We initially got involved with the station restoration as volunteers for Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust (DHBT). As the restoration project was nearing completion we developed a proposal to lease the station site and develop as a small heritage centre, tea room and community amenity run by volunteers. During 2024 we negotiated a 5 year lease with DHBT and also began to recruit volunteers. Following signing of the lease in September 2024, the station was immediately opened to the public initially 3 days per week and then 5 days per week in 2025. Josie is responsible for organising and managing the tea rooms including g training new volunteers. John is one of the Wingfield Station 1947 charity Trustees and responsible for all site development projects.

I enjoy volunteering at our beautifully restored station. I was already quite involved in various research projects prior to its opening & feel a close association with this historic building. Offering support will hopefully mean it can achieve its goal of becoming a village hub welcoming visitors from near & far.

I am a volunteer for the DHBT and was delighted to be introduced to the Wingfield guided group a few months before the station opened in 2023. It’s great to be around such a beautiful building and to learn about railway history and  architecture. I’m certainly no expert but it’s fun to help out, show people around and share some of the key points.

My name is Liz, and I volunteer at Wingfield Station 1947, partly as a tour guide and increasingly as a bit of lots of other things! It ticks lots of boxes for me as I love history, and I like learning about local things. I got involved before Wingfield’s restoration, inspired by the idea of saving a local and historical building. Now, I love to support it as a local resource and admire the hard work put in by everyone involved in its restoration.

We are Paul & Catherine, and we moved to South Wingfield approximately 7 years ago from Kent. It was the best decision we have ever made.  

We have thrown ourselves into village life and love it.  Our house overlooks the station and we would walk through where we saw first-hand how sad it all looked,  delipated and covered in brambles.

We are delighted to see what has been achieved with the restoration and we feel privileged to now be part of the  volunteer team and help to keep this historical site alive.

My name is Tracy and I’m a trustee of Wingfield Station. I volunteer in several ways, including helping in the tearoom and shopping and supporting guided tours, events, and functions. I also enjoy painting original watercolours of the station and other local areas of interest, bookmarks and greeting cards, etc., to help raise money to support the station's upkeep and keep it open to the public. I also work part-time for the NHS, specialising in mental healthcare. I am a long-time resident of South Wingfield, and I am passionate about the local history of the village and its rich industrial heritage.

I’m now retired but was a railwayman for the London Underground for over 20 years, and later a professional railway model maker for another 20 years. I’ve always been interested in railways and have travelled across the world in pursuit of them. This picture was taken on a French train whilst wearing an American railroad t-shirt. In my spare time, I’ve been a museum trustee, researcher, author and illustrator of steam locomotives and other rail vehicles. My main involvement at Wingfield Station is as a tour guide, but I also assist with the research and artwork creation.

I’m passionate about local history and was involved in the campaign to save Wingfield Station. Living in the village and witnessing at first hand the miracle of this conservation project has been a privilege.  As a volunteer, I have had the opportunity to research station's history and discover the transformative impact the Station had on this small rural community. Now, as a tour guide, I enjoy being part of a team of like-minded, enthusiastic people with a shared interest in social and railway history. It’s really satisfying to share our findings and stories of the station with visitors.  Spending time in beautiful and historic surroundings, with great people, onl20-minutenutes walk from my house, is a marvellous indulgence which I thoroughly enjoy. 

I've lived in the village for over 40 years, and my 3 children all went to the Primary School, so I'm nearly a local! Now the family have flown the nest, and I'm retired, so I fill my time doing things I enjoy, one of which is helping at the café. It's great to see the station restored and back in use, serving the community differently. And it's an opportunity to connect with people I don't often see, even though we live in the same area.

My name is Lorraine. I’m a local lass! I have recently semi-retired. I love volunteering for the community and meeting all the friendly people who come into the cafe.

15-year-old Max is our youngest volunteer. He started helping in the station tearoom on washing duties, but has recently switched to helping create and maintain the station woodland walk. He usually volunteers every Saturday and sometimes on a Sunday.

They call themselves the Wingfield Warriors! A fantastic bunch originating from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. They frequent the station every Tuesday and have undertaken footpath clearance/creation/tree felling/fencing, in order to create a woodland walk for the community to enjoy.