File this under:
You could not make it up
Jim Walker has been keeping the clock ticking in Carnforth Station since 2004
He was 'banned' from entering parts of the station after an alleged racist remark
The 71-year-old says was discussing refugees entering the UK from Europe
Station heritage trust said it was a 'very serious incident which could have involved the police'
A 71-year-old volunteer claims he has been banned from winding up the railway station clock made famous in the classic film Brief Encounter because of alleged racist remarks.
A family made a complaint about timekeeper Jim Walker when they overheard him speaking about refugees in Carnforth Station, Lancashire.
He has been 'banned' from entering parts of the station where he has been volunteering for 14 years and features in the 1945 romantic drama.
The former train driver said he was overheard discussing a newspaper article which compared Jewish children arriving in England in 1933 and the refugees entering the UK from Calais.
The 71-year-old, husband to Betty, said the migrants were 'incomparable' with the six-year-old Jewish children arriving on Kindertransport trains fleeing the Nazis.
Mr Walker claims the Carnforth Station Trust later decided to move the tools he needs to access the clock to an outbuilding not in the trust's control to enable him to continue his duties.
Mr Walker, from Carnforth, said: 'Carnforth Station Trust received a complaint from a visitor who wasn't happy about me speaking to somebody about the issue.'
The solicitor's letter sent to Mr Walker said the 'serious complaint' followed a family cutting short their trip to the heritage centre due to 'loud offensive remarks' which used 'inflammatory and highly abusive' language.
The letter said: 'It is clear the visitor's version of events was a true and factual picture of what went on.'
Carnforth Station Trust chairman Peter Crowther said he did not wish to comment further until after the meeting, but added that it was 'a very serious incident which could have involved the police'.
“He said that if action wasn’t taken he would report the matter as a hate crime to the police.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017...-comments-row/
So once again the Trust out of FEAR just banned the guy rather than do what was right. What the poor chap said was indeed correct. Very sad.
Thoughts?