IntroductionGBRf employee wins Lifetime Achievement Award at the end of a 60-year career
ArticleRail freight UK
GB Railfreight are thrilled to announce that longstanding colleague Chris Hopcroft MBE was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award at last night’s (27 February) Rail Business Awards ceremony in London.
Managing Director John Smith collected the award on behalf of Chris.
Chris, who started working when he was 16 has spent the last 60 years on the railways, providing outstanding work and dedication to all his roles, most recently as a Train Manager for GBRf. Throughout his long career he has trained up colleagues and passed on vital technical knowledge of operations.
His passion for, and service to, the railways was recognised in 1994 with an MBE for services to the safety of young people. Throughout his career, Chris has worked tirelessly to ensure every job he’s ever had was done to the best of his ability. The commitment that he has demonstrated every day since first starting has shown him to be an exemplary figure and inspired colleagues across the industry.
Now 76, Chris only retired at the end of 2019. To thank him for his years of service, the GBRf team named a loco after him in a special ceremony attended by his family and close friends.
GBRf Managing Director John Smith who collected the award on Chris’s behalf said:
Managing Director John Smith collected the award on behalf of Chris.
Chris, who started working when he was 16 has spent the last 60 years on the railways, providing outstanding work and dedication to all his roles, most recently as a Train Manager for GBRf. Throughout his long career he has trained up colleagues and passed on vital technical knowledge of operations.
His passion for, and service to, the railways was recognised in 1994 with an MBE for services to the safety of young people. Throughout his career, Chris has worked tirelessly to ensure every job he’s ever had was done to the best of his ability. The commitment that he has demonstrated every day since first starting has shown him to be an exemplary figure and inspired colleagues across the industry.
Now 76, Chris only retired at the end of 2019. To thank him for his years of service, the GBRf team named a loco after him in a special ceremony attended by his family and close friends.
GBRf Managing Director John Smith who collected the award on Chris’s behalf said:
“We are absolutely delighted for Chris and his family that he won the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Rail Business Awards. Having started off at the bottom of the ladder and worked his way up, Chris has boundless experience, and knows the sector better than anyone. “Chris contributed to our industry over a huge period of time, and he has been the consummate professional throughout. He has a reputation in the industry for being a highly reliable and skilled colleague who makes time to pass on his expertise and support modernisation in all aspects of the railway. “We are incredibly proud of him and this is a fantastic way to end a 60-year career on the railways.”Chris Hopcroft said:
“I am over the moon for this award. Thank you to the Rail Business Awards and to GB Railfreight for putting my name forward. “The railways have been my life and I have loved every minute of the last 60 years. The last 10 years of my career working with GBRf have been the most rewarding of my career. I would like to thank everyone at GBRf for making my last few years on the railways so special.”
