Memorial to teenage train enthusiast

A memorial bench was unveiled at Hassocks station on Monday 19 February for a young train enthusiast who passed away last year.

Louie Butler-James loved Southern trains from an early age. Born just around the corner from Brighton station and hearing his dad, Ray’s tales of commuting, his interest in trains was clear from the start.

At the age of one he was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome – a kidney condition that can increase risk of catching infections and cause other problems.

Much of his childhood revolved around his beloved trains and by the time he was four, he knew every single train stop along the line.

The family moved to Hassocks in 2005,and much to Louie’s joy, their new house was right next to the train station. He attended Downlands Community School and then Vardean College.

Louie’s love for the railway, stimulated by the family’s close proximity to the station, only continued, and saw him join Southern for a stint of work experience. In 2012 he undertook a train driving simulator test, which he passed with flying colours. Throughout his short life, trains were an important hobby. His knowledge of all the types of trains and stations was outstanding - he didn’t just love the trains themselves, but everything associated with them – he could tell you which train was coming just by the sound.

In March 2016, at the age of just 16 Louie died suddenly following a pulmonary embolism, a risk related to Nephrotic Syndrome.

To honour Louie’s love for Southern and trains, Graham Thrower, Southern Station Manager for Haywards Heath to Preston Park, held an event at Hassocks station on Monday, unveiling a memorial bench on the platform for this passionate young man.

Family friend Gayle Newman helped to organise the bench, unveiled to around 40 family and friends at the station on Monday.

Graham said, “It was an honour to play host to Louie's family and friends this afternoon for the unveiling of the bench. He was a very special young man with a great love of our trains; I am so pleased that we could dedicate a section of the platform at Hassocks station to him and his family, in his memory."

Parents Louise and Ray said, “Louie had a life-long passion for trains so to have a bench on the platform in his memory means a great deal to all of us. This is somewhere that family and friends can sit and remember him and is a place where so many people start their journeys - Louie would have enjoyed that. We would like to this opportunity to say huge thank you to our good friend Gayle Newman and Graham Thrower from Southern Rail who made all this possible.”

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