HATCH END HOST SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY DAY

Hatch End’s community day is a much looked forward to annual fixture, and last month marked the fourth time customer hosts Andy Hallisey, Liam Nixon and Neha Patel have held the event. As always, it was a special opportunity for the team to connect with customers and friends of Hatch End, with tours of the station followed by tea and homemade cake, as well as a first look at their new Peace Garden.  

As ever, Andy, Liam and Neha were supported by their families and volunteers, making the day a proper family affair. “Thank you to my, Liam’s and Neha’s families who helped out on the day. Also, our ever-present volunteer Alan, Janice from Headstone Horticultural Society who served her homemade cakes and my mother-in-law, Jean, who baked EIGHTEEN cakes for the event,” said Andy. “No cakes went to waste as my wife Dawn held a Macmillan Coffee Morning at her school.”

“Also, our thanks go to cleaners Antony and Matthew for their help on the day. We’ve also had help from Emily, Grace and Eva from Northwood School, who are taking part in their Duke of Edinburgh Award and helped with planting and the community day,” added Andy.

The community day also saw the team unveil their Peace Garden to the public for the first time, created in memory of former station master and colleague Phil Palmer.

“It has been a long, hard slog and a labour of love to get from the wasteland to the pop-up garden of today,” shared Andy. “We intend to improve the soil to plant directly into the ground and have a security camera installed along with new gates. Hopefully next summer we will have the Phil Palmer Peace Garden established and have his family officially open it with a plaque reveal and ribbon cutting.”

Congratulations to Andy, Liam, Neha and the rest of the team on another successful community day.