AN appeal has been launched to find the people in this photograph of railway officials at Yate Railway Station.

The Friends of Yate Station are preparing to mark the 25th anniversary of the reopening of Yate’s station in May and are hoping to collate people’s memories of the station from yesteryear.

They are looking for any information about the pictured men or any other artefacts or photos of Yate Railway Station through the years.

The station is believed to be the first in the country to reopen after a number of wayside stations on the former Bristol to Gloucester line were shut in 1965, in a raft of closures known as the Beeching Axe. Its reopening in 1989 followed fervent campaigning by local councillors, who won the backing and financial support of the then local authority Avon County Council.

Nowadays, the station serves the main Bristol to Birmingham line between Bristol Parkway and Cam and Dursley and is operated by First Great Western. In 2007 it was ranked as the 1104th most-used station in the UK.

The friends of the station are organising an event on Sunday, May 18 to celebrate the anniversary of its reopening.

It will include a heritage tent where displays and information about the station will be available. There will also be a facility for people to come along on the day with any photos or memorabilia and their memories, which can then be recorded by Yate Heritage Centre volunteers for future generations.

In addition to the above there will be stalls, a brass band, afternoon tea, vintage railway displays and a visit by Baroness Susan Kramer, the Secretary of State for Transport, who will cut the celebration cake.

For more information and details as they are confirmed visit www.yatetowncouncil.gov.uk or email info@yatetowncouncil.gov.uk