Shrivenham Station & Ashbury Crossing Signal Box

Sidney Thomas Phillips, who lived at Sandy Lane in Shrivenham, was a signal man at Ashbury Crossing from 1930's to when he retired in 1964. He is the donor's (Julia Jones) grandfather and father of Sheila Turner formerly Phillips and Dorothy Miles formerly Phillips. Eve Weston (Julia's auntie)  was his daughter in law. 

During the Second World War, Sidney worked 12 hours a day and he oversaw the ambulance trains that came into the sidings. (See N931 for details on the Ambulance Trains).

In 1936 during the train crash at Bourton Bridge, Sidney was not on duty but he was called out from home and put into the signal box to relieve the signalman on duty who had not noticed the lack of a tail lamp on the up goods train. (See N576 for details of the crash).

An article from "Outlook" magazine November 2006 giving a history of Shrivenham Station. Also a copy of a print of the station circa 1865 showing a fine looking locomotive standing by the platform.