An exceptionally dedicated volunteer for Brampton and Haltwhistle’s community rail group has been recognised for her hard work with a national award.

Julie Gibbon, secretary and director of the Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership, which works to maintain, improve and promote the Carlisle-to-Newcastle railway line, won the outstanding volunteer contribution award at the national community rail awards last week.

Held in Telford last Thursday and organised by the national Association of Community Rail Partnerships, the awards showcased the hard work and initiatives of rail partnerships and station adoption groups throughout the country.

Bardon Mill resident Julie was humble in her reaction to the award announcement.

“It’s not just me, we are a team of many players and I could not have achieved it without [everyone else],” she said.

Partnership officer Fiona Forsythe said the award was “well deserved” by Julie, who is also secretary of the Tyne Valley Rail Users’ Group and of the Campaign to Open Gilsland Station – along with volunteer roles a number of other local ventures.

“Julie is very supportive of the local community and the railway,” she said.

“We are very pleased for her; it is well deserved.

“We are a very small partnership and this award is a great boost for all of our hardworking volunteers.”

Julie is an instrumental part of many of the Tyne Valley partnership’s projects, from making a successful bid to rail company CrossCountry for funding for a tourism development intern project to securing £500,000 of funding for the redevelopment of the old waiting rooms at Haltwhistle station.

Julie also managed the Old Booking Hall at Haltwhistle station, which is used by a range of groups from yoga classes to meditation groups, to the local painting group the Platform Painters.