FOR one day only, people will be able to take a tour around an old station house - guided by someone who grew up there.

Harold Bowron (79) moved to Haltwhistle in 1949 aged five when his father, John J T Bowron, became the station master there.

He lived at the station house with his parents and brother until 1963, when he was aged 20.

Harold said as one of the few people who is still alive who had first-hand experience of the station at that time, he is keen to share his unique knowledge and happy memories of the station.

He has organised a day of tours of the house on Saturday, February 25, after seeking permission from the present owner of the house, and is set to provide people with fascinating insights and tales from his time living there.

“I’ve got a story for each room in the house,” said Harold, who now lives in Carlisle.

“It’s a one-off,” he added of the tour. “It has never happened before and it will never happen again.”

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There have been huge changes to the station over the years, but the old signal box has been preserved. He is hoping they can gain access to it on the day of the tours, but this has not yet been confirmed.

The tours will each last one and a half hours, and take place at 9am, 10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm, and 3pm.

Each tour will have a maximum capacity of 10 people.

The Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership, who are supporting the event, will open the old booking hall on the day and offer visitors refreshments.

The partnership has carried out numerous improvement works at Haltwhistle railway station in recent years.

Tickets, priced at £10 per person, can be purchased by calling 01228 575010. Proceeds from the tickets will go to the Beaumont Parish Hall Rebuilding Fund.

Harold has asked if anyone would be interested in filming the tour so it can be viewed by future generations, he would be grateful if they can contact him on the above number.

After he was educated at The Gregg School in Carlisle, Harold began a 35-year career with British Rail, beginning as a booking clerk at Haydon Bridge.

He retired in Edinburgh as area operations manager for the East of Scotland.