The special train departs Wansford - Date/Photographer unknown.

16 August 2012

Tour on Train and Railworld to Celebrate Reverend Paten's Life

A special train ride to celebrate The Reverend Richard Paten's 80th birthday still took place despite his death, in accordance with his final words to a friend.
 
Reverend Paten had been set to celebrate the landmark with a special ride on the "City of Peterborough" from Wansford to Peterborough.
 
The trip was not just a celebration but also the launch of a fund-raising appeal to help with the complete overhaul of the loco in 2013.
 
When he was dying last month, his last words to friend Brian Pearce were "tell me about the double celebration", referring to his birthday and start of the fund-raiser.
 
Brian said:  "Richard was always looking to the future."
 
"He wanted his birthday to serve a purpose and he wanted it to be the launch of the City of Peterborough overhaul approach."
 
Attendees were then invited to get on the steam train at Wansford after the funeral for a 6:15 p.m. departure.
 
The train set off on a trip to Peterborough, when visitors were able to get off and have a look at the work Reverend Paten did at the nature reserve in Railworld, before they returned to Wansford.