Prime Minister presents Heart of Gold Award to Avanti West Coast Employee
 
 

On 18 November, the Prime Minister made a surprise visit to Warrington Bank Quay station and presented a Railway Benefit Fund Heart of Gold Award to Jennifer Birdsall, an Avanti West Coast employee.

 

The Heart of Gold Awards are organised by the Railway Benefit Fund, a charity that supports current and former railway employees, and are designed to celebrate the efforts of people working in the rail industry.

 

Jennifer, who sat for hours talking to a woman contemplating suicide, was recognised for looking after vulnerable customers and the station community. As well as helping vulnerable people, Jennifer has built an army of fans at Warrington where she is known for making cups of tea and coffee for train enthusiasts and working with local volunteers to arrange station plant displays.

 

She was expecting to receive the award, under the “Going the Extra Mile” category from the Railway Benefit Fund after colleagues at the station nominated her but was not expecting to receive it in person from the Prime Minister, who stopped at Warrington during a tour of stations in the North.

 

The Prime Minister, alongside Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, presented Jennifer with her award, taking time to talk about her role at the station before jumping on an Avanti West Coast service for Wolverhampton.

 

Jennifer was also praised by Pete Waterman, the President of Railway Benefit Fund who uses Warrington Bank Quay regularly. “The Going the Extra Mile Award couldn’t go to a more deserving individual; I see Jenny regularly when I travel from Warrington Bank Quay, and she is always so warm and friendly. Jenny truly has a Heart of Gold,” he said.

 

Jennifer added that she was honoured to receive the award on behalf of her colleagues at the station. “To win the Heart of Gold Award is truly amazing and I’m proud to receive it on behalf of all my colleagues at Warrington Bank Quay. We’re a close-knit team, who are proud to serve Warrington and want to make a difference in the community.”

 

You can find full press release of this story here.