The Stationmaster's Daughter

Shirley Stanford (neé Ratcliffe) lived in Otterham station whilst her father was the stationmaster from 1953 until 1959. As well as providing some information and photographs for this site she was writing a book about life as a Stationmaster's daughter under the name Shirley Ford, but unfortunately passed away in 2017 before she could finish it. Her brother and sons have generously offered the section about Otterham for publication here.

THE STATIONMASTER'S DAUGHTER

by Shirley Ford

This section from John Betjeman's book, First and Last Loves published in 1952, shows his love of Cornwall and especially Padstow.

'Green Southern Railway engines came right into the brown and cream Great Western district of Cornwall, to reach Padstow, Launceston, Egloskerry, Tresmeer, Otterham, Camelford - and so on, down that winding single line. I know the stations by heart, the slate and granite-built waiting rooms, the oil lamps and veronica bushes, the great Delabole Slate Quarry, the little high-hedged fields, and I know where the smallholdings grow fewer, and the fields larger and browner, so that I can see the distant outline of Brown Willy and Rough Tor on Bodmin Moor. Then the train goes fast downhill through high cuttings and a wooded valley. We round a bend and there is the flat marsh of the Camel, there are the little rows of blackish-green cottages along the river at Egloshayle and we are at Wadebridge, next stop Padstow.'

History of Otterham Station

Otterham station became part of the "withered arm" route running from Halwill Junction to Padstow. Its main claim to fame was getting a mention in First and Last Loves written by Sir John Betjeman, who passed through the station many times as a child on journeys from Waterloo to Wadebridge.

It became a strategic station during World War II because of its nearness to Davidstow Airfield. Around 1941, cement for the airfield was transported by rail to the station, then offloaded onto lorries, and carried the few miles up to Davidstow Moor. The station was also well used for transporting RAF personnel and equipment.

Davidstow airfield closed in 1945 and became a motor racing circuit known as the Davidstow Circuit. In the early 1950's three non-championship Formula I races were held there. In 1953, of course, I knew nothing of this, although I have vague memories of walking up the long hill and listening to rather than watching the racing cars. I have better memories of watching parachutists practice their leaps out of low flying aircraft. That was always exciting.

With the loss of the airfield business, Otterham returned to a quiet rural life, though many goods were still distributed from it, mainly to do with farming and agriculture. There was one cattle pen, into which cattle crowded before being loaded on to trucks. Rabbits were sent from here and also carrier pigeons.

An extract taken from Wikipedia

Otterham station (50.6748°N 4.6130°W) was situated in sparsely populated country at the junction of the A39 and the B3262. At 850 ft (260 m) above sea level, it occupied the most exposed section of the line, open to the fury of Atlantic gales in winter and subject to sea mists in summer. A footpath linked the station with the village, which was more than a mile away: by road, the distance was 2 miles (3.2 km). Otterham Station was also the name of a hamlet that grew up near the station. The Tresmeer to Camelford line opened in 1893 and took another six years to reach Padstow. The down platform was provided with a waiting shelter while the station building and signal box were on the up platform; all three were built of local stone. A single siding on the up side provided access to a loading dock, but there was no goods shed. A second siding parallel to the first was added later. In 1928 Otterham returned the lowest ticket sales on the line. Following the withdrawal of goods facilities on the line on 7 September 1964, the passing loop, sidings, and signal box were officially taken out of use on 7 February 1965, and the trackwork was removed that October. The station was unmanned from 6 December 1965 and closed on 3 October 1966. For many years after closure, the station operated as a caravan site. More recently, a new road of houses has occupied the trackbed at the eastern end of the old platforms.

Here is the man himself! - Mr Charles James Ratcliffe - Stationmaster of Otterham Station 1953 - 1959.
Photograph © Shirley Stanford, neé Ratcliffe.

This is a photo of Neil and me at Christmas 1952, just before we moved to Cornwall. Copies given with Christmas cards to our relatives, perhaps to remind them of what we looked like in case they forgot with us moving so far away!
Photograph © Shirley Stanford, neé Ratcliffe.

The Stationmaster's Daughter

I was the Stationmaster's daughter.
A privileged place to be.
Childhood was a special time.
With adventures galore for me.

The platform was my playground.
The signal box my den.
The station always quiet.
Trains only now and then.

As stationmaster's daughter,
Nothing was out of bounds.
So I was always popular,
With playmates calling round.

Riding on the engines.
Moving trucks around.
Unloading in the grain store.
Hiding places found.

Long days in the sunshine.
Never without a friend.
I was the Stationmaster's daughter,
Hoping it would never end.