I travelled to Ely where Ann Matthews was "being presented" at the Open University Degree Ceremony in Ely Cathedral having graduated as Master of Arts in History. Five years previously, I'd made the same journey for her Bachelor of Arts Ceremony (that day is described here).
The Rail Journey
I took a taxi to Wolverhampton and train to Birmingham. From here, Cross Country still operate a service to Stansted Airport. A 2-coach 'Turbostar' DMU was deemed appropriate that day and we made a fairly leisurely progress through Nuneaton and Leicester onto the Peterborough line, still equipped with semaphore signals and manual signal boxes. At Oakham, we stopped but remained in the station. After a few minutes, the lady Train Manager (or whatever they are calling Train Guards at present) announced over the public address that we were awaiting Police to deal with a disruptive passenger. About twenty minutes later, a single police officer boarded the train. The passenger had clearly been disruptive very quietly as I was surprised to find that I was only a couple of seat rows away from him. Very politely, I heard the Officer explain that the passenger would not be allowed to travel further since the Train Manager claimed he had been rude. After further discussion, the passenger and police officer got off the train which then continued on its journey. Beyond Peterborough, we entered a former Great Eastern Railway line, which also retains semaphore signalling. Crossing this flat landscape through March towards Ely, there are numerous level crossings (mainly automatic half-barrier). We managed to lose a further ten minutes because of a signalling failure before joining the overhead electrified line from Kings Lynn at Ely North Junction, two miles north of Ely station where I left the train which continued through Cambridge to Stansted.
Ely Station, 2nd June 2018.
Railway Maps
'Railway Track Diagrams Book 4: Midlands & North West', Second Edition, published by Trackmaps (ISBN: 0-9549866-0-1).
'Railway Track Diagrams Book 2: Eastern', Third Edition, published by Trackmaps (ISBN: 0-9549866-2-8).
My railway pictures
West Midland Railways.
Nuneaton Station.
Leicester area rail.
Ely Station
The Ceremony
I walked as fast as I could from the station to Ely Cathedral to meet Ann, Dean and Dean's sister and we took our positions for the ceremony. The packed cathedral formed a suitably impressive venue. Ely Cathedral is famous for its architecture and for the remarkable octagonal tower above the nave crossing.
Ely: 2nd June 2018: The tower above the nave crossing.
A temporary stage had been built at the nave crossing for the Open University dignitaries.
Ely: 2nd June 2018.
With a few hundred presentations to be made, the business was carefully choreographed and proceeded briskly. Ann was presented fairly early in the morning's proceedings.
Ely: 2nd June 2018: Ann Matthews being presented.
At the completion of the presentations for the morning session, everybody trooped outside into the bright sunshine where something of a carnival atmosphere prevailed.
Ely: 2nd June 2018
We spent the afternoon enjoying the town and the market before having a celebratory meal at an Italian restaurant. Ann and Dean drove me to the station (they were staying overnight in Cambridge) and I had time to explore the station before catching a very crowded train back to Birmingham, then on to Wolverhampton and a taxi home.
My pictures of Ely and the ceremony
Ely 2018
