Popular station worker retires

A familiar face for hundreds of daily commuters on the Norwich to London railway line has retired after almost 30 years of working at the same station.

A familiar face for hundreds of daily commuters on the Norwich to London railway line has retired after almost 30 years of working at the same station.

When Ray Mullenger began his first day at Diss station in March 1982, the trains still ran on diesel and the car park was a field.

Things have moved on a little since then and so has Mr Mullenger, who waved goodbye to colleagues for the final time on Saturday.

He said the best part of the job had been getting to know the regular travellers, some of whom had become friends over the years and had given him gifts and cards over the weekend.

'I got to know many of the commuters. I got to know many so well that they invited me to their homes,' he said.

'I really enjoyed my career on the railway - it's been tremendous. I don't feel like I've said goodbye. I feel like I'm on holiday. It will take two or three weeks to sink in.'

Mr Mullenger, who has lived in Diss his entire life, left a job at a milling company to begin a career at the station.

He started out in a junior position in the booking office and worked his way up to station supervisor.

Over the decades, Mr Mullenger has seen changes including the electrification of the track in 1986, the disappearance of the signal box, construction of the bridge over Victoria Road and the car parks.

Colleagues celebrated his retirement by presenting him with gift vouchers on Saturday and then by joining him for a small party at the station on Monday.

Mr Mullenger said he will use his extra time to concentrate on his hobby of photography, as well as look after his garden and tour the country.