Tony (Touch) Parkes

This shot, taken on the 1st January 1967, shows Tony Parkes, the signalman at East Grinstead 'A' (or West) Signal Box standing ready to receive the single line token that had authorised our train to run from Rowfant to East Grinstead. This was the last day of operation. The site of the signal box is now under the station Car Park.

Tony's hobby was wood-working, it was not unusual to visit him on a late turn (or at a weekend when the Station Master was off-duty) and find him building a Dolls House or a Rocking Horse.

After the line closed he got a transfer to Redhill 'A' Signal Box, but the continuing pulling of levers was to play havoc with the tendons in his right hand; his gave rise to extended periods of absence as he received treatment. This resulted in the team at the much larger Redhill 'B' signal box from giving him the nick-name of 'Touch'. In the end the Railway Doctor determined him permanently unfit for signalling duties and he was accommodated as a Ticket Collector at Gatwick Airport. Although it took him awhile to settle he liked the job; he was always a people person and became a great ambassador for the railway. It also took him off round-the-clock shift work and limited him to a basic two-shift (early & late turn) pattern. This enabled him to indulge in another love - gardening.

He lived in No 5 Railway Cottages in Brooklands Way - now flattened to create Sainsbury's Car Park. His garden was the talk of all who passed. In later life he and his wife settled in Bramble Twitten and again his love for gardening shown through. It was always a joy to walk past and if he was out in his garden engage him to talk of "the good 'ole days"