A DEDICATED south Warwickshire rail champion has received royal recognition.
The King and Queen Consort have awarded the title of Coronation Champion to 500 volunteers as part of the coronation celebrations – and among them is Fraser Pithie, chair of the railway volunteer group the Shakespeare Line.
All 500 recipients were nominated by members of the local community following a national call for community champions’ by The Royal Voluntary Service (RVS).
The judging panel received over 5,000 nominations in eight award categories, and Fraser’s community nomination covered his tireless works for, and with, the railway communities in Warwickshire to develop local stations and improve the usage of rail, together with his personal work in education and policing within the county.
Fraser was born in Stratford and lives in Kenilworth with has been invited, along with his wife, to attend the Coronation celebration at Windsor Castle, where he will receive an official Coronation Champions badge and a signed certificate from the King and Queen.
Fraser said he was overwhelmed and humbled by the award.
“To me, this treasured award is a recognition of the work and commitment of over seventy volunteers along the railway line between Birmingham and Stratford upon Avon and the real difference they are all making to people’s daily lives.
“These awards are also a powerful way to broadcast the message that volunteering to support people working on the front line of the UK’s public services is vital in these challenging times.”
Fraser and the volunteer group work closely with Network Rail which own, repair, and develop the railway infrastructure in England Scotland and Wales.
Denise Wetton, central route director for Network Rail said: “The voluntary work Fraser does to support the ongoing improvement of the line and stations between Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham makes a huge difference to the journeys and experiences of thousands of people every year.
“This recognition is much deserved and testament to the years of help and support Fraser has provided to local communities. We look forward to our continued partnership to put the railways at the heart of our communities.”
Fay Easton was nominator of the award and has worked with Fraser for five years, witnessing, at first hand his commitment to local communities.
“Fraser generously uses skills gained in his working life to support people of all ages and backgrounds. His care, concern, and efforts for communities are awe-inspiring and he is a tireless lead volunteer and ‘friend’ of railway communities covering eighteen towns and railway stations. When I saw the Coronation Community Awards looking for ‘local heroes’, this really resonated, as Fraser is so often called ‘a local hero’ across this network.
“As well as the gargantuan work for the railways, Fraser also works freely with the local Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team and is a governor and mentor for a high school along the railway route, supporting young people with life and job opportunities.
“I can honestly say I have never met anyone with such generous public spirit and care for fellow citizens with so much energy given freely to help, support and enrich lives of others.”
