LATER LIFE: Anthony helps out on the railway

Since moving to his two bedroom apartment at Churchill Living’s Lewis Carroll Lodge five years ago, retired engineer Anthony Dowling has kept indulging his love of steam trains by volunteering once a week on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

Based in nearby Winchcombe and operating between Cheltenham and Broadway, the heritage railway is run almost entirely by volunteers and Anthony is proud to be playing his part to keep it running.

“My wife and I got involved with it after I retired 19 years ago,” explains Anthony. “I’ve always liked railways, I went on a taster session and offered my help in two areas, maintenance and catering. The latter also interested my wife and we started helping out on a regular basis throughout the year. 

“It was something we enjoyed doing together for many years, working as a pair. My favourite aspect of it was the interaction with people. Being in a customer-facing role was very different to my old career in nuclear engineering, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

“More recently my wife has developed dementia so unfortunately she can’t volunteer any more and I can no longer commit to the strict timetable needed for catering. I now focus on being part of the carriage maintenance team, helping out one day a week when the train is not running to keep the carriages safe and in good order. 

“It can be quite hard work, but we have a very supportive team and I’ve made some great friends through doing it. There is a good sense of camaraderie between us, similar to the atmosphere here at Lewis Carroll Lodge.”

With two trains running for most of the year, plus extras for special occasions such as the Cheltenham Festival, Anthony and his team certainly have their work cut out. 

He adds: “We’re always looking for more volunteers so I’d recommend anyone to come and give it a try. It’s a good way to stay fit and active, and it’s very rewarding!”