, I feel rather embarrassed, to be honest. I am only doing my job.  I like the passengers to feel appreciated in a morning and get a warm welcome before they start their journey to work.  I would like to thank everyone who supported me, the Friends of Whaley Bridge Station, Northern Rail and my wife, Paulette.”