The plaque is located on a wooden post in the garden situated between platforms 2 and 3 at Kidsgrove Station.
The plaque is inscribed as follows;
'THE ALLAN DALE GARDEN
In memory of a
First Class Volunteer,
and the Pride of Kidsgrove
2011'
The plaque is situated in the Allan Dale Garden and is a memorial to former volunteer Allan Dale was one of the first volunteers to work on transforming the neglected gardens at the station. Sadly he passed away in 2011, at the age of 73. (
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"18.01.2011
Kidsgrove Station volunteer on shortlist for top award
A Kidsgrove resident who has been instrumental in transforming a garden wilderness at his local station is on the shortlist for a county award.
Allan Dale, a station adoption volunteer at Kidsgrove station on the North Staffordshire Line (Crewe-Stoke-Derby route), is in the mix for the award of Staffordshire Volunteer of the Year.
Expert gardener Allan, 73, came forward to help out at Kidsgrove station in response to a recruitment drive by the North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership for station volunteers to assist with improving their local station.
That was two years ago; since then, Allan has led the way, taking other volunteers under his wing to transform the once overgrown station garden and platform beds.
His enterprise has won the assistance of other key organisations including Kidsgrove Rotary Club and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and won donations of plants, bulbs and funds to maintain the transformation.
Partnership Officer Faye Lambert, who nominated Allan for the award, said: “We are very lucky to have brilliant volunteers at stations all along the North Staffordshire Line, who take a real pride in what they do. Allan epitomises what volunteering is all about; he gives his time and skills unstintingly and his boundless enthusiasm has encouraged others to get involved and also volunteer.”
David Horne, Customer Service Director for East Midlands Trains, said: “Our station adoption volunteers do a fantastic job of helping us to ensure that stations such as Kidsgrove are inviting and welcoming for all rail passengers.
“We’re very proud to have the support of volunteers like Allan and we wish him good luck at the awards.”
The Staffordshire Volunteer Awards are made by Volunteer Staffordshire (www.volunteerstaffordshire.co.uk) to recognise outstanding contributions to the community. Over 300 nominations were received across the eight award categories. The winners will be announced at a special gala dinner on Saturday 5 February." Source: (
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