NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 3 January 2015

Hopeful Finalist for VisitEngland Tourism Superstar Award 2015

Kevin Shurmer, from STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon has been shortlisted, along with nine other people nationally, for the 2015 Tourism Superstar Award.

The Tourism Superstar award was launched three years ago by VisitEngland as part of English Tourism Week, celebrating those in the tourism industry who arepassionate about their destination and who go above and beyond the call of duty to make every visitor’s experience extra special.

Kevin (68), a self-confessed railway fanatic whose family is steeped in railway history with five generations having worked at the Swindon Railway Works since 1858, has not only played a key role in getting the town’s STEAM Museum open for business on a voluntary basis; he was also the first to welcome visitors as a member of staff when the Museum opened its doors on 14 June 2000.

“My great, great, granddad - like many people at that time - worked on the land and he came into the Works as a watchman in 1858,” explained Kevin.

“Then his son became a boiler man; who had a son who became a boiler man and the fourth in line – my father – joined the works as a French polisher. My brother served an apprenticeship as an electrician and I came in between jobs as a coach painter in 1981. It was the most stress-free job I’ve ever had, I loved it.”

Kevin’s stay at the Railway Works was a brief one as he left to spend 20 years at a medical technology company. But his love affair with steam was soon rekindled when, during a visit to a model railway fair, he bumped into an engineer who was working on restoring artefacts for Swindon Borough Council’s soon-to-be-opened STEAM Museum.

“A lot of machinery was saved from the old Works and we stripped it down, rebuilt it and painted it,” Kevin continued. “When they brought the locomotives in, I was working with a chap who was involved in originally building them and my job was to connect the locomotives to the tenders. I reckon I spent about six months working on the old engines as a volunteer before the Museum opened.”

Kevin said: “I work front of house so I get to meet all the visitors as they come in, but my main love is giving the talks. I’ve given talks where the youngest audience member was two and the oldest was over 100, from groups of between five and ten, to up to 300 people.

“I love it because I can talk about the subject from my experiences at first-hand. To me, the history of the Railway Works in Swindon is very important, it is what made Swindon.

“These Works were the biggest and best locomotive works in the world, full stop. There is a housing estate now where the Works once were and the people that live there now probably don’t know what sacred land they are living on; where some of the finest steam locomotives in the world were built.”

Kevin works at STEAM for 25 hours a week, but such is his passion he would love to spend even more time there recounting stories from Swindon’s past.

“If I’ve got an excuse to come down here, I will find it,” said Kevin. “It would be fantastic if I won this award and the icing on the cake would be an inch thick compared to the half inch for being nominated and shortlisted. I would be immensely proud as it would be an award not just for me, but for all the people who spent time in the Swindon Works who are no longer here - for all I am doing is keeping a part of their history alive.”

VisitWiltshire put Kevin’s name forward as a suitable candidate for this award after seeing him in action first hand when he delivered a superb talk and tour to a group of travel trade operators as part of a familiarisation visit, back in October 2014.

Florence Wallace, Travel Trade Manager for VisitWiltshire said, “Kevin offers visitors an outstanding quality experience, exemplifying everything that this award is all about, by communicating his railway experiences first-hand and his passion for Wiltshire’s industrial heritage.”

The Daily Mirror will host an online public vote from 31 January which shows a short film of all the nominees. Readers will be able to vote for their favourite via:

The winner will be announced on 14 March, the first day of English Tourism Week, and will be invited to attend VisitEngland’s Awards for Excellence held in May this year.

For further information please contact Hellen Barnes, Marketing and PR Officer, STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway on 01793 466602 or email

Editors’ Notes

VisitWiltshire was established in August 2011 and is the official Tourist Board for Wiltshire.

Quotes:

Ian Surtees, Income Generation Manager at STEAM said, “Kevin has always been a tremendous member of the team and his enthusiasm for the railway works and how they played an integral role in the future development of Swindon as a town is there for all to see. His passion and commitment is inspiring to everyone who has the pleasure to meet him and he is a credit to our Museum.”

Chairman of English Tourism Week David Curtis-Brignell said: “Tourism Superstar 2015 serves to highlight the passion and dedication that abounds in the tourism industry. This award recognises the people on the front-line who meet and greet visitors on a daily basis, and whose unfailing hard work and creativity ensures that visitors to England have an unforgettably wonderful experience.”

VisitEngland’s Shortlisted Superstars

  • Kevin Shurmer – Museum Sales and Interpretation Assistant at STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway in Swindon, Wiltshire
  • Andrew Archibald – Doorman at TheLowry Hotel in Manchester
  • Mark Brattle – Head Falconer at Leeds Castle in Kent
  • Sue Copp – Guest Service & Inclusion Manager at Sandcastle Waterpark, in Blackpool, Lancashire
  • Chris Green – Zoo Keeper at the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens in Burford, Oxfordshire
  • Matthew Henderson – Engagement & Participation Team Assistant at Beamish Museum in County Durham
  • Katie Neville – Period Interpreter at Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon
  • Gerry O’ Brien – Publican of The Churchill Arms in London
  • Clive Phillips – English Heritage Steward at Wellington Arch, London
  • Angela Tidmarsh – Tourism Officer at Wychavon District Council in Worcestershire

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