Staff at the Greater Anglia station at Ely in Cambridgeshire are holding a series of events to raise funds for a guide dog puppy in memory of a Greater Anglia veteran driver who recently passed away.

The staff are fundraising in memory of Greater Anglia driver Andrew Denny who had worked on the railway for 43 years.

Andrew was based at Ipswich and sadly passed away in June.

Amanda, a customer service team member at Ely station, had seen other guide dogs being trained at the station and came up with her fundraising idea with the blessing of Andrew’s family.

Staff at Ely station have a target of £2,500 to name a guide dog puppy after Andrew, and they would like the dog to be called “Denny” in his memory.

Once guide dogs are qualified, many of them work to support their owners when they travel across the rail network, and help them in boarding or departing from trains.

Among the fundraising events devised by the team at Ely station, are competitions such as “Guess the Name”, where customers pay £1 to guess the names of three current guide dogs.

Competition winners will receive either vouchers for a family rail trip to London or a meal in Ely, or a hamper full of doggy-related treats that have been donated by local stores.

Last Friday, 20th September, a fundraising bake sale and children’s colouring competition were held at the station.

The team has already raised over £1,150, and once the £2,500 target is reached it will go towards Guide Dogs’ life-changing services for adults, children, and young people affected by sight loss.

Anyone wishing to donate to the fund can do so at the team’s JustGiving page.

Several years ago, Greater Anglia directors and executives worked with people with sight loss to better understand their needs for a better service, and other train operators are working with the Guide Dogs charity to highlight its work in supporting people with sight loss.

“It is incredible to see guide dogs being trained around Ely station and getting used to the trains, and crowds of people. Over the years I have grown really close to the dogs and their trainers.

Amanda, customer service team member at Ely station