If you haven’t visited Shrub Hill Railway Station recently it might be worth paying a visit – if only to see the Victorian waiting room which has been lovingly and fully restored. New tiles have been made and applied, replacing any broken or damaged items and the degree of detail applied to restoring the original look is remarkable. The waiting room was officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester and is a £461K project funded by Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust, with support from Historic England, London Midland, and Worcestershire County Council, which has allowed the Grade II listed building to be restored so that it can be used by passengers.

The historic grand waiting rooms on platform 2b of the station were built between 1857 and 1868, with the south room originally used as a ladies waiting room and the north as a third class waiting room. One of the waiting rooms is open to passengers, while the other has been turned into much-needed space for staff.

The voluntary team of “flower Ladies”, who look after all the floral arrangements whenever there is a major event at the Guildhall, came to the Parlour for tea and cakes on the 9^th September. It was a delight to receive them and thank them for the beautiful contribution they make to events. Their contribution lifts the whole look and ambience, and they do it so well. Thank you Ladies – your work is very much appreciated.

The opening of the Organ Donor Memorial at the Worcester Royal Hospital was a moving event and led me to do some research. What did astonish me was to read that right now worldwide, there are more than enough people waiting for an organ to fill a large football stadium twice over. Every ten minutes someone is added to the waiting list and each day, an average of 79 people receive organ transplants. Around 22 people die each day waiting for transplants that can’t take place because of the shortage of donated organs.

So apart from an obvious need to remember and thank those who have donated, if this memorial raises awareness by just a few percentage points and helps to increase the numbers of those prepared and able to donate, it will be serving a very worthwhile cause.

If you haven’t already signed up you can do so at:- https://www.nationalfundingscheme.org