Kent & East Sussex Railway Volunteer Geoff Colvin has been nominated for his dedicated voluntary work as Chief Stationmaster at the prestigious VisitEngland Tourism Superstar Awards and is one of ten finalists for the prize which is run in conjunction with the Mirror Newspaper.

A panel of judges chose Geoff out of hundreds of nominations from tourist attractions and tourist boards from all over England.

The final winner will be selected by an online public vote which can be found here and also features a video about Geoff and his fellow finalists.

The national Tourism Superstar campaign is now in its 11th year and has been created to showcase the dedication and devotion of these special individuals working within the tourism sector who go above and beyond to make sure visitors have a wonderful experience.

Geoff initially joined the volunteer team at the Kent & East Sussex Railway at the start of the pandemic at a time when its volunteer reserves were most needed in order to secure the heritage railway’s survival. Proving to be a real inspiration, Geoff was promoted to Chief Stationmaster in 2022 and is a regular friendly face at the railway platform, welcoming passengers and helping out wherever possible.

Visitor Experience Manager, Heather Packham said:”Geoff is unquestionably a superstar, he’s a breath of fresh air, not only because he always strives to make sure visitors have the best time possible at the railway but because he is full of ideas to help improve what we do. He also makes those he works alongside feel valued, playing down his own personal role and highlighting the team effort.”

Kent & East Sussex Railway, General Manager Robin Coombes said: “Our volunteers are the heart and soul of our railway, and it is their role in providing a wonderful visitor experience day in day out that is frequently mentioned in our many Five Star TripAdvisor reviews,”

“Winning this Award would not only be a reward for Geoff’s personal contribution but an accolade for the countless contributions of the hundreds of volunteers who selflessly give their time to the railway to keep its history alive and accessible to all.

“Without volunteers like Geoff, we simply would not be here. I therefore very much hope that his success in this competition will inspire others to come and see the fun and fulfilment that volunteering can bring.”

Voting will remain open until 12pm on Monday the 20th of March and the winner will be revealed on Saturday the 25th  as part of English Tourism Week.

Anyone interested in volunteering with Kent & East Sussex Railway can find out more here.