A FORMER teacher has published a book about the area’s railway.

The Great Western Railway in the Stroud Valley: Volume One covers the pre-World War I history of the Stroud Valley railway between Standish Junction and Kemble.

It is written by Mike Fenton and explores the original stations of Stroud, Stonehouse, Brimscombe and Tetbury Road, as well as the involvement of engineers Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Charles Richardson.

Also covered in the book are the Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway and the Sapperton tunnel.

Commenting on the title, which is published by Lightmoor Press, retired headteacher and touring musician Mike said: “There’s a very rich, varied scene of railway history in the area which goes right back to the dawn of the railway age.

“The book is very much a social study as well.

“I came to the conclusion that nobody else was going to create this title and that I’d better do it.”

Despite a short period living in Swindon as a preschooler, Mike predominantly grew up in Middlesbrough in North Yorkshire.

He returned to Swindon in 1970 to interview for a job after teacher training college, with the journey inspiring his interest in rail in the Stroud area.

“Twice that month, I came through the valley on the train, and I was looking out of the window in the Stroud area at the scenery,” the former touring autoharp player remembered.

“When I got the job in Swindon, one of the first things I did was come back through the line a few times on the train and explore a little.”

Mike, who now lives near Leominster in Herefordshire, was also inspired to write his book through a connection with local historian Lionel Padin, who was keen for him to create a book on the topic.

“He introduced me to people years ago who were still alive who worked on the line,” Mike noted.

Mike is currently busy working on volumes two and three of the Stroud valley railway story.

In connection with this, he would like to hear from anyone locally whose fathers worked on the railway between Gloucester and Kemble (in the hope that more photographs and memories might be forthcoming).

He is particularly interested in receiving information on:

  • Nat Ollerenshaw, station master, Chalford

  • Archie Baker, banker driver, Brimscombe

  • Joseph Lewis, signalman, Stonehouse

  • Eric Gorin, station master, Stroud

  • Anyone who served as an attendant at any of the small halts between Stonehouse and Chalford

If you have information about any of the above, contact Mike on 01568 797239 or fen.lonesomedove9@gmail.com

The Great Western Railway in the Stroud Valley: Volume One costs £53.27 on Amazon and can be ordered via tinyurl.com/567x5dba