The postponed 2024/25 MTC Civic Awards were presented at The Venue, St. George’s Social Club on 6.11.25. With many thanks to everyone involved in organising this event celebrating and reminding us of the inspiring community kindness that surrounds us every day in Maghull.

The Pride of Maghull Award was won by the wonderful and tireless achievements of the much loved and admired David Cranny, celebrated throughout last week.

However, we would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the MSV as unsuccessful nominees, whose 20 years of inspiring, selfless, uplifting charitable work arguably reached a pinnacle by stunningly winning through three very competitive rounds to win the best train station in the whole of UK, drawing unrivalled international and national media attention to Maghull and considerable pride for the volunteers and residents of Maghull. So often, their work has been attributed to the rail network or the wonderful but separate Maghull in Bloom. It is hard to imagine how they could ever improve upon their achievements, to eventually receive local civic recognition.

Although the civic awards were aligned to the successful BBC ‘Make a Difference’ award titles, due to limited nominations MTC have been striving to imaginatively make the Civic awards more competitive by using more generic civic titles and losing the ‘local business’ and ‘environmental’ awards, hence could we now lose the sports award because of only one nominee. It has also resulted in arguably in an uneven playing field where volunteers are pitched against businesses etc.

Pride of Maghull Civic Award: Awarded to a person, business or organisation who has made an outstanding contribution to the life of Maghull.

Please state in no more than 200 words details for which you consider that the nominee should receive a Civic Award.

Nomination by Dr Frank Sharp.

The Maghull Station Volunteers (MSV) have enabled Maghull Train Station to achieve the highest national accolade as the best station in the UK, joining a bulging trophy cabinet, which demonstrates the incredible, daily inspirational dedication for over 20 years, and evidenced by providing the most uplifting beautiful gateway welcome to Maghull.

For the last 20 years, since 2004, the station grounds have been stunningly looked after by a small group of inspiring multi-award-winning volunteers, who initially started as litter pickers and were joined by other helpers who felt the area would benefit by having permanent floral displays. The waiting room houses paintings of the station painted by Margaret Walton. A stained-glass window, prepared by members of U3A, is dedicated to their 2 past chairmen Nigel Winchester and Alan Pritchard. On the platform is a storey board prepared by Margaret Cummins showing Frank Hornby who lived close by at the Hollies and is buried in St Andrews church yard. Over the years the group added planters, hanging baskets and herbaceous borders.

They were encouraged to take part in RHS competitions and have had many successes as shown in their Trophy Cabinet situated by the ticket office. Besides making their own compost they have introduced water butts to cut down on the need to use hose pipes. They continue to attract wildlife to the grounds with bird feeders, nesting boxes and bug hotels. Each year they hold a coffee morning and plant sale where the beneficiary is Woodlands Hospice. For the first time in 2023 they took part in The National Garden Scheme helping to raise money for local and national charities. They can be found regularly on site tending the beds and of course litter picking.

Please describe in no more than 200 words the benefits resulting from the nominee’s service to a particular field, area, group or community.

International and National Recognition, with Local Well-Being.

Maghull Train Station boasts a rich history, due to the fact that the world-famous Frank Hornby lived close by and used the station as his inspiration for his model train sets. The MSV not only celebrate his world-renowned association but enhance his reputation and that of the community by maintaining and improving the station to the highest standards. They achieve this by daily litter picking, dynamic beautiful creative inspiring art and floral displays throughout every season for over 20 years to ensure its position as the UK’S best station. Their stunning displays raise the spirits of every visitor through Maghull’s front door, only enhanced by the warmth of the volunteer’s friendly welcome.  They even extend their values to provide biodiverse environmental practices and generously raise charitable funds for other good causes.

Since the best station award in October, Maghull has become a destination both nationally and internationally resulting in international visitors on excursions from cruise ships berthed in Liverpool! However, at a local level they provide inspiration for others to emulate and most importantly an uplifting sense of sunshine to warm every day.

We think the national competition voting was a real testament to the love and esteem that the station is held in. Doreen commented that they had received votes from all over the world!

Letter of Support from Christine Lock 

I write to support and endorse your recent nomination for the Pride of Maghull Civic Award to be considered for a local organisation run by Doreen Bird named Maghull Train Station Volunteers (MSV).

As a resident of Maghull, I write on behalf of myself and my family, we have been so grateful for a particular local group named the Maghull Train Station Volunteers headed up by Doreen Bird.  Over the last 20 years, Maghull Station and its surroundings have been beautifully tended to by a group of kind, selfless, hardworking and inspiring volunteers.  Initially, their time was given to litter-picking the area and keeping it clean, tidy and rubbish-free. Other residents later joined these volunteers and together they had the plan to transform and enhance the overgrown and unattractive pieces of land by planting carefully thought-out floral displays and colourful planters around the station entrance and car park area.   They have transformed our local train station into a beauty spot for residents and visitors to enjoy. It is welcoming and lifts the spirits of all passers-by and visitors.

Working tirelessly since 2004, it was suggested they take part in the RHS competitions which proved to be successful as their many trophies confirm and can be viewed in a cabinet just next to the ticket office within Maghull Station. Working through the seasons in the wind and the rain, their sheer determination is always impressive, cutting down dead branches, weeding and fresh innovative planting each season. I’ve recently found out that they make their own compost, which obviously works! They have also introduced water butts to reduce the negative impact on the environment by mitigating the use of hose pipes and water usage.

The planting and structure of the area attracts wildlife with nesting boxes and bug hotels provided and erected by the volunteers. MSV holds a coffee morning on the station with homemade cakes and a plant sale with proceeds going to Woodlands Hospice every year.  This is always a packed event with the local community, neighbours and residents getting together, raising money for a good cause and meeting others in the community and is a good way to bring people together.

I fully endorse Frank Sharp’s nomination as their work has a positive impact on all those who use Maghull station and those who visit it.  I’ve personally overheard many comments that the area looks like an idyllic village with the beautifully placed flower and shrub planting and this really does lift the spirit.

Acquiring the accolade of the best station in the UK in October 2024 is a reflection of their constant hard work and enthusiasm over the last two decades. This achievement is largely due to MSV’s commitment, determination, vision and community spirit and is indeed a worthy nomination to be considered for the civic award.

Many thanks.

Christine Lock