Special Doncaster church service to mark 150 years of Sir Nigel Gresley
This summer marks the 150th anniversary of the rail pioneer’s birth
Doncaster is to host a special church service to pay tribute to rail pioneer Sir Nigel Gresley to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth.
The designer of some of the most famous steam locomotives in Britain, he was born on June 19 1876 and is considered to be one of the country’s greatest railway engineers.
The Service of Celebration at Doncaster Minster to mark Gresley 150, will take place from 6pm on June 18 and will celebrate Gresley’s remarkable legacy and enduring contribution to Britain’s railway history.
Hosted in the historic surroundings the church, the service will last approximately 50 minutes and will be led by railway chaplains Frances Roscoe and Colin Fraser.
Designed to be accessible and welcoming to all, regardless of faith or background, the service will offer an opportunity to reflect on Sir Nigel Gresley’s extraordinary contribution to the railway industry and the lasting impact of his work.
Refreshments will be served following the service, providing an opportunity to continue the celebration and conversation together.
Sir Nigel was one of Britain’s most famous steam locomotive engineers, who rose to become Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).
He was the designer of some of the most famous steam locomotives in Britain, including the class A1/A3 and class A4 4-6-2 ‘Pacifics’.
Class A1 No. 4472 Flying Scotsman was the first steam locomotive officially recorded over 100 mph and class A4, No. 4468 Mallard still holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world, achieving126 mph on 3 July 1938.
Although born in Edinburgh, Sir Nigel was the fifth son of the Reverend Nigel Gresley, rector of Netherseal in Derbyshire.
Gresley could trace his ancestry to soldiers who fought with William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings and further back through Hugh de Calvacamp, archbishop of Rouen in the tenth century to the Viking warriors who first settled in Normandy.
He died in 1941 at the age of 64.