Community heroes from Worcestershire have GWR train named in their honour

Mazen, from Bromsgrove, and Charlotte, from Stourport-on-Severn, were chosen as BBC Make a Difference Superstars for selflessly helping others at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Originally from Syria, Mazen has made his home in Bromsgrove and set off on a one-man mission to “help the community that has welcomed me”.

Charlotte, a trainee driver with West Midlands Trains, set up a Facebook group to help isolated people and was described as having “outstanding and unselfish devotion to the people of Stourport-on-Severn”.

The pair were selected as BBC Make a Difference Superstars by judges following a link-up between the BBC and GWR to celebrate those people going above and beyond to help others in their communities.

Now their names feature at either end of Intercity Express Train number 800031 as GWR continues to honour BBC Make a Difference Superstars from nine regions across the network.

Great Western Railway Interim Regional Development Manager (East) Tom MacLachlan said:

“Mazen and Charlotte went to incredible lengths to support their communities and we’re thrilled to add their names to the side of an Intercity Express Train.  

“The GWR has a long and proud history of naming trains after Great Westerners – past and present heroes from across our network – and it’s a real treat to add these two community stalwarts to that list.

“It was a privilege to partner with the BBC Make a Difference campaign and the stories which featured on BBC local radio were truly overwhelming.”

Head of Audio and Digital for BBC England Chris Burns said: 

“We have been amazed by the response of many listeners to our Make a Difference campaign on Local BBC Radio, as listeners have been helping each other out throughout the pandemic. 

“It has been humbling to learn about the kind-hearted efforts of so many in our communities and Mazen and Charlotte are great examples to the rest of us. Congratulations to them and to the team at BBC Hereford & Worcester.”

MAZEN SALMOU

Mazen moved to Bromsgrove as part of Worcestershire County Council’s refugee settlement programme and was determined to give something back to the community that had given him a new home.

He made films to present the town in a positive light and also volunteered for the Bromsgrove Community Support Group, running countless errands to help vulnerable people during lockdown, delivering supplies including pharmacy prescriptions on his bike.

CHARLOTTE MARSLAND

When the country went into the first lockdown, Charlotte set up the Stourport Mutual Aid Facebook group to help isolated people in Stourport-on-Severn. 

Dozens of volunteers came forward to support hundreds of families in the area, delivering Easter treats, food and prescriptions, as well as providing dog-walking services and telephone buddies.

Charlotte, who went on to set up a mini foodbank, said she had been inspired to help by her grandad, Terry Murphy, who had been worried by the plight of others like him during the pandemic. Mr Murphy has since passed away.

Notes to editors

First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR was recently awarded an extension to its direct award franchise (called DA3), which shall run up to 31 March 2023 with an option to extend for a further year. 

Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us 

GWR has been providing rail services throughout the pandemic and has worked to ensure that these are as safe as possible, including enhanced cleaning regimes. This work continues as it starts to welcome more people back to the railway.

The train operator has also provided extra staff at key stations to offer help and guidance.

Travelling by train is low risk as carriages are well ventilated with air regularly refreshed either by air-conditioning systems, or by doors and windows being opened.

GWR’s enhanced cleaning regime includes:

• A 24% increase in cleaning hours every week since March 2020
• Sanitising (fogging) of 1,120 vehicles every 4 weeks
• Carrying out 2,150 on board surface tests (ATP) every four weeks, to ensure the effectiveness of our cleaning
• 272 train cleaning processes reviewed, and many adapted
• Hand sanitising facilities at key stations across its network.