Thursday 13 March saw a multiple unveiling of plaques in Huddersfield, reflecting the achievement of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships in restoring the water tower at Huddersfield and converting the structure into offices for the use of the association. The work on the water tower, which forms part of the Grade 1 listed station complex in the town, cost some £300,000 and was rewarded with the Network Rail Partnership Award when the 2013 National Railway Heritage Awards were announced in December 2013. Apart from the unveiling of the Network Rail Partnership Award by Jerry Swift, Head of Community Rail at Network Rail, two other plaques were also unveiled in front of more than 40 guests: guest of honour Paul Salveson MBE unveiled a plaque to mark the building’s formal opening and the Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Martyn Bolt, unveiled a Railway Heritage Trust history plate.
Jerry Swift, Head of Community Rail at Network Rail, seen in the centre following the unveiling of the Network Rail Partnership Award at Huddersfield on 13 March with, on the left, Richard Eccles, Strategy Director of Network Rail, and, on the right, John Ellis, Chairman of the National Railway Heritage Awards.
The plaque at Huddersfield following its unveiling with, from left to right, Robin Leleux, Chairman of the National Railway Heritage Award’s adjudicators, John Ives, architect and NRHA adjudicator, Deborah Trebinski, NRHA committee member and organiser of the award ceremony, John Ellis, Chairman of the NRHA, and Chris Smyth, trustee of the NRHA and representative of the HRA on the NRHA committee.
The NRHA plaque was one of three unveiled on the day. Also unveiled, this time by the Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Martyn Bolt, was a Railway Heritage Trust history plaque; Councillor Bolt is pictured here with Andy Savage, Executive Director of the Railway Heritage Trust. Note the London & North Western Railway crest incorporated at the base of the plaque.