Award Success For Blooming Brilliant Retford Railway Station

London North Eastern Railway’s Retford station staff are celebrating after winning a prestigious award for their floral displays.

 The team has clinched a Community Award at the hotly-contested Retford in Bloom 2022 competition which recognises horticultural heroes across the town. Staff at the station have been planting up and tending colourful platform displays to brighten customers’ journeys along the East Coast route for the past four years. Their green-fingered gardening caught the eye of the judges who praised their work and said it offered a warm welcome for visitors arriving at the station.

Claire Ansley, People and Customer Experience Director at LNER, said: “We are proud of the communities we serve. At LNER our people put their heart into providing our customers with the best possible experience and our colleagues at Retford are going above and beyond to make that experience even more special.”

Steve Brammer and David Johnson are among the team who tend the displays. The Station Customer Service Assistants say they are touched by the positive feedback. Steve Brammer said: “That first impression when people arrive at Retford station is so important. We receive many comments, kind words and compliments from our customers about the plants and flowers and we’re delighted it makes a difference." David Johnson added: “We’re thrilled to receive this award from Retford Civic Society. It’s a real honour for our team, especially after seeing the variety of organisations who made it through to this year’s finals.”

Derek Turner, Chairman of Retford Civic Society and Chair of the Retford in Bloom Committee said: “The flower displays and tubs brighten the platform and provide a colourful and warm welcome for visitors to Retford. They show that staff care for their customers’ welfare.”

Retford is one of eleven stations managed by LNER along its 956-mile route.