A GROUP of volunteers at the Severn Valley Railway paid tribute to King Charles III on bank holiday Monday (May 8) by burying a time capsule in the orchard at Bewdley station.

The specially-designed metal capsule contains a variety of items to commemorate the day, including photographs of the station staff on duty, the locomotives in service, a guard’s whistle, a lump of coal and newspaper cuttings from Coronation Day, as well as memorabilia contributed by Bewdley Primary School, St Anne’s CE Primary School, Wribbenhall Guides and Bewdley Scouts.

The ceremony was attended by the mayor and mayoress of Bewdley, Rod and Lynn Stanczyszyn, as well as the SVR’s managing director, Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The plaque which marks the spot where the capsule is buriedThe plaque which marks the spot where the capsule is buried (Image: Andy Wassall)

Susan Wassall, who is the volunteer assistant manager of the station shop, said: “The idea came about when a few of us were talking about what we could do as a group to commemorate the Coronation.”

“It’s something that can live there for years, and in the future someone will dig it up and see what the station was like, who was there, and that we were all coming together to celebrate this historic event. Many of us weren’t even born when the last Coronation happened, so this represents a very special moment for us.

“We’re asking future generations to leave the capsule in place either until Prince George’s coronation as King or 100 years, whichever comes first. We hope they’ll feel a connection with the past when they finally do unearth it, and there’ll be a commemorative plaque above ground, just to make sure it’s not forgotten.”