Worthing

Interview with Simon Shepherd recorded by Polly McGillivray on 15th October 2024 at the Worthing Training Centre Depot, Worthing. Duration: 35min 17secs. Introduction, current job; born in South London, childhood, mixed ethnic background family, many siblings, Jamaican father, British mother; 1970s, experiences of homophobia and racism as a child in London, colour bar and segregation; examples of racist abuse, racism within black community, being protected by mother; [00:04:00] powerful Black activists figures; how not identifying to gay icons and stereotypes delayed coming out as gay in his 20s; commenting on LGBTQIA+ representation in the media; confronting homophobia in his family; [00:07:50] getting married, choosing marriage over civil partnership, what getting married meant for him; first Pride in Clapham Common, red balloons for people who died of AIDS; importance of LGBTQ+ rights activism; [00:09:45] first job, joining the railways, Railway Trainee Scheme (RTS) at 16 yo, different roles for 2 years, Network SouthEast; left railway and came back in 1990, fitter at Wimbeldon Park Depot, dirty work, colleagues’ behaviour and comments in communal showers, presenting as butch (very masculine) whilst questioning his own sexuality; how he identifies, how he feels in relation to LGBTQ+ community; communal showers at railway depots; shunter role at London Bridge, shunting activities; working up the grades, listing roles and grades, station control point, station announcer, duty station manager, filling up secondment/interim position but not being given permanent promotion; leaving station management roles to become a driver; [00:15:18] 1999, train driver; pay as a driver; homophobia, how other drivers acted towards him as a gay man, abuses, offensive graffiti in his cab, a friend being bullied, manager being clueless how to help; first Pride train 2004-2005, homophobic reactions and comments from colleagues, change to relationships with people finding out he is gay, coming out on Pride train 2004-2005; hiding being gay, Charing Cross’s ‘pink brigade’ secret meetings in LGBTQ+ bars, abuse when LGBTQ+ people came out or were outed, some supportive reaction when he came out; [00:19:25] secret safe LGBTQ+ spaces, the ‘pink brigade’ secret LGBTQ+ community, word-of-mouth on third carriage of a train being safe, secret clubs in Cornwall and Blackpool, getting together, sense of community, importance of knowing of like-minded people; how and when he realised he was gay, being confused about his sexuality; [00:23:30] first Pride train 2004, class 319, Brighton-Clapham Junction, positive reception, press coverage, LGBTQ+ crew on-board, Pride train then, journey experience on Pride train, balloons and champagne; [00:25:40] career progression from being a driver, not getting promotions because of being gay; first managing role in 2011, Driver Manager; 2012 changes to Driver Manager and Competency Development Manager (CDM) roles and drivers recruitment, diversity, open to change, resistance to change in some areas; CDM role; [00:28:45] reflecting on how LGBTQIA+ community perception and experience has changed during his career, comparing with Black Lives Matters, displays of tolerance but homophobia and racism still present, people behaviours, examples; his personal views on how social media impact on LGBTQ+ people representation, lack of diversity in gay or LGBTQ+ representations in popular form of entertainment/sports; [00:31:20] being considered a role-model by others, being the first openly gay CDM, unfairness of having to fight to get promotions, having to disclose being sexuality or gender identity; personal views on railway industry and LGBTQIA+ community inclusion, on People Pride and Progress oral history project; having knowledge of bullying and abuses suffered by LGBTQ+ people within the railway industry; final message to people listening interview, importance of being true to oneself, being ‘Born this way’ [end]

Simon Shepherd interviewed by Polly McGillivray

2024-10-15

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]

Daniel Richards interviewed by Polly McGillivray

2024-10-15

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Model of the 'Sovereign of the Seas'

Valve amplifier, by Shirley Laboratories Ltd, 1954-1960

Photograph: It's the "Serpent"

Eurotherm Temperature Controller with Quadrant Scale

Operating console for electrographic astronomical camera by Wallis of Worthing

Electrographic camera of aperture 4 cm by Wallis of Worthing

Eurotherm Temperature Controller with Edgewise Scale

Simon Shepherd interviewed by Polly McGillivray

Daniel Richards interviewed by Polly McGillivray

Electrographic camera

Location unknown, possibly Worthing

Cheapest and Quickest

Worthing Season 1896 Guide to attractions

travelling on the southern railway

3 packets of "Persifoot" crystals, by J.W. Ross, Worthing