Conductor Stewart Ekstrom-Gabb, Shunter Team Leader Phil Jones, and Driver Lee Murphy. Phil set up the rugby team to “put something back into the community”.
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ASSIONATE rugby players have their very own team which has grown from the company’s Sports Teams Club initiative. Inspired by a desire to “put something back” into the community, Senior Shunter Phil Jones was backed by Sports Club champion Rob Phillips when he suggested putting together a team. He set up a tournament at Cardiff Arms Park two years ago so that railway people could compete annually for the Brunel Shield. Interest immediately mushroomed and this year’s tournament between Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail will double in size next year. The 2016 competition will also feature Northern Rail and British Transport Police. Matches organised by Philip
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rugby lads’passion have raised thousands of pounds for Clic Sargent children’s cancer charity and Ty Hafan children’s hospice. The Arriva Trains Wales rugby team has taken on the new name of Celtic Rail Barbarians. It includes colleagues from BTP and First Great Western but players still wear shirts with the ATW logo.“Creating the team was a great way of putting something really positive back into the community,” said Phil, who plays in the second row and
was nominated for a charity award at the recent RailStaff Awards.“Sponsors have come on board and interest is growing all the time.” ■ A new era of sports participation within the company has been kicked off with the launch of the Sports Teams Club. An appeal has gone out for more sports teams including those in North Wales to get in touch – organisers should email tina.rees@arrivatw.co.uk.
Mark scoops bowls title MACHYNLLETH Driver Mark Gaskell and a colleague from the fire service won a high-profile lawn bowls pairs tournament in Northern Ireland. Former retained fire fighter Mark took part in the competition at the Home Nations tournament as a member of the Fire Service team.
Dynamic duo take on Ironman challenge TWO committed employees tested themselves to the limit in the Ironman Wales challenge in Pembrokeshire. Operations Assurance Manager Neil Driscoll entered to raise money for pancreatic cancer charities following the death of his mother Pat to the disease. Neil, formerly a Driver and Safety Culture Improvement Champion, raised £1,500 and registered a time of 13 hours 47 minutes in the gruelling event which takes in a swim, a 112-mile cycle and a marathon.
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Also successfully completing the triathlon was Dave Perrett, Procurement Manager, who crossed the Ironman finishing line in his third year of trying. His two previous bids were halted by injury. This time round he sustained a pulled muscle during the run but still battled through. Dave’s time was 15 hours 22 minutes, boosted by a targeted training regime, and now he is planning to enter another Ironman in Holland next year.
Have you got news for us? IF you have a story for Aspect please contact Internal Communications Manager Katrina Tzannis by emailing katrina.tzannis @arrivatw.co.uk or call 02920 720687.