Ferrymead Heritage Park - 60th Anniversary of Ferrymead Railway - 27th October 2024

The band was delighted to be able to play at Ferrymead Park on the Sunday of Labour Weekend as part of the celebrations organised to mark the 60th anniversary of Ferrymead Railway.

The special nature of the weekend meant that there was lots of activity around the tracks with two steam engines running to take visitors on trips.

The tramway was also very visible over the weekend with the double deck electric tram in circulation, together with the steam powered Kitson tram pulling a couple of trailers including a twin deck one.

In the afternoon the band played beside the station platform

After a blustery and very wet Saturday the weather turned for the better on the day of our performance. We’d originally planned to play outside next to the Friendly Societies Lodge, but it was too chilly and a bit too breezy to do that for our first set. This meant that we played inside - appropriately inside the railway booking hall which meant we were able to entertain those waiting to board trains.

There was much activity around the park with the buildings and exhibits open to visitors.

Our Musical Director, Victoria, with the ladies from Heathcote Studios Theatrical Society.  The society were operating their playhouse as living theatre, serving afternoon teas whilst improvising ‘Mayhem in the Tearooms’.

By the time we returned from our midday break the sun had come out and the temperature had risen enough for us to venture outside. For our second set we played on the grass next to the railway station, another fitting location given the anniversary weekend.

Taken from the top of a double deck tram, the band plays by the side of the railway as the local gets into steam ready to set off on its journey