The 2022 BAM Nuttall Partnership Award to the Poacher Line Partnership for restoration of Sleaford station, which had been announced at the 2022 ceremony held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in December, was celebrated on Wednesday 7 June 2023 at the station with a plaque unveiling attended by members of The Poacher Line Partnership, National Railway Heritage Awards, award sponsors BAM Nuttall, Lincolnshire County Council, North Kesteven District Council, East Midlands Railway and Network Rail.
After an introduction by Peter Roberts, and words on behalf of the National Railway Heritage Awards by Awards Chairman Andy Savage MBE, in which he praised the support of the Awards sponsors, and the success of the entrants, the plaque was unveiled by Paul McCracken (Framework Engineering Manager BAM Nuttall) and Andy Savage. After photographs were taken the group went to the recently restored Old Waiting Room on the island platform, where refreshments were taken in the accommodation which provides spacious, light, and airy meeting facilities. The party also took time to look at the restoration of the station which, following on from earlier works to rationalise historic block paving on the platforms, and provision of office suites in the main building, had more recently been greatly improved visually by the introduction of cream and green paintwork to the canopy structures.
NRHA are grateful to Peter Roberts and the Poacher Line Partnership for organising the day and their hospitality and particular thanks to Kaye Robinson of East Midlands Railway who provided photographs taken on the day to support this report.
The plaque at Sleaford following its unveiling with, on the left, Paul McCracken and, on the right, Andy Savage MBE.
Sleaford station – the worth winner of the BAM Nuttall Partnership Award at the 2022 National Railway Heritage Awards.