Members of the Redline Home Guard have been working with the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway (CWR) on the renovation of the Cholsey Ticket Office. The space, underutilised and uninspiring has been given a 1940s make-over as a Station Master’s Office/Ticket Office/Home Guard Office.
Antique furniture, vintage accessories and paperwork from the period have been used to bring the space to life, with many pieces original to Cholsey Station loaned from the CWR museum, along with added Home Guard items such as rifle rack, stretcher and fire fighting equipment.
One unexpected surprise was the remains of a wasp’s nest at the top of the ticket rack; luckily, the residents had vacated and a quick vacuum sorted it out.
The completed office was unveiled at a special evening event for the Railway volunteers. Chairman of CWR, Michael Palfrey, was delighted with the finished result and said it is now a credit to the railway and will be a useful asset going forward, especially for the upcoming 1940s weekend Wallingford – Back to the Forties in late September.
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