The “Connolly sign” October 2019
Renovating the sign
The sign undergoing renovation in Roger Small's garage
Renovating the sign
The sign undergoing renovation in Roger Small's garage
Renovating the sign
The sign undergoing renovation in Roger Small's garage
Network Rail have kindly donated sleepers to FoHS, to be used in the Rotary Garden and elsewhere. Here you see several sleepers having just been delivered, awaiting mounting at the station to serve as a frame for displaying a 1950s BR running-in board.
Preparing the frame
Sleepers being delivered
Preparing the frame
The sleepers fixed in place vertically
The work to prepare the mounting for the donated "Connolly running-in board" took many hours over a few days. Holes were dug, sleepers erected vertically and concrete poured, and battens were carefully attached - to make a strong yet flexible structure onto which the sign could be attached.
Mounting the sign
Members of FoHS carefully mounting the sign as horizontally as possible
Mounting the sign
Members of FoHS carefully mounting the sign as horizontally as possible
Mounting the sign
Members of FoHS carefully mounting the sign as horizontally as possible
Mounting the sign
Members of FoHS carefully mounting the sign as horizontally as possible
Mounting the sign
Members of FoHS carefully mounting the sign as horizontally as possible
Members of FoHS mounting the new running in board on the three sleepers
Members of FoHS carefully mounting a BR 1950s running-on board as horizontally as possible
The sign successfully mounted
Members of FoHS display the newly-mounted sign
Newly completed running-in board (aka the Connolly sign)
The sign having been fully mounted
Unveiling ceremony
Hugh Everett giving safety briefing before the ceremony
The new sign
Andrew Backhouse (Chair, FoHS) introducing the new sign
The new sign
Andrew Backhouse (Chair, FoHS) introducing the new sign
Unveiling ceremony
Brian Connolly addressing the unveiling ceremony
The new sign
Brian Connolly at the unveiling ceremony
The new sign
Barry Burkhill (Cheshire East mayor and FoHS member), Nancy Connolly, Brian Connolly and
The new sign - aka the "Connolly" running-in board
Brian Connolly with Cheshire East mayor (and FoHS member) Barry Burkhill
Unveiling ceremony
The unveiling ceremony on the Northbound platform
The unveiling ceremony (Nancy Connolly and her son Brian underneath the N and D respectively)
The plaque commemorating the loan of the sign
Flags at Handforth Station
Lest we Forget flag close-up November 2018
One of the "Lest We Forget" flags before flying it - November 2018
Hoisting a Lest We Forget flag November 2018
Hoisting one of the three "Lest We Forget" flags, in November 2018
Raising a "Lest We Forget" flag, in November 2018
Three "Lest We Forget" flags were raised in November 2018, and poppies attached to the flagpoles
Poppies and "Lest We Forget" flags November 2018
Three "Lest We Forget" flags were raised in November 2018, and poppies attached to the flagpoles
Three "Lest We Forget" flags in November 2018
Three Lest We Forget flags flying proudly in the breeze November 2018
The Friends' set of flags raised in May 2019, all new at the time
Left to right: the new FoHS flag, the Honford Star and the "Mondrian" flag
The Friends' set of flags raised in May 2019, all new at the time
Left to right: the new FoHS flag, the Honford Star and the "Mondrian" flag
The FoHS flag
The FoHS flag at Handforth Station, after raising it in May 2019
The Time Out Group present their flag, and the new Union Jack
Two members of the Time Out Group present their "memories" flag to Hugh Everett of FoHS; Roger Small holds the new Union Jack
Time Out Group flag "memories"
The Time Out Group flag, first flown in May 2020
Announcement of AfA budget allocation – April 2019
Front: two Shenton children, X, Barry Burkhill
Standing: Andrew Jones MP, Mike Bishop, Esther McVey MP, CEC councillor, Aled Brewerton, Becky Styles (Northern), Kim (Northern), X
Standing back: Ian Ball, Andrew Backhouse, GHD chap, Roger Small, X, Mike Thompson, Hugh Everett, GHD chap
Andrew Jones MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport responsible for the railways - visits Handforth with local MP Esther McVey to mark the announcement of Access for All funding
Andrew Jones MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport responsible for the railways - visits Handforth to mark the announcement of Access for All funding. Andrew Jones is flanked by John Smith (leader, Handforth Parish Council) and Esther McVey (local MP)
Andrew Jones MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport responsible for the railways - at Handforth Station with some members of FoHS and GHD
L to R: Ian Ball, Roger Small, Hugh Everett (kneeling), Andrew Backhouse, Mike Bishop, Andrew Jones MP, Aled Brewerton, Mike Thompson, X, GHD chap, Barry Burkhill
Andrew Jones MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport responsible for the railways - at Handforth Station with Kim and a colleague from Northern Rail.
Andrew Jones MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport responsible for the railways - at Handforth Station with Andrew Backhouse (FoHS Chair, left) and Mike Bishop (FoHS President, right).
Andrew Jones MP - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport responsible for the railways - at Handforth Station with FoHS Chair (left) and FoHS President (right)
L to R: Andrew Backhouse (FoHS Chair), Andrew Jones MP, Mike Bishop (FoHS President)