GB Railfreight has announced that employee Chris Hopcroft MBE was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rail Business Awards ceremony in London.

Managing Director John Smith collected the award on behalf of Chris.

Chris started working when he was 16 and has spent 60 years working on the railway.

Now 76, Chris only retired at the end of 2019.

GBRf named a locomotive after Chris in a special ceremony attended by his friends and family.

What did the officials say?

GBRf Managing Director John Smith who collected the award on Chris’s behalf said:

“We are absolutely delighted for Chris and his family that he won the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Rail Business Awards. Having started off at the bottom of the ladder and worked his way up, Chris has boundless experience, and knows the sector better than anyone.

“Chris contributed to our industry over a huge period of time, and he has been the consummate professional throughout. He has a reputation in the industry for being a highly reliable and skilled colleague who makes time to pass on his expertise and support modernisation in all aspects of the railway.

“We are incredibly proud of him and this is a fantastic way to end a 60-year career on the railways.”

Chris Hopcroft said:

“I am over the moon for this award. Thank you to the Rail Business Awards and to GB Railfreight for putting my name forward.

“The railways have been my life and I have loved every minute of the last 60 years. The last 10 years of my career working with GBRf have been the most rewarding of my career. I would like to thank everyone at GBRf for making my last few years on the railways so special.”

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