Kingsley& Froghall Station - Froghall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK - Grand Opening on Waymarking.com

Kingsley & Froghall Station is a preserved station located at the southern end of the Churnet Valley Railway in Froghall.

'The Churnet Valley Railway runs steam and historic diesel trains between Cheddleton and Froghall, a 10 mile return journey through the valley. It is a remnant of the North Staffordshire Railway, built through the valley in the 1840s. Currently, it has stations at Cheddleton, Consall and Froghall but it will, eventually, extend to Alton, Oakamoor and Leek. It also connects with and sometimes runs on Moorland & City Railways' Stoke and Cauldon Lowe Branches.' Source: (visit link)

The Kingsley and Froghall railway station is a former railway station of the North Staffordshire Railway and is now a preserved station on the Heritage Railway the Churnet Valley Line.

The station originally called Froghall was opened to passengers and goods on 1st September 1849, and was a busy country station serving the needs of workers at nearby Thomas Bolton's copper refinery.

It was renamed 'Kingsley and Froghall' on 1st July 1907.

During the 1960's passenger numbers decreased to such an extent that the station was closed to both passengers and goods in 1965.

During the 1970s a railway preservation base was set up at the nearby Cheddleton station. This later became the base of the Churnet Valley Railway. During the 1990s progressing was made in preserving the line as far as Froghall. After the closure of the original station by British Rail, the station buildings at Froghall were demolished.
Initially the down platform reopened for passengers on 11th August 2001.
Later construction began on the new station building which was
[I}formerly opened by record producer Pete Waterman on 20th September 2003. The station building boasts a large waiting room with coal fire, modern day toilet facilities and a traditional style tearoom that opens out onto a paved seating area for the summer months.

Since 2003, more work has been done on the station. The work included resurfacing the down platform, adding fences, a few small buildings and station furniture. On the up platform the overhang on the canal and associated fences were rebuilt, along with walls and the large waiting shelter.
SOURCES: (visit link) (visit link)

The plaque is mounted on the wall of the station building adjacent to the waiting room and toilets. The brass plaque is inscribed as follows;
KINGSLEY & FROGHALL STATION
Opened by
PETE WATERMAN (Hon DBA)
Saturday 20th September
2003

Peter Alan Waterman
Born: 15th January 1947 in Coventry, Warwickshire, England, UK

A record producer, songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast.

He left school in 1962 to work for British Railways and became a steam locomotive fireman based at Wolverhampton (Stafford Road) depot.
After the closure of the depot in 1963, he chose to follow a career in music, being inspired by The Beatles.
To supplement his income as a DJ, he became a gravedigger and then an apprentice at General Electric Company, becoming a trade union official. He also worked as a coal miner.

"Pete Waterman became one of Europe's biggest pop music producers when he teamed up with Mike Stock and Matt Aitken.
Together, Stock Aitken Waterman produced songs for the biggest pop artists, including Samantha Fox, Rick Astley, Mel & Kim, Sinitta, Mandy Smith, Bananarama, Hazel Dean, Dead Or Alive, and Steps."

He is an avid fan of real life steam locomotives, his first job being a fireman (stoker) on British Railways. Has contributed massively towards restorations of Locomotives, at one time owned 'Flying Scotsman',and owns a company that restores steam locomotives amongst other work." Source: (visit link)

In 2001 he was made an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration by Coventry University for his services to the pop industry.

In 2004 he was awarded an honorary doctorate in music by University College Chester.

In 2005 he was awarded the O.B.E. (Officer of the order of the British Empire) in the Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to Music.

In December 2006, he became a patron of the newly formed charity, the City, Lambeth and Southwark Music Education Trust.

In 2016, he was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal Northern College of Music (FRNCM), making him the first pop musician to be given the award.
SOURCE: (visit link)

What was opened/inaugurated?: Kingsley & Froghall Station Who was that opened/inaugurated it?: Peter Waterman OBE Date of the opening/inauguration?: 20th September 2003 Website about the location: [Web Link] Website about the person: [Web Link]

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