We are auctioning nameplates in aid of a charity appeal—jacksplace@naomihouse, which is raising £12 million to build and run a new hospice for older children and young people in its grounds near Winchester.
jacksplace will offer a range of facilities and support services to young people, with life-limiting illnesses, and their families from across central southern England.
The new 10-bedroom centre will include en-suite bathrooms, communal areas, gardens and sports pitches.
Chairman Khalid Aziz said:
“The team at Naomi House was delighted when the train was named after the children’s hospice. The auction of the nameplates is another exciting stage in our involvement. We will be watching the sale with a great deal of interest.”
Our Engineering Director Mac Mackintosh said:
“We are hoping there is lots of interest in this auction from everyone from train enthusiasts to passengers who may have travelled in the trains which sported these plates. We chose Naomi House to benefit from the proceeds as they work tirelessly to improve the lives of many families on our network.”
We named a train after Naomi House Children’s Hospice last year and are continuing its support by pledging the proceeds of the auction to a new appeal to raise funds to build, equip and run jacksplace@naomihouse, a new hospice for young people.
There are 17 nameplates in the auction, which were taken off the side of Class 442s which used to operate on the line from London Waterloo to Bournemouth before they were replaced by new Desiro trains. Names include ‘The New Forest’, ‘Victory’ and the ‘Borough of Woking’.
Sheffield Railwayana Auctions Limited is hosting the auction in Derby on 14 June.
Details of the lots are available at sheffieldrailwayana.co.uk.
Director Chris Dickerson said there are quite a few very nice plates, which he hopes will go for more than £500 each.