There were crowds of interested people at Midsomer Norton Station for Family Fun Day. The sand play was a wash-out, but made good sandcastles, and craft and paint at the tables in the railway coach next to the buffet went down a storm!

Wansdyke Play Association (WPA) had brought their kit to help children enjoy the day with a bit of free expression.

The WPA has existed since the nineties, and is the main local organisation to provide facilities for children and young people. Now that the local authorities have been forced to cut right back, WPA are well-supported by Town and Parish Councils in the Somer Valley area, as well as other grant fund organisations.

Rain and mud did not deter toddlers from driving the Thomas train, but he needed a clean-up afterwards. Fortunately Joyce, the little steam engine, was more than ready to haul trains of happy passengers up the line, to see where the line extension has reached the cutting infill. That’s the next big job for the station volunteers!

The next date for train rides is the Volunteer recruitment weekend of Saturday, 8th September.

Gail Coleshill