SIR: It was a great shame after all the efforts of the Watercress Steam Railway volunteers that their Christmas Steam Illuminations had to be cancelled early due to the Tier restrictions.

We were particularly looking forward to it as my mother and father, Mike & Phyllis Norman, were enthusiastic Watercress Line volunteers for many years, and dad was a lifelong steam train enthusiast (with a miniature track in his loft!), who died on December 28 2009 from a heart attack, poignantly on a train platform in Spiez, Switzerland, pursuing a Christmas and New Year train trip around the Swiss mountains.

When I saw the steam illuminations advertised we immediately booked a trip including afternoon tea, in memory of my parents and particularly my father who died in this week in 2009, and were naturally disappointed that it was cancelled. We have done some other trips including the beer, and dinner trips in the past which have always been excellent.

It occurred to me that some of the people who were looking forward to this might be prepared to donate some, or all, of their refund to enabling the Watercress Line to survive these torrid times and hopefully do something similar next year.

Here’s hoping for a healthier, safer New Year for all.

Chris Wall,

Frampton Way,

Kings Worthy