GCR revitalises Loughborough Station Canopy - appeal seeking to raise £100k

The Great Central Railway has revitalised its fundraising appeal to restore Loughborough Central Station Canopy. It's seeking one hundred thousand pounds to finish the job.

The thousands of visitors to the line for the blockbuster Winter Gala can't have failed to notice huge progress in the repairs to the grade two listed structure, locally known as 'Loughborough's Crystal Palace'.

In late Spring/early Summer this year, the work will reach a remarkable milestone. The renovations will be two thirds complete, including the station entrance roof on Great Central Road!

Kate Tilley, the marketing manager for the Great Central Railway said, "We launched the half a million pound canopy appeal two years ago to restore the hugely complex glass, metal and wood structure, making it fit for another century of service. The response has been inspirational. Thanks to the commitment of supporters and well wishers the work is storming ahead."

The railway has successfully attracted more than one hundred thousand pounds of grant aid towards the project. However with available funds fully committed, the GCR has now launched the 'One Last Push!' campaign to raise the remainder of the money needed.

Kate continued, "Essentially, all that remains is the part of the roof above platform one. To fully complete the job, we need to raise somewhere between one hundred and one hundred and fifty thousand pounds, depending on what we find when we start to dismantle the structure."

The railway plans to renovate the last part of the roof in two phases. Providing the first fifty thousand pounds of the new appeal can be raised, repairs will begin in September this year and finish in December. Again, providing the funds continue to flow, the very last section would begin in January 2013.

Kate concluded "We're on track to have finally 'raised the roof' by Spring 2013, a little over a year from now. We appreciate every donation which has been given to the appeal so far, the money has been well spent and we hope that inspires supporters to help us with 'One Last Push!' Every pound we raise, is a pound less we have to chase. Certainly our visitors at the gala were very generous and pushed us in the right direction!"

Donations to the canopy appeal can be made on line at www.gcrailway.co.uk or by cheque made payable to The David Clarke Railway Trust, c/o Lovatt House, 3 Wharncliffe Road, Loughborough, LE11 1SL.