Friends of Chirk Station

are looking for winter railway photographs and there’s still time to get involved to be included in their special campaign later this month.

They are looking for a snow-covered station or a moody mountain railway as long as it’s in Britain. We would love to see some winter shots taken of our railway stations. More details 👇🏻

Getting into the Christmas spirit at Chirk railway station.

Who will be popping to our lovely station to see the steam trains passing through at the weekend?

Two steam locos to run through Shropshire on Saturday - when and where you can see them Railway enthusiasts will have two opportunities to enjoy the sights and sounds of a steam locomotive in Shropshire on Saturday when two make their way through the county.

Photographs of Chirk station for Remembrance Sunday.

Thanks Walkabout Wrexham for organising a fantastic Autumn rail walk last week.

Walkers started off at Wrexham station catching the train to Chirk and then walked through the Ceiriog Valley, picking up Offa's D**e Path and finally down lanes and paths to Oswestry, returning on public transport.

An amazing 9 mile walk. Thank you so much to all who came along and to Bill for organising the walk and the photos. 🥾🥾🥾

Has anyone spotted this victorian character while travelling on the 3 Counties Connected railway line?

Can you guess which station she is on ❓❓

Big hint, its between Chester and Shrewsbury.🚉🚉

Celebration of 175 yrs of the railway.

Blooming marvellous 🌸

A date for the diary...a Victorian Day at Chirk Parish Hall to celebrate 175 years of the Chester to Shrewsbury train line

It’s great news.
Chirk railway station has been awarded the “Green Flag Award “ for 2023/2024
Well done FOCS.

Looking nice at the station.

Incredible edible is back on our Station 🍅🥬

Date for your diary-

Wednesday 9th August 2023 Chirk Parish Hall

Come and enjoy a fun afternoon with a mixture of Victorian memorabilia and music plus craft activities for the children. An afternoon event supported by 3countiesCommunityraiil Partnership. Tea and cakes on sale at 2004 prices! The year of our station adoption. More details to follow.

Friends of Chirk Station celebrated during volunteers week THE work of volunteers who keep railway stations spruced up, including in Chirk, has been praised by a community Group.

I will try this post again!

Just had a beautifully home cooked Sunday lunch with three friends. Absolutely delicious as was the company and chat. I drove one friend home and on the way came past The Picnic in the Park. What a lovely sight to see with the Rec crowded with families and friends - all sitting on the grass and enjoying their picnic and sunshine. Now that is the way to do it so please no complaints but remember it is the volunteers who make things happen and Chirk is no exception.

Enjoy the rest of the evening and the concert in Windsor Castle.

Stay safe on your way home.

Chirk Railway Station is going through an Assessment on Wednesday of this week so tomorrow the group will be back on the station preparing for that day. More Coronation treats on the menu!

Best wishes Christine and Friends of Chirk Station

A huge Congratulations to everyone involved in today's Coronation. Wonderful ceremony in Westminster Abbey and the military marching was outstanding. The crowds turned up in force and contributed to a wondering day for the Crowning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Television coverage was excellent Great to see the huge presence of young people both in the Abbey and outside. Yes, it rained but it did not stop the sheer enjoyment of countries coming together, as one.

More of this please

Friends of Chirk Station

The station looking lovely today, ready for the Coronation 👑

CONGRATULATIONS on your success from our awarding winning unstaffed station in Chirk Helping to keep our community on track and growing

🥰Well done to everyone involved in Wrexham's Football achievement

TOMORROW (Sunday 16th April) the steam locomotive 45596 Bahamas is passing through our station between 13:02 and 13:22. We'd love you to share any photos taken at the station. 📸

Great to meet up with the Friends of Chirk Station who helped us with our Valentines Day project and to plan activities for the 175 year anniversary of the Chester to Shrewsbury line.

The Chester to Shrewsbury line goes through Chester, Wrexham, Ruabon, Chirk, Gobowen and Shrewsbury.

If you have any old photos of these stations we would love to see them.

Email them to [email protected] or post in the comments below.

HAPPY ST DAVID'S DAY FOR TOMORROW 1ST MARCH FROM Friends of Chirk Station

HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO LIVE IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY

We are helping to keep our community on track and growing

We are still having meetings and last Monday met the north Wales team from TFW in Caffi Wylfa. Plans are coming together and work already started at our station to tidy up certain areas in readiness for ordering plants and designing new posters for the noticeboards along with a short but informative leaflet giving information on this year's plans. Thanks Josie, our new community rail officer for helping us to raise the profile of our station adoption by templating our newsletter, in readiness for adding some photos. If you are interested in receiving a copy then please get in touch via Friends of Chirk Station page or emailing

[email protected] Printed copies will also be available.

Pleased that we have reserved a full page of Friends of Chirk Station news in Chirk Pantoholics programme for their forthcoming Panto 'Cinderella' to be held in Chirk Parish Hall next month. Please check out their page for full details. Good luck to all those bringing back our town pantomime after 3 years. Well done

Please keep safe and well. Spring will soon be with us.

Best wishes Friends of Chirk Station

Yesterday we met to plan our station adoption programme for 2023. It was a morning in Caffi Wylfa to share ideas on how we can deliver, yet again, an award-winning station, starting with King Charles III Coronation in May.

We also looked back on past achievements that have brought pleasure to all our team and hopefully all train users and our local community. We want to continue our good work, with your help.

A this moment in time its not good weather to put our plans in action as we are all another year older and meetings in Platform 2 shelter have been suspended until the sun shines again and warmer weather returns!

In a few weeks time we will update our 2023 programme and invite new volunteers to come on board. All are welcome to join us and be part of a successful project started way back in 2004.

Thank you for all your support. Keep all your family and friends safe and well.

Best wishes Friends of Chirk Station Helping to keep our Community of Chirk on track and growing 10January2023

Yesterday was the unveiling of artwork displayed on both platforms in the shelters at Chirk Station. The three talented local artists, Jim, Charlotte and Sarah were there and were each presented with a hamper from the Friends of Chirk as a thankyou. It was a privilege to be invited.

FRIENDS OF CHIRK STATION
Pleased to report that yesterday Angela Ree, Paul Thomas and I represented Friends of Chirk Station at the first (of many) Transport for Wales conferences - this one held in Alyn Waters Country Park. A very enjoyable event where we met even more enthusiastic team players of Transport for Wales staff. Definitely recharged our batteries as the future is looking good for all the stations that now are part of Transport for Wales, especially those in Wrexham CBC.

Thanks to Alyn Waters staff who gave everyone a warm welcome, along with a simple but delicious lunch. What a jewel in the crown for our borough and certainly worth a visit when the weather improves.

Lots of questions answered and ideas shared for projects that will benefit, not only railway stations but more connections between them and their local communities. Thanks to Mel, Sian, Josie and other members of the team fully supported by Hugh Evans, Transport for Wales Manager for part of this new partnership.

Pleased to announce that Friends of Chirk Station is applying to Keep Wales Tidy for a Green Flag for our railway station.
Exciting 2023 ahead with many more celebrations for a project that truly is at the Heart of Our Community.

Helping to keep our community on track and growing We now meet on a Monday morning and welcome new members to our team. Great community spirit and a project to be proud of. Thanks again to Martyn, Gaynor and Chris (our newest member) for their continued support.

FRIENDS OF CHIRK STATION - definitely in the sunshine today! Spring is continuing to produce some lovely photo opportunities to send photos and messages to loved ones. Work is continuing on preparing the grounds for our Queen's Jubilee Celebrations in June, along with new murals being prepared by our friend Jim and his two assistances, Charlotte and Sarah. What magic will soon appear from Jim's workshop!!! Thanks to all our volunteers including Paul, Angela, Martyn, Gaynor, Sid and David. All are contributing their talents to ensure the station is always looking good and welcoming to everyone. Thanks to Glyn Wylfa for their donation towards our station adoption and to Dobbies at Moreton Garden Centre for their valued support.

Today and every day for the past few weeks we as a volunteer group are mindful of how much we all need to be thinking about the people of the Ukraine. Please continue to pray for all of those who are suffering and need support. 😞

Every blessing on this beautiful Sunday evening. How fortunate we are to live in peace in this country.

Friends of Chirk Station💖

Pleased to report that we had a very successful meeting with Transport for Wales Community Rail Manager for North Wales,Mel and Sian, TfW's Rail Ambassador for North Wales. We received the first of the updates on station adoptions and now able to put our programme of work together for the rest of 2022. We await more information on who will be our new rail officer and the extension of what used to be named the Chester to Shrewsbury Rail Partnership, now temporary dissolved. Exciting days and lots to look forward to including own station's celebrations of our Queen's jubilee in June Lots of flags and bunting!

Spring is finally arriving at Chirk Station and already the grounds are showing signs of spring flowers and shrubs. Still too chilly for coffee and cake in the shelter but we do pay regular visits to Caffi Wylfa for our meetings. Many thanks to Chris Davies and his staff for giving such a good welcome to our friends and colleagues when we met last Friday. I guess that is our station hub and long may we continue to see this social enterprise growing. Best wishes Christine and Friends Helping to keep our community on track and growing

FRIENDS OF CHIRK STATION are ready for another successful adoption of our award winning unstaffed station We are pleased to be working with Transport for Wales and last week had a taster session in Chirk Parish Hall (by kind permission of Chirk Town Council) sitting in on TFW north Community Manager's first Zoom meeting with several other station adopters in north Wales including Rhyl and some of the smaller stations. Unfortunately we were only able to watch and listen but not interact but we did enjoy listening to what support is on offer and how encouraging to see that volunteer numbers at station are increasing.

This week we will be planting two cherry trees at our station in memory of our dear Len and Trudy. Still very much missed. Spring will soon be with us and already the spring bulbs are coming up and a welcome sight.

Thanks for your continue support. Stay safe and take good care of each other. Best wishes Christine and team

FRIENDS OF CHIRK STATION WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Thank you for all your support. Thanks to our wonderful small group of volunteers who are a delight to work alongside. They are Angela and Neil, Martyn and Gaynor, Paul 1 and Paul 2!

We do miss our lovely Len and Trudy who gave so much to our community.

Looking forward to a better 2022 with full support of Transport for Wales and the community arm of Network Rail.

Take care and keep safe. The Christmas Lights in the town are looking great so thanks to Frank and Mondelez for championing this year's lights supported by contractors and of course Mark H and Chirk Town Council

Best wishes Christine Ashford Helping to keep our community on track and growing

Here is an event for your diary - FRIDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2021
Our award winning group and station is re-locating for just a few hours to CHIRK PARISH HALL where we hope you will come along and share a pre-Christmas mince pie and lemon drizzle cake, plus a hot drink and a raffle to help us celebrate what has been a difficult year for all of us. Our beautiful Parish Hall will be decked with Christmas decorations and of course a Christmas tree. What time is this happening? Well its from 10 am to 12 noon and there will be a display of some of our photos and awards for you to view. Bring a friend (or two!) and let's make it an opportunity to socialise - together.

Posters will be out shortly!

ITS YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD AWARD CEREMONY YESTERDAY IN BEAUMARIS, ANGLESEY

DELIGHTED TO REPORT THAT FRIENDS OF CHIRK STATION WERE AWARDED THEIR 10TH OUTSTANDING IN THE RHS ITS YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD AWARDS. MANY THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORTED US THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

A LOVELY AWARD CEREMONY WITH MANY MORE TOWNS AND VILLAGES ENTERING THIS YEAR FROM ALL PARTS OF WALES.

PLEASED THAT OUR CHAIR OF CHIRK TOWN COUNCIL, CLLR FRANK HEMMINGS WAS ABLE TO ATTEND AND RECEIVED FOCS AWARD WITH OUR CHAIR ANGELA REE. CLLR ALSO RECEIVED THE ITS YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD OUTSTANDING AWARD ON BEHALF OF ST MARYS CHURCHYARD VOLUNTEERS. THE WRITER WAS THRILLED THAT ONCE AGAIN WE HAD SUPPORTED THE VALUABLE WORK OF WALES IN BLOOM.

THE CHAIR OF WALES IN BLOOM PRESENTED THE AWARDS AND ALSO WAS OUR ASSESSOR THIS YEAR FOR THE IYN AWARDS INCLUDING ST MARYS CHURCHYARD VOLUNTEERS.

💖CHIRK AT ITS VERY BEST AND HOW WONDERFUL NORTH WALES LOOKED YESTERDAY ON OUR DRIVE TO ANGLESEY

DOBBIES HELPING YOUR COMMUNITY GROW IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!
We have received yesterday a posted letter from Dobbies Head Office informing us that we are shortlisted for support. I quote from their letter that they have extended the voting deadline to SUNDAY 12 SEPTEMBER. This will encourage us to be in a position to seek as many people as possible to vote for our project.
To place your vote go to https://www.dobbies.com/helping-your-community-grow
ONLY VOTE PER EMAIL ADDRESS The project with the most votes will be Dobbies National winner and secure an extra £500 worth of support.
Please remember its the MORETON GARDEN CENTRE you are looking for! We value your support

Helping Your Community Grow | Dobbies Garden Centres We want to help make our local landscape a little bit greener, benefit people living in the local area and help boost wellbeing with green spaces and gardening projects. We do this through Helping Your Community Grow.  

Great morning at our railway station yesterday. Station is very busy and lots of people using the trains, especially holiday makers from various parts of the country.
Good to be back and be part of a group that enjoys not just gardening but 'meeting and greeting' people.
Only the second time this year that we have brought out the brought out the picnic basket and shared a drink and a piece of cake, much to the envy of those waiting for their train!
Planning now for a pruning session later next month and the planting of new spring bulbs and plants.
Volunteers always welcome to join us. Every little helps to promote our community whether it is the flowers or just a selfie with our sheep!!!
We send our good wishes to Trudy, one of our longest and valued helpers at the station and in the town. Trudy is in hospital but having great support from the team along with her neighbours. Now that is Chirk at its very best.

We need your vote please for Dobbies Helping Your Community Grow Initiative. Our adopters have been shortlisted to three,
Voting is on-line and the public vote is now live and will close on 29th August with the results being announced in September. We have many friends local and in other parts of the UK and overseas so please support and vote for us as you have done since 2004. It would make a real difference to our station and our community if we are successful. Please follow this link to click on Moreton Park Garden centre, then Friends of Chirk Station. Thanks.
https://www.dobbies.com/helping-your-community-grow?fbclid=IwAR2dsQCIjIVjQshb_vbvBlN39xg7TXXCUbHNGLuw8z0RBAcnoieJT0UtyNI

Helping Your Community Grow | Dobbies Garden Centres We want to help make our local landscape a little bit greener, benefit people living in the local area and help boost wellbeing with green spaces and gardening projects. We do this through Helping Your Community Grow.  

We apologise that our page does need attention. So that we keep everyone up to date on our adoption then we will send out regular posts under my name, as adopter, of Chirk Station. I will try and make reports shorter than the last one on This is Chirk. Happy to sign up new friends. It really has been a difficult time for every one of us. Take care and keep safe. Christine Ashford