Michael Portillo at Dunrobin

 

 

On 3rd September 2012 Michael Portillo, presenter of Great British Railway Journeys on BBC TV, came to film at Dunrobin station for the fourth series of the programme. It was shown in January 2013.

Michael and the crew were on the last stage of a journey from Stirling to Thurso/Wick which was shown on television over the course of a week. It is expected that the series will later be issued as a DVD.

At the station Michael Portillo received a platform ticket for the station, issued under the authority of the Sutherland Estate, as Dunrobin continues to be a privately owned station, and then in an interview found out about the history of the station and the story of the third Duke of Sutherland building his own railway over 14 and a half miles from Golspie to Helmsdale.
 

 

The highlight of Michael’s visit, at least for the station, was when he officially declared open the newly restored cloakroom at the station. Surrounded by an admiring audience of about a dozen fans he received a pair of scissors, cut the pink ribbon at the cloakroom entrance and saw the plaque on the wall which has been fixed to the wall to commemorate the occasion.
 


 

Following the ceremonial opening Michael went on to christen the facilities - and so did most those present!
 

So once again the station has a loo and sink. The old one had fallen into complete disrepair, probably since at least the end of World War Two. The new cloakroom has been restored in an Edwardian style to fit in with the rest of the building. 
 

The Northern Times carried a report of the opening and, prior to that, the news that Mr Portillo would be opening the loo during the filming of the programmes. You can see the paper cuttings below.
 

Michael Portillo's visit to Dunrobin station was on "Great British Railway Journeys" in January 2013 on BBC TV.
 

Photographs of Michael Portillo's Visit

Michael Portillo arrives at Dunrobin with the "Great British Railway Journeys" crew.

 

Michael Portillo at Dunrobin.

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Daniel Brittain-Catlin (the present lease holder) with Michael Portillo.

 

Michael chats to Daniel.

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The scissors are checked for sharpness!

 

Michael is shown his task...

 

...and presented with the necessary equipment!

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A short speech to commemorate the opening.

 

Michael inspects the facilities!

The two newspaper cuttings from the Northern Times reporting on (below) the forth-coming visit and (right) the opening of the loo.

Clicking on either of these small images will take you to a larger, readable image.

 

 

View the videos of the event HERE

 

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