A conductor from Worcester has revealed his family’s century-long association with the railway industry.
In his 50 years on the railway, Alan Holtom has experienced the evolution of British Rail to Central Trains to London Midland and now West Midlands Railway.
Alan looked back on his career on the latest episode of West Midlands Railway’s ‘On the Rails’ podcast – part of a campaign to mark the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.
Alan has seen regional railway transform over his career
Thomas Allen, Alan’s grandfather, started working for the railway industry in 1916, where he worked as station master at Martin Loade. He went on to work as a signalman at Highley signal box before transferring to Chipping Campden on the Cotswold line.
He was later drafted to serve in the first World War. After the war, Thomas was able to return to his role once again as the railway was one of a few industries with a policy set out to restore worker’s positions. Having served for over 45 years, he retired in the 1960s.
Alan’s mother, Marion, took up a job working at Chipping Campden booking office, where she worked from 1940 to 1955, following in her fathers footsteps. That is where Alan’s parents met, as his father Geoffrey Holtom worked as a relief clerk in the Worcester area from 1936 to 1983 with a gap due to his military service to help with the war effort between 1940 and 1945.
Alan’s daughter has kept the tradition in the family.
Alan’s daughter Charlotte Holtom joined the industry in 2018 and is now working as a senior conductor based in Worcester.
Alan said: “When my dad told me to get a job at Worcester Shrub Hill, it was as simple as speaking to the Area Manager and asking for a role. I was lucky as well as my mother knew the HR officer at the time.
“The railway has been a major part of my family’s life, going back over 100 years, so I didn’t question whether I wanted to join too – it was already part of me. Now my daughter is a senior conductor at Worcester, and I couldn’t be prouder. She worked hard to get the job, and now she’s thinking about becoming a driver.”
