Rail staff band together with uplifting song to praise key workers and raise money for NHS

Two Southern Rail conductors and a train driver at Eastbourne have banded together to reinvent a classic song, to praise key workers and raise money for the many NHS staff who travel on their services every day.

Bernie Barnaville had the idea to create a song, and was joined by fellow musicians from the team, Ricky Duggins and driver Harry McCormick.

They have posted it on YouTube and set up a JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/harry-mccormicknhs

Conductor Manager for Eastbourne Jamie Cleary said: "I think it's brilliant - Bernie said he wanted to do something to support the NHS and I'm completely behind it.

"People know about the NHS workers we're carrying to work, but they may forget about the postmen, the teachers and everyone else, who travel each day for all kinds of work - so we wanted to remember them.”

Bernie said: "It's a collaboration between a lot of us at Eastbourne, and we wanted to show as key workers ourselves, we support those who put themselves on the front line every day."

Harry added: "We know it won't be a Captain Tom but we think it will make a difference. We hope people can visit our JustGiving page to climb aboard the train and do their bit."

Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern all have trains bearing messages of thanks to the NHS and other key workers. 

Angie Doll, Managing Director of Southern and Gatwick Express, said: "I'm so proud of everyone across the railway family who is working to keep our services running for key workers including the NHS."

The lyrics, shown abridged below, recognise key workers from retail staff, to teachers and the NHS, highlighting the work Southern colleagues are doing to keep trains clean and people moving:

This train is bound for glory, this train;
All aboard and lend a hand
For the NHS to free the land
This train is bound for glory this train.
This train will the keep people moving, this train
Retail staff who keep us fed, the NHS cause they’re the best
This train will keep the people moving, this train
All aboard and lend a hand
For the NHS to free the land
This train is bound for glory this train
This train will keep the kids learning, this train
Taking teachers to the schools, keep on teaching with basic tools
All aboard and lend a hand, for the NHS to free the land
This train is bound for glory this train
This train is cleaned right through, this train
This train is cleaned right through, cleaned right through by the Eastbourne crew
All aboard and lend a hand
For the NHS to free the land
This train is bound for glory this train
This train is bound for freedom, Key workers are more than welcome.

ends