I think most or all of us gathered here are at least broadly familiar with the story of Newton Hibbert and his remarkable 72 years of service for the Midland Railway.

Inside the Midland Railway Study Centre there are records, ledgers, memos and forms that, to a greater or lesser extent, represent the lives of countless thousands of Midland Railway employees.

Coming together for an act of remembrance at 11:00 in November is something usually done to honour military personnel. Today we do it for a railwayman. Rail workers rarely face death at the hands of enemy combatants, but it is no less an honourable occupation and often one which has its own dangers.

Whilst we are here to mark 100 years since Newton’s death, in doing so I hope we can also take a moment to think about and appreciate all rail staff, those of the Midland Railway and all others, wherever and whenever they served. It may be bordering on cliche to say that without the people there would be no railway, but that doesn’t make it any less true.

There may have been something special about Newton Hibbert as an individual which led to his exceptionally long career. He certainly lived and worked through times we can barely imagine now. However, I’m fairly sure he would have thought of himself as an ordinary man doing an ordinary job, doing his bit to put food on the table for his family.

That still makes him a hero in my eyes.

Let’s now take a few moments to reflect on Newton’s life, as well as those around him and those who followed him….