Just another stop on a long railway journey (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Just another stop on a long railway journey

2:09pm Friday 8th July 2011 in Spectator's Notes

FOR those who have any affection for the railways of this country, an anniversary looms next week which will be cause for quiet satisfaction.

On July 14, it will be 25 years since eight stations were re-opened on the Settle to Carlisle line, perversely at a time when British Rail was in the process of trying to close it.

The stations – which included Garsdale and Kirkby Stephen – have remained open, along with the line, which was finally reprieved in 1989.

Spectator was reminded about the anniversary by stalwart railway campaigner Ruth Annison, who was on the platform at Garsdale on that particular Monday in July, 1986, waiting to catch a train.

She told me how inspirational it was for those who hoped to bring trains back to Wensleydale. If the Settle- Carlisle could survive, surely the Wensleydale railway could be reborn? And so it has proved.

To Albania Not a lot of people know this. A notable citizen of Richmond is currently engaged in helping to set up a fledgling probation service in Albania.

The gentleman retired from a senior position in this country’s probation service 14 years ago but has remained in demand as an inspector and consultant. He is now helping the former Communist country establish an important element of its criminal justice system.

Having already spent a week there, he will shortly return to finish his work.

Mac Bryant is, of course, better known for his efforts on behalf of the Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team and, more recently, the Georgian Theatre Royal.

Out of bounds A press release arrived here this week extolling the virtues of a new edition of deliciouslyorkshire’s guide to the county’s food producers – Yorkshire’s Own Kitchen.

It did so by drawing our attention to “Burtree Puddings, based in Darlington, is among Yorkshire’s talented culinary luminaries and food and drink producers who feature in a mouthwatering guide which places the county firmly on the UK’s gastronomic map.”

The reference to a map is unfortunate given that Darlington is not in Yorkshire.