Daniel Richards interviewed by Polly McGillivray

Interview with Daniel Richards recorded by Polly McGillivray on 15th October 2025 at the Worthing Station Training Centre. Duration: 48min 59secs. Introduction; childhood in Cornwall, school, leaving before A-levels, first job, customer service, work at Marks and Spencer’s (M&S); being a young gay man in Cornwall, gay club in Penzance in someone’s home; feeling the need to leave Cornwall, move to work to M&S foodhall in London; [00:05:50] move to North London, family support in London, finding own accommodation, flat share; 1996, social life at 18 yo, going out with housemates, clubbing, G-A-Y gay night club at the London Astoria; the Millenium, 2000, feeling need to return home in Cornwall, resigning from M&S in London, support from former manager, offered job at M&S in Cornwall; 6 month in Cornwall, feeling need to move, how Cornwall had changed whilst he lived in London, gay night club, gay people, LGBTQIA+ community, labour club, Cornish Mafia bouncers, feeling safe; meeting first boyfriend; gay clubs feeling safer than straight clubs, comparing music played at either; [00:12:25] feeling safe but bored in Cornwall, childhood, school, being gay and coming out to friends, coming out to his mother, family; how he felt about Cornwall lifestyle, liking busy city life; [00:15:50] where his confidence comes from, previous work experiences airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, breakup and relationship with ex-partner, helped with interview for new job; 2000-2008 airline steward/cabin crew roles and progression at Virgin Atlantic; why he left airline job, being away from home a lot; homophobia; [00:20:10] how he became a train driver, considering pay, wanting a role with less social interactions than previous roles, no opportunities on Virgin Trains; trainee train driver, Southern Railway, Brighton; assessment process, physics exam, being given feedback; [00:25:50] living in Brighton since 2004, comparing with when he lived near aviation site; accommodation in Brighton, sense of belonging in Brighton, train driver job limiting ability to move, plans to move to Cornwall when retired, limited train driver job opportunities in Cornwall; [00:29:00] 18-years career on the railway; comparing railways and airlines work culture and ethics, more disciplined on railways; training as a driver, his driving instructor, how he felt as a gay person, being okay with banter when reciprocal, colleagues at Brighton depot; microaggression, how he felt when an unfamiliar colleague made an abusive comment in front of a new trainee when he was a driving instructor; [00:35:10] Brighton depot, being openly gay at work, LGBTQIA+ community there, how banter has changed, reflecting on his own words/use of language, worrying of offending, struggling with some changes in contemporary culture and discussing it with his daughter; his two children, relationship with his children and extended family, his children’s jobs not on the railways; [00:39:35] how he feels about working on the railways, what he loves about it, how it fits his lifestyle, working shifts, missing work when being on leave, advocating for railways, convincing friends to work on the railways, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) culture and depot; driver for 6 years, driving instructor (DI) for 10 years; profile of trainee drivers, not only people in early career; what he loves about being a DI, meeting new people, seeing trainees’ progression, training over 5 months, missing his partner; friendship with former trainees [00:44:05] challenging some trainees on how they used the word ‘gay’, making them aware it can be offensive; reflecting on his railway career, being openly gay, feeling privileged, hoping to be seen as someone others can confide in, being confident, where his confidence comes from, relationship with family; LGBTQIA+ community, importance to recognize what previous generations did, still facing challenges [00:49:00] [end of interview]

This interview was made as part of People Pride and Progress (PPP) project. The project was initiated in 2023 to record the stories and memories of the LGBTQIA+ community in a new oral history archive over two years. It aimed to connect past, present and future through intergenerational interviews, offering opportunities for colleagues across all parts of the rail industry to connect, reflect on and learn from each other’s lived experiences while creating an archive of oral history interviews.