The following is an extract from the book Railways in the Blood written by
RHN Hardey - Reg's former Divisional Manager at British Rail.
Signalman Reg Holmes of Delamere had a white
beard and a crisp turn of phrase. His first well chosen
words to me had been, 'So you're Mr Hardy, our
Divisional Manager, well, allow me to congratulate
you on your mismanagement of the Division.' Words
said without passion, with precision, civility and with
sincerity, for Reg was a man of independent mind
and of intelligence who disagreed strongly with
national and therefore Divisional policy on railways
in general and on the Cheshire Lines in particular.
I would always rise to this sort of challenge, by no
means isolated, and, if possible, return it blow for
blow and I looked forward to our regular visits to
Delamere with the inspection saloon where we took
lunch in the siding which still existed at that time. On
one occasion, we were honoured with the presence of
John Betjeman and I took him across to the signal-
box while lunch was being prepared. As one would
expect, there was an immediate understanding
between the two men and, much to my amusement,
the future Poet Laureate was asked to pull off for the
train which had just entered the section from
Mouldsworth. John took two or three ineffectual
little tugs at the lever controlling the home signal, just
outside the door and turned round to roar with
laughter, 'Come on, Sir John, you'll have to do better
than that, I can't stop this train with my Divisional
Manager here after all I've said to him!' More tugs
and much to everybody's surprise, the home signal
came off and Reg Holmes finished the job amidst a
tumut of laughter.
