LEN Hooper, of Kingsteignton, treasures these photographs, for they bring back memories of the days he served British Railways at Newton Abbot Station. When he was forced to retire through illness in early 1973, he had had six different 'overlords' in his final spell at Newton Abbot. One photograph (right) was taken on June 16, 1955, and shows the team that kept Newton Abbot Station running around the clock. Mr Hooper was station manager and chief clerk and is pictured in the front row third from the left. 'I was not scheduled to be in the group, but was called in when passing,' says 88-year-old Mr Hooper. He adds that the photo was taken on the then up platform, at a time when the local 'governing body' was a Station Master named W G (Josh) Dawe. 'We later had station and then area managers,' said Mr Hooper. In the picture left to right back row are: Sam Gear (passenger guard), Jack Vanstone (passenger guard), Bill Smith (passenger guard Plymouth North Road), Chas Underwood (goods guard). Front row: Ivor Hall (platform inspector), Bill Langdon (passenger guard), Len Hooper and Jack Hooper (chief platform inspector). Another photograph(top) on the down main platform was taken in September 1972 just a few months before his railway career ended, and only 18 months before the area manager's post was abolished and came under the control of Exeter. It shows the clerical staff of the area manager's office left to right – Ted Pike, David Wright, Len Hooper, Sid Parsons, Jack Harris, Marilyn Langdon, Mike Shord and one of the three assistant area managers Bill Hearne, formerly area manager at Teignmouth. The area manager at that time was J D C A Prideaux. Mr Hooper said the only present working railwayman among them was Mr Shord, now at Totnes, who has completed 45 years' service and has opted to retire in April. 'It only seems a few days ago I interviewed him for the job,' he said.
