175th Anniversary of Didcot to Oxford railway line

There were events on Saturday 15 June 2019 at all five stations along the line to celebrate the event – with the excitement and added bonus of two steam engines (Clun Castle and Flying Scotsman) passing through on excursions.

The celebrations at Radley began with the unveiling of a permanent board with a timeline of the history of Radley Station on the railings at Radley Station (on platform 1 for trains to Oxford and beyond). Radley History Club is very grateful for the grants from the Greening Lamborn Trust, Radley Village ShopRadley Parish Council and GWR to cover the cost of the board. Entikera Limited provided extensive and indispensable support in kind.

Information board featuring a timeline of Radley Stationory of Radley Station
Information board featuring a timeline of Radley Station

Events then moved to the garden of the Bowyer Arms where there was:

  • a display of railway pictures and artefacts by Radley History Club, Friends of Radley Station and former railwayman and Radley resident Vic Gackowski, and the reminiscences of Harold Gasson, a former GWR fireman
  • storytellers Polly Mountain and Ed Blagrove in costume relating tales about Radley and the railway line
  • a display of work by children from Radley Primary School about the railway
  • copies of Radley People and the Railway 1843-2013 and other Club books for sale

More details and photos of the celebrations at Radley