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Dufftown Legion branch, Keith and Dufftown Railway, Sidings Café and Glenfiddich get on board to help after kind-hearted siblings make donation to treat town's over-60s


By Lorna Thompson

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SCORES of Dufftown's over-60s will enjoy a scenic trip on the "whisky train" thanks to the generosity of a local B&B-owning family.

When brother and sister Andrew (39) and Laura Wrigley (32) made a donation to Dufftown's Royal British Legion (RBL) to treat the town's over-60s, other local businesses jumped aboard to help.

The duo were moved to hand over £500 after seeing up close the impact of pandemic isolation on older people. They both took on care sector jobs when, just three weeks after they got their "Little Robin" B&B off the ground, it was forced to a halt by Covid-19 restrictions.

They said working in care had opened their eyes to the debilitating loneliness felt by many older people in recent times. They lost their own grandfather over the pandemic.

Andrew and Laura decided staff at the local Legion branch would be best placed to organise a social event to bring the local community together.

Claire Porter, Dufftown RBL secretary, said the Legion then approached volunteers at the Keith and Dufftown Railway, who agreed to run two trains at a discount.

The new owners and chefs at the local Sidings Café, Anya Hoffman and Darren Spence, offered up the Spirit of Dufftown rail carriage to serve up packed lunches and hot drinks for the day-trippers after the journeys.

Glenfiddich Distillery will provide whisky miniatures for the 60 train-goers.

Siblings Andrew and Laura Wrigley (front) with (back from left) Janice King of the Keith and Dufftown Railway, Dufftown Royal British Legion secretary Claire Porter, and Sidings Café owners Anya Hoffman and Darren Spence. Picture: Becky Saunderson.
Siblings Andrew and Laura Wrigley (front) with (back from left) Janice King of the Keith and Dufftown Railway, Dufftown Royal British Legion secretary Claire Porter, and Sidings Café owners Anya Hoffman and Darren Spence. Picture: Becky Saunderson.

Claire said: "We had a few ideas about maybe a tea party or something along those lines.

"We wanted to spend the money locally, and we thought that many of locals won't have been on the train, even though it's on the doorstep, thinking it's more for tourists.

"It's an absolutely fantastic gesture by Keith and Dufftown Railway. Thanks to the local businesses for being so helpful and kind, especially to Andrew and Laura."

Andrew and Laura moved from Manchester to Dufftown four years ago, along with their parents, to transform a derelict listed building on Fife Street into their bed and breakfast.

Andrew said: "During the Covid pandemic me and my sister both started jobs in the care sector, myself as a night carer in a care home in Cullen and my sister in the local community hospital.

"It was due to these experiences that we fully appreciated the impact the pandemic was having on elderly in particular, as it was very isolating and lonely for them not being able to see friends and family.

"We love living in Dufftown and the local community has been so friendly to us. We decided that once restrictions were eased we wanted to arrange a little something to thank the local community for welcoming us so warmly.

"Our grandfather passed away during lockdown and we know that he would have loved this event as he was a very sociable and active person.

"We hope everyone has a lovely time."

Janice King, business administrator for the railway, said: "When the board discussed it they said anything we can do for the Royal British Legion after what they've done for us is something to go for. We wanted to do something a bit special, so we thought rather than having just a normal charter we'd do two charters."

Anya, who will be baking cakes for the post-trip lunches, added: "To treat some of the older folk and spoil them a little bit for a day is the smallest thing that we can do."

The trains, which have a maximum capacity of 30 people per journey, are now fully booked. They will run on Tuesday, September 14, at 10.30am and 1.30pm.


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