Uddingston man finalist in prestigious awards

Friday 4 September 2009

Uddingston Pride's Ian Wilson is a finalist for a prestigious award.

He has been shortlisted in the "Outstanding Volunteer Contribution" category of the Community Rail Awards.

Ian, 65, leads a group of volunteers who look after flowerbeds, hanging baskets and two basket trees at Uddingston Station.

Their work is carried out under the umbrella of ScotRail’s Adopt  A  Station  scheme which aims to put stations at  the heart of communities.

Ian, a retired engineer with North Ayrshire Council, is married to Liz Wilson, chair of Uddingston Pride - an environmental community group which aims to improve the appearance of the village.

But it was the model railway in their garden which inspired him to add colour to Uddingston railway station.

His entry in the Community Rail Awards was put forward by Uddingston Pride, whose vice-chair Alex Stephen said: "Ian’s commitment to Uddingston Pride has been exceptional - especially in relation to the railway station.

"With the backing of ScotRail, it has been  transformed due to his unstinting effort and dedication."

John Yellowlees, ScotRail’s external relations manager, said: "We are thrilled at this recognition of our Adopt a Station scheme.

"Ian and his team at Uddingston Pride work tirelessly to create and tend the floral displays which make Uddingston one of the prettiest in Scotland."

Winners of the fifth annual Community Rail Awards  will be announced at a ceremony in Carlisle on  September 25.

Uddingston Station was recognised in the New Uses for Station Buildings category at the Community Rail Awards in 2006 after empty premises were transformed into The Coffee Stop.

And Uddingston Pride won the urban section of Britain in Bloom in 2007 with a special commendation for its work at the railway station.

Media enquiries
John    Yellowlees,   ScotRail   Communications:   0141 335 4787 / john.yellowlees@firstgroup.com
www.scotrail.co.uk

Notes to Editors

ScotRail’s Adopt A Station scheme has gone from strength to strength since launched in September 2005. Nearly 80 stations now benefit from floral  displays  maintained by volunteers and funded by ScotRail. Initiatives range from spectacular murals,   second-hand   bookshops, a  toy  library,  heritage centres, community meeting rooms to a model railway club-room.

The Association of Community Rail Partnerships - ACoRP - is a federation of more than 60 community rail partnerships and rail promotion groups across the UK. It works with decision-makers to ensure that local rail’s important role is fully recognised.