All aboard! Miniature Railway fun day helps boost hospice funds

For more than 40 years Brookside Miniature Railway has been delighting families with charming railway rides around the Brookside Garden Centre site in Poynton.

Keeping the service running smoothly is a band of merry volunteers who lovingly tend to the tracks and engines and keep the station looking tip top.

Value for money train rides at just £2.50 a ticket and regular charity event days bring joy to young and old and help to support the local community.

When Chris Mackenzie MBE and Lee Oxle, directors of the railway, approached Francis House Children’s Hospice to be a beneficiary of their next charity fun day, staff at the hospice were delighted to come on board.

On a sunny Sunday in June, scores of visitors, volunteers and staff came together to host a day of fun activities and fundraising.

All train fares collected on the day along with a mini fairground and charity raffle went to Francis House.

Kate Puc, fundraising officer of Francis House said: “A huge thank you to Chris McKenzie MBE and Lee Oxley and the Miniature Railway committee for choosing Francis House Children’s Hospice as their charity to support at their annual fun day.

“It was a beautiful sunny day, and the event was enjoyed by lots of families and people of all ages riding the famous miniature railway. There was a lovely ambience, and many supported the raffle, tombola and fairground rides by Keeling’s Fun Fair who also donated their takings on the day helping to raise an amazing £3,538.20 for Francis House.

“The event could not have been so successful without all the wonderful volunteers.”

Francis House would like to thank all the staff at the railway and their friends and family, hospice volunteers, the Brookside Garden Centre staff and restaurant staff, the businesses and individuals who donated raffle prizes, Allan Guest for bringing his fairground organ, Allan Edgar for sponsoring the event, Martin Butler for bringing his tractor, The Keeling family for bringing their Vintage Funfair rides, Railway Manager Andy Prior for keeping the day on track, and most importantly, all the generous members of the public.