Southern Train Care Charge Hand, Heather Neely has won Depot Staff of the Year at the recent RailStaff Awards.
Heather, who works at Southern’s Brighton Train Care Depot walked away with the win after judges were bowled over with Heather’s efforts to get to work during the worst of last winter’s snow.
Heather beat of stiff competition from nine other finalists to clinch the award which includes a commemorative glass trophy, a certificate and £1,000 cash prize.
The Annual RailStaff Awards recognise the ingenuity, effort and professionalism of the men and women who deliver the railway round the clock, 365 days a year.
Heather won the award not least because she showed remarkable dedication during the coldest December in Britain for 100 years which saw significant snowfall and sustained low temperatures.
The severe weather conditions had a significant impact on air, road and rail transport with many services being delayed or suspended. Many UK workers decided to stay at home as footpaths, roads and rails became impassable.
Not so for Heather. Due to start a shift at 6am, Heather rose early to ensure she made her shift on time. With no taxis able to run and train services suspended, Heather set off from home at 4am.
She trekked through shin-deep snow, finally making it to the Brighton Train Care Depot two hours and twenty minutes later.
Southern’s Fleet Director, Gerry McFadden said:
“I couldn’t be more delighted for Heather. She is one of the most unassuming and selfless people I know and she thoroughly deserves this accolade. Her determination to get to work in appalling conditions just so she wouldn’t let her colleagues down is typical of the way she approaches her job.”
Heather said: “I don’t see that I’d done anything all that exceptional … I was just doing my job.”
This ‘almost throw-away comment’ typifies Heather’s approach to her responsibilities as a Charge Hand.
Heather manages a team of 14 cleaners, who work tirelessly to ensure that Southern’s trains are clean and tidy for passengers.
Heather and her team complete several tasks from light cleans to deep cleans, which include the washing down and flushing out of train toilets, which according to Heather ‘isn’t as bad as it sounds’.
Heather also organises lost property and helps to monitor and measure the cleanliness standard of trains and is always to be found promoting continuous improvement.
