Pete Jardine awarded an MBE for services to Railway Heritage
Peter Jardine has been awarded an MBE for services to Railway Heritage in the New Year’s Honours List. Pete is a long-standing volunteer and employee at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway who has masterminded the restoration of the line’s iconic Victorian carriages.
Back in the 1970s, the Railway started collecting grounded carriage bodies from across the Island where they had seen use as beach huts, garden chalets and farm stores. In the 1981, Pete and his team of volunteers started work on the first of these – IWR 46, which had originally been built for the North London Railway in 1864. When it entered service in 1986, it was rightly celebrated for the quality of its restoration.
Over the last 40 years, Pete has led the complete restoration of nine carriages, winning many Heritage Railway Association awards along the way. The Isle of Wight Steam Railway now has a magnificent rake of Victorian 4-wheeled carriage, recreating a bygone era of rail travel on the Island.
Pete can still be found working in the carriage & wagon workshop on most days, his main focus being the next Oldbury carriage – IWR First 21.
Steve Backhouse, General Manager at The Isle of Wight Steam Railway said: “Pete’s contribution to the Railway, and the wider heritage railway movement, is truly immense. With a team of volunteers, Pete has spearheaded the restoration of our Victorian carriages, which are rightly lauded for their historical significance, and the pleasure that they bring to our passengers. The award of an MBE is apt recognition of his skill, hard-work and dedication over many years.