8th October 2017
Two brothers achieved a bucket list wish come true when they traveled from Middleton Top to Parsley Hay to mark the 50th anniversary of the last steam train to do this journey. Their father, Sam Buckley, was the driver of this last train in April 1967 and was described as “a railwayman of rare quality”. Middleton Top to Parsley Hay is now part of the High Peak Trail. In 1967 it was a section of the Cromford and High Peak Railway manned by Middleton trainmen.
John and Geoff Buckley, octogenarian sons of Sam, grandsons Simon, David and Jonathan, plus Alfie, a great grandson, made the journey on Sunday 8th October, 2017. Some members of the Buckley family couldn’t be with them because of age or the distance they would have to travel, living as far away as they do in Aberdeen, Newcastle, London and Toronto.
The Buckley family, specifically John and Geoff, are asking for sponsorship in aid of Aquabox whose warehouse is located within a stone’s throw of the trail and less than a mile from Middleton Top. They also are extremely grateful to the staff of the Countryside Service of Derbyshire County Council particularly for the Tramper Hire, which is a wonderful provision for less able people to explore the Country Parks and Trails in Derbyshire.
Widower John has been a Wirksworth Rotarian for 54 years and an Aquabox volunteer since the charity and community project was set up and managed by the Rotary Club of Wirksworth in 1992. During this time Aquabox has sent over 110,000 boxes which provide safe drinking water and humanitarian aid to those in desperate need all over the world. Geoff, together with his wife Cynthia, were founder members of a medical charity and devoted to it 33 years of voluntary service.
John and Geoff want to thank everyone for their generous donations to Aquabox which have reached over £1,000 – a magnificent achievement! It was a truly memorable day and in fine weather a large gathering of supporters saw them leave Middleton Top bound for Parsley Hay, following the same route which their father took when he drove the last steam train on this line almost exactly 50 years ago in 1967.
You can still donate by visiting their JustGiving page here: