Dronfield school artists brighten up passengers’ wait for train

This autumn’s display has been provided by children from Dronfield Infant School, Dronfield Junior School and St Andrews C of E and Methodist Primary School.

The pictures created by Dronfield Infants follow an autumn theme whilst the artworks from Dronfield Juniors students depict scenes from the town.

One of the posters from St Andrews celebrates the work of Kara Walker.

She was an African American artist who rose to fame for her use of large paper silhouettes to explore social issues surrounding gender, race and black history.

The exhibition has been organised by Friends of Dronfield Station (FoDS), but because of the current Covid-19 crisis it was not possible to arrange a formal unveiling with local dignitaries in attendance.

FoDS member Tina Teather, who coordinated the exhibition, said: “It was a pity that we were unable to invite the children down to the station to see their work unveiled by the town mayor but their excellent and imaginative work will provide something bright, attractive and thought provoking for those using the station.”

Volunteer to bring a fresh eye to history

The current exhibition will remain in the station until early spring next year when three more schools will take over.

The Friends group grew up out of Dronfield Station Action Group, which was swt up to halt the decline of the station from the early 1990s.

The FODS website says: “From a peak of integrated services in the mid-eighties, services were reduced, becoming less convenient and thus less useful.

"By the turn of the century, the number of trains was reduced to just 10 a day with the first southbound train being at 1pm!”

Locals wanted to stop the station looking unkempt and uncared-for and in 2004 managed to argue successfully for Dronfield being included in the the reinstatement of the Nottingham-Leeds service.

Eventually the action group became FODS, which concentrates on ensuring that the station does not decline.

For more information, go to the website, www.friendsofdronfieldstation.org.uk.

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