‘It’s a tremendous feeling to know people care’: 79-year-old train lover surprised with visit to heritage line

A retired architects’ draughtsman was surprised with a visit to a heritage railway by staff at his care home after collecting folders of train artwork for years.

Richard Marshal, 79, is a resident at Peony Court Care Home in Addiscombe Road, Croydon. 

Mr Marshal said he has loved trains since childhood when he would watch engines pass the back of his garden on the London Brighton Line.

Aware of his passion, Peony Court Care Home decided to take Mr Marshal to visit the Bluebell Railway, a heritage line in Sussex with staff in period clothing, and an extensive history of the industrial era and its evolution through the years.

Mr Marshal said: “It is such a tremendous feeling to know that such a loving group of people care so much about me that they helped me to live out a dream – and I didn’t even ask.”

“I was really pleased that there was so much to see and I got to ride a steam engine, what an absolute joy.

“I’m happy the weather people got it wrong and the rain held off so we could enjoy the day without getting wet”.

Mr Marshal has lived at Peony Court Care Home since December 2022, whilst his work in architecture is well in the past his artistic skills never faded.

Mr Marshal has an entire collection of folders full of art work he has produced of various trains he has travelled on over the years.

Sandra Roche, General Manager at the home, said: “Not everyone has a ‘bucket list’; so far we’ve not had any of our residents wanting to do a bungee jump or a sky dive.

“It was so nice to see how happy this trip made Richard and our staff loved being a part of it. 

“It’s our ongoing goal to make as many wishes as possible come true.”

Pictured top: Richard Marshall on the train at the Bluebell Railway (Pictured top: Nick Booth)