News

News from SCRP and communities around the railway lines in Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

200 ‘blue plaques’ unveiled to mark 200 people with conne...

200 ‘blue plaques’ unveiled to mark 200 people with conne...

August 1, 2025, by Paul Bromley
A total of 200 ‘blue plaques’ have been displayed for the first time to mark two centuries of railway history in the South East. The unveiling took place during community celebrations at Lewes tow...
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Bringing health services to rural communities through com...

Bringing health services to rural communities through com...

July 31, 2025, by Fiona Morton
This week has mainly been about putting the final touches to our main Railway 200 event with our family friendly event at Lewes Town Hall on Fri 1st Aug 2025.  Our education team are having a well-ea...
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Railway 200 Blue Plaques: Charles ‘Monte Carlo̵...

Railway 200 Blue Plaques: Charles ‘Monte Carlo̵...

, by Michael Olden
CHARLES ‘MONTE CARLO’ WELLS 1841-1922 FRAUDSTER AND GAMBLER THE MAN WHO BROKE THE BANK AT MONTE CARLO IN 1891 Had to leave the London & Paris Hotel at Newhaven Harbour Station because of his r...
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Railway 200 Blue Plaque: James Carpenter

Railway 200 Blue Plaque: James Carpenter

July 29, 2025, by Michael Olden
Station master at Twickenham When the very first ‘rugby special’ fast trains brought spectators from London to the new Rugby Union ground in 1909. The first Twickenham railway station opened in 18...
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Railway 200 Blue Plaque: James Priseman

Railway 200 Blue Plaque: James Priseman

, by Michael Olden
Market Gardener in Barnes One of many forced to sell or vacate land for the construction of the railways. In 1846 James got £40 compensation for his crops. In the early days of railway construction t...
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Railway 200 Blue Plaque: Alfred W. Szlumper

Railway 200 Blue Plaque: Alfred W. Szlumper

, by Michael Olden
Chief Railway Engineer A resident of North Sheen, he rebuilt Richmond Bridge, Feltham goods yard and reconstructed Waterloo Station in 1915 Born in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire 1858, the fourth son to...
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Railway 200 Blue Plaque: Graham Perrin

Railway 200 Blue Plaque: Graham Perrin

, by Michael Olden
Railway Children’s Home Fundraiser Railway fireman and shunter, Graham raised money for the railway children’s home in Woking The North Downs’ Line have a Railway 200 blue plaque in honour of Ma...
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Railway 200 Blue Plaque: John Budd

Railway 200 Blue Plaque: John Budd

, by Michael Olden
Railway Guard Killed On Duty John, one of possibly six children to Mary née Hall and William Budd, a Southern Electric railway motorman. The family lived on Kings Farm Avenue beside North Sheen stati...
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Railway 200 Blue Plaque: Thomas Percival

Railway 200 Blue Plaque: Thomas Percival

, by Michael Olden
Engine Cleaner, Fireman and Driver During World War II he worked on trains transporting vital ammunition to the South Coast. The son of Florence Catling and Thomas Percival, a L&SW railway fireman...
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