The Lymington to Brockenhurst railway line will be holding a birthday party on July 12 to celebrate its first 150 years – and everyone is invited.
A host of entertainments are being planned for Brockenhurst and Lymington Town stations between 2pm and 5pm, including a bouncy castle, Punch and Judy shows, stilt walkers, face painters, Morris dancers, balloon modellers and even a magician.
There will also be tea and cakes available, with Carey’s Manor Hotel doing the honours at Brockenhurst Station, and Stanwell House serving cream teas at Lymington. Joining them at Lymington Town Station will be Lymington Women’s Institute, who will be selling teddy bears for charity. The bears, which have been knitted by volunteers, sell for £1, which will buy four bricks to help build a school or hospital in Africa.
Local schools are playing a role in the celebrations with pupils drawing pictures of the railway from the past and present. The drawings will be judged and two schools will each scoop £200 of art vouchers and each winning pupil will receive an art kit.
South West Trains’ employees will be joining in the party spirit by donning old-fashioned costumes and displaying historical photographs and memorabilia of the line, which first opened on July 12, 1858.
Our Managing Director Stewart Palmer said: “This invitation is open to everyone, so don’t be shy and come along and help us celebrate this big birthday bash in style. The community have really pulled together to make sure this is a day to remember and the day promises to be fun packed for both children and adults!”
And to encourage local people to try the railway for the first time, we will be selling tickets for return trips that afternoon between Lymington and Brockenhurst for just 20p* to reflect the 1s 6d first class fare when the line opened. The proceeds of the commemorative 20p tickets sold that afternoon will go towards funding future events organised by the Lymington-Brockenhurst Community Rail Partnership.
Those trying the train that afternoon will also have an opportunity to buy some raffle tickets for our Golden Ticket competition offering a host of stunning prizes. These include: dinner for two at Carey’s Manor’s Le Blaireau restaurant and dinner for two at The Zen Garden; a “Well Being” Spa Day for two people; Sunday lunch for two at Stanwell House Hotel and a meal for two in Stanwell’s Seafood restaurant; a family ticket and free train ride at Exbury Gardens, a family ticket for the New Forest Tour Bus, a family ticket for the Hythe Ferry, a meal for two at the Bosun’s Chair in Lymington, a trip for a car and family of four with Wightlink, and a family day return ticket between any two South West Trains’ stations.
There will also be the chance of winning a family trip on the New Forest Horse Drawn Omnibus, who will be there on the July 12 offering trips around Brockenhurst on one of their open topped buses drawn by their Suffolk Punch horses Rupert and Opie.
During the afternoon Stewart Palmer will unveil a plaque to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the line at 3pm.
July 12 will also mark the formal launch of the new Lymington-Brockenhurst Community Rail Partnership, which has organised the celebrations as part of its work to encourage people to travel on the line.
*20p fare will be available between 2pm and 5pm on July 12 at Brockenhurst and Lymington Stations.