Friends of Hedge End Community Rail.

19/12/2025

Santa spotted at Hedge End Station!🎅🎅

Last Friday, Father Christmas welcomed Berrywood Primary School Year R children for a magical storytime at the station. They asked brilliant questions, hung their handmade decorations, and left with big smiles — and a special gift from Santa himself!

Thanks to Chris Whetren (our legendary Santa), and the Community Rail Network for the funding - it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

28/11/2025

🌟 Rail Staff Awards – Manager of the Year 2025 🌟

I’m honoured to have been highly commended for Manager of the Year 2025 at the Rail Staff Awards. This award ceremony celebrates all railway employees across the UK. This recognition reflects the work I’ve been privileged to do — from wellbeing initiatives and defib/CPR training, to safety talks with schoolchildren and engaging with Berrywood School through Christmas events and community activities.

It’s been quite a journey — from my days at Hedge End ticket office (which I loved, with first class customers!) to where I am now in health and wellbeing. I truly love my role and the opportunities it gives me to support colleagues and the wider community.

Most importantly, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to the community. Your nominations and votes are what brought me to the awards, and this commendation belongs to all of us. 💙

23/11/2025

🌸✨ We are thrilled to share that Hedge End Station has been awarded Gold for Flowers in Bloom! ✨🌸

This achievement would not have been possible without the tireless dedication of our one and only volunteer Nick. His incredible efforts have transformed the station with abundant planters and stunning wildflowers all year round, with the help of the children from Berrywood School and his very own grandchildren. ❤️

Nick’s passion extends beyond the station—working alongside his grandchildren, engaging local schools, and with the wonderful support of Haskins, who have stood by us for over five years. The judges’ comments were truly outstanding, and it’s clear the beauty Nick has nurtured has touched so many.

I am deeply grateful that Nick’s grandchild volunteered him for this role, because I honestly couldn’t imagine anyone more helpful, creative, and committed. Thank you, Nick—you’ve made Hedge End Station bloom in every sense of the word. 🌿💛

🎄✨ And looking ahead… next month we’ll be welcoming Berrywood Primary School to the station for a magical visit with Santa! The station will be decorated in a cheerful candy cane theme, and the children will enjoy a Christmas story before receiving a special keepsake to treasure.

Some of the judges comments: You are a great team, and what you do goes way beyond what can be expected of volunteers and part time staff.
Your resilience and determination in overcoming the mindless and idiotic vandalism that you have suffered is so worthy of very special recognition. You have had to put up with this for so many years, and it is so good of you to carry on making a difference for the local community and rail users

15/11/2025

The special steam train will be going past Hedge End Station at around 11:50am today if anyone would like to see this. It will also be stopping at Botley a few minutes later for around 10 minutes.

Please do stay safe and stand behind the yellow line.

The Portsmouth Pullman will be departing from London Victoria at 9.32am

03/11/2025

Angels Amongst Us: A Railway Tribute
🕊️ Friday 5th December, 2pm – Southampton Central Station

This December, we invite you to join us for a gentle moment of remembrance at Southampton Central.

🌟 Angels Amongst Us is a festive tribute for anyone wishing to honour someone they miss.
Write a message on a feathered angel wing and hang it on our lighted memorial tree — a space to reflect, remember, and connect.

At 2pm, Railway Chaplain Christopher Henley will lead a short, heartfelt sermon to begin the afternoon.

🎶 Free hot drinks and mince pies will be available, and volunteers from the Mind Network will be on hand with a listening ear for anyone who needs a chat.

Whether you’re remembering a loved one, or simply want to stand in solidarity, all are welcome.

Let’s fill the tree with love, legacy, and light.

16/10/2025

🎉 Exciting Community News from Hedge End! 🎄🌸🚂

We’re delighted to share that Hedge End received a Highly Commended Award at the SWR Community Awards for our annual Christmas Events! Out of nominations across the entire SWR network, this recognition is such a surprise and a real honour—thank you to everyone who helps bring festive joy to our station each year.

🌺 Next up: The South East Flowers in Bloom Awards are coming soon, and Hedge End is proudly nominated thanks to Nick’s incredible dedication and passion for our beautiful floral displays. Wishing Nick Gladwell all the best—his hard work truly deserves to be celebrated! I've never seen Hedge End looking that amazing as it is now.

🚆 In November: I’ve been selected as a finalist in all three categories I was nominated for at the Rail Staff Awards. It’s a privilege to represent our community and wellbeing work—thank you for the continued support!

🎅 And in December, we’ll be welcoming Father Christmas back to Hedge End Station, where he’ll host our cherished Christmas Morning with Year R from Berrywood Primary School. He’ll read a festive story, answer the children’s excited questions, and gift each child a special keepsake to remember.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support these community moments. Hedge End is blooming with kindness, creativity, and festive spirit—and it’s a joy to be part of it all 💙

06/10/2025

🎉🚉 Rail Staff Awards Nomination — From Hedge End to SWR! 🚉🎉

I’m proud to share that I’ve been nominated in this year’s Rail Staff Awards — recognising a range of wellbeing and community initiatives I’ve led across South Western Railway, including right here at Hedge End Station.

From heart-health campaigns and inclusive support resources to symbolic gifts for bereaved colleagues, it’s been a privilege to help make our railway a more compassionate and connected place.

One of my favourite projects? Teaming up with Berrywood Primary School and my husband Chris — better known to the children as Father Christmas! 🎅

📚 Every year, Chris brings festive magic to the station with stories, smiles, and a visit from Santa himself. It’s a joyful tradition that blends rail, community, and kindness.

🗳️ Voting is now open, and every vote helps us reach the next stage.
If you’d like to support Chris and I, please visit the Rail Staff Awards website and cast your vote.

https://railstaffawards.com/RSA25/en/page/nominations-2025?nomination=b518-sheree-whetren - Health and Wellbeing

https://railstaffawards.com/RSA25/en/page/nominations-2025?nomination=fb7e-sheree-whetren - Rail Ambassador

https://railstaffawards.com/RSA25/en/page/nominations-2025?nomination=9884-sheree-whetren - Rail Manager

tps://railstaffawards.com/RSA25/en/page/nominations-2025?nomination=ba44-chris-whetren - Father Christmas - Rail Manager

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of these moments — your support means the world. 💙

04/08/2025

💙 Let’s Crown Hedge End Station! 💙

🏆 World Cup of Stations 2025 – Railway 200 Edition 🏆
We’re nominating Hedge End Station as Britain’s most life-changing station — and we need your help to make it shine.

This station isn’t just about arrivals and departures — it’s about community, kindness, and connection.

✨ School Visits & Safety Talks — inspiring the next generation with railway heritage and safety

🎅 Santa’s Stories & Christmas Fayres — magical moments for children and families

🎁 Christmas Gift Appeals — supporting local children and elderly residents with love and generosity

🌸 Flowers & Plants — creating a welcoming, beautiful space for all

🏫 Competitions & Creative Projects — engaging schools and community groups year-round

Every event, every initiative, every smile — it all adds up to something truly special.

📅 Nominations close 22 August
📍 Nominate here: www.raildeliverygroup.com/WorldCupOfStations

💬 Share your story in the comments — whether it’s a memory, a photo, or a moment that made a difference.
📸 Let’s flood the feed with love for Hedge End!

Together, we can show the UK what a life-changing station really looks like. 💪

🏆The World Cup of Stations is back for 2025 and Britain’s favourite stations will be competing for the title 🏆

This year the competition celebrates Railway 200 and will be looking to crown the most life-changing station of the last 200 years, recognising the role that stations play in their communities and in people's lives.

Nominations for stations are open until 22 August, giving you the chance to tell everyone how a particular station has changed your life.

Your story might be the one that wins the title for one of our stations.

Nominate here: www.raildeliverygroup.com/WorldCupOfStations

23/07/2025

🎓✨ A Heartfelt Thank You to Berrywood School

A sincere thank you to the brilliant children and teachers of Berrywood Primary School for the beautiful thank-you cards sent to myself and my colleagues at SWR. Your creativity and warmth were truly touching—and very much appreciated.

We thoroughly enjoyed hosting you on your train trip to Eastleigh and sharing the history story of the "jam train" line from Botley to London in Victorian times. Your curiosity and energy made the day so special.

I’d also like to extend a special thank you to Lisa for treating me to a lovely lunch at Pinkmead Bistro and Tearooms —it was a delightful surprise and such a generous gesture.

This kind of connection between community and railway is what makes our work so meaningful. 💜🚆