Page 21 - link magazine

Vote for Swindon’s Mr Railway

to put town on tourist map

KEVIN Shurmer, whose family’s artefacts to be displayed in the new
association with the railways STEAM museum before it opened in
goes back to the days of 2000. He now works at STEAM for
Brunel, has been nominated as 25 hours a week and spends extra
Swindon’s ambassador in the third time keeping people in touch with
VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar Swindon’s past.
awards. He said: “I work front of house so
And he’s after your vote in a Daily I get to meet all the visitors as they
Mirror poll from 31 January. come in, but my main love is telling
Kevin, who has lived in Toothill stories. I’ve given talks where the
since 1978, comes from a long line youngest audience member was
of railwaymen going back to 1858. two and the oldest over 100, from Kevin Shurmer is nominated in the Tourism Superstar awards
He said: “My great, great, granddad groups of five to 300 people.
like many people at that time “I enjoy it because I can talk
worked on the land and he came about the subject from first-hand
into Brunel’s rapidly expanding experiences. To me the history of
GWR railway works as a watchman. the railway works in Swindon is
“His son became a boiler man, his very important, it is what made
son also worked in the boiler shop, Swindon. It would be fantastic to
and the fourth in line – my father – win the award - not just for me, but
was a French polisher. for all the people who spent time in
“My brother served an the Works who are no longer here
apprenticeship as an electrician and - all I am doing is keeping a part of
I was a coach painter for a time. their history alive.”
It was the most stress free job I’ve The Mirror will host an online
ever had, I loved it.” public vote at mirroronline.co.uk
Kevin went on to spend 20 years starting on 31 January. Nominees
at a medical technology company, will be supported by a short video.
but his railway heritage was The winner will be announced on
rekindled when he met an engineer 14 March, the first day of English
who was working on restoring Tourism Week.

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