Ken Clay, a volunteer guard on the Moors Valley Railway, is probably the oldest railway guard in the country. Ken, who crewed Lancaster bombers in WW2, will celebrate his 90th birthday on 26 October. He lives in Ferndown.
The steam railway at Moors Valley is the south’s longest fully signalled narrow-gauge railway, with 17 steam engines and two diesels. Ken has been helping the railway’s many visitors and keeping a watchful eye on all the trains there for over 20 years, since he retired from the local Electricity Board.
Jim Haylock, the Railway’s owner says that Ken has no intention of putting away his peaked cap any time soon. “Ken is part of the Park,” said Jim. “I believe his father reached the ripe old age of 97, so we hope he’ll still be here with us to celebrate his 100th birthday.”
The Moors Valley Railway is now open at weekends and Dorset school holidays. For times and more information go to www.moors-valley.co.uk or call 01425 471415.
