Althea and the Settle Carlisle Line - Please keep the Settle Ticket Office Open

  The proposed closure of the Settle Railway Station ticket Office in 2023  reminds me how much Althea used it from 2010 onwards. (Skip  to the end of this post for the videos, especially singing ones.)

Setting off for Scarborough 2010

 Althea had a stroke in 2009 leaving her right side paralyzed. But with a wheel chair- a hoist  - and friends to help - including the staff at Settle Railway station - she took part in many events. She was an inspiration to many.

Althea is at peace now - her funeral was in 7th September 2021 

There is a foot bridge at Settle so we always needed the station master to take us across the line - either going out or coming back. 

If she were alive she would be joining in the campaign to keep the Ticket Office open. Not just for her own sake but for all the other people who benefit from asking questions at the office.

There are many many middle aged people and older people in Settle who could have a stroke in the next twenty years and would need a wheel chair. How will they be able to get across the line if there is no-one at the station to unlock the gates and let them across? Or help them to buy tickets to get to places?

We went to Scarborough (to a conference), to York (for the service when the Bradford Diocese went into the Leeds Anglican Diocese; to Carlisle to go shopping; to Penrith to visit her daughter: She loved travelling with Settle Voices at Christmas to Ribblehead to go singing on the train.

In 2010 she said about the Scarborough trip:

"I am so lucky to live in a town with a railway station, and that they kept the Settle Carlisle Line open" says Althea. "From Settle to Scarborough will take us nearly 3 hours." Althea, travelling in her new electric wheelchair, will be accompanied by friend Alison Crisp on the train. Meanwhile another friend, Judith Allinson will go by car carrying luggage and Althea's hoist needed to lift her from wheelchair to bed etc

https://web.archive.org/web/20201021193845/http://christian-ecology.org.uk/pr-scarborough.htm

Setting off for Scarborough 2010

8 Feb 2012: Read about our trip:-

Settle - Carlisle line - snow, hoar frost and shopping

Returning at 6 pm - a day well spent.

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8 June 2014 : When the westernYorkshire Dioceses joined and all became Leeds Diocese.

See Althea at York Cathedral - bottom left

8 June 2014 Bishop  Nick greets Althea

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Althea at Ribblehead station with Settle voices: 2017

Sweet Bells: Althea is singing with Settle Voices 10 Dec 2016 - This video show how staff are needed at the Settle station to help unload the refreshment trolley, and to supercise activities on the platform

Noel Noel

The Holly bears a berry (maybe the least good a video)

While Shepherds watched - at Ribblehead - excellent 

The ticket officer opens the gate to let passengers returning from Leeds cross the platform.. and listen to the music that awaits them  .. I'd like to stay awhile, on the Settle to Carlisle...