27th January 2026
On Tuesday 27th January, we gathered at Sheerness station for the start of a very special event. Pioneered by local resident Melissa George and supported by Southeastern and Kent Community Rail Partnership, we had the very first Forget Me Not Train experience along the Swale Rail Line.
The event was for individuals with Dementia and their families, friends and carers. A total of 20 participants joined us at Sheerness at 11.30am late morning.
This was incredible particularly with Storm Chandra wreaking havoc and flooding in the Southwest of the country that day. On the Isle of Sheppey, we were lucky enough for the weather to be less extreme, for the trains to be running punctually and to our delight with the heating on high, for us to be welcomed by a very cosy carriage when we hopped on board.
Participants had signed up to the event with Melissa George via word of mouth, coming through different contacts and from different places on the island. However it was wonderful to discover some surprise interconnections, with new friendships and conversations sparking up alongside.
In the carriage, everyone was excited to be on the train together, participants received a lovely goodie bag with a Kent Community Rail tote bag, an Explore Kent map of the local area, a pen and some dementia support resources. There was also a beautiful crocheted Forget Me Not keyring kindly made and donated to the event by the “Let’s Get Crafting” Knitting group in Sheerness.
As the group began to settle, Claire Holmes, a talented singer and guitar player, took to the stage, or more accurately the aisle of the train, to deliver a wonderful sing-along set of classic songs, from Vera Lynn to the Monkeys. We all enjoyed singing and watching the green and lush scenery of the Isle of Sheppey and Swale estuary whizz by.
When we reached Sittingbourne, some participants who had brought a picnic, enjoyed their lunch, as the train waiting the 15 minutes before starting its return journey.
A big thank you goes to Southeastern for their support and behind the scenes co-ordination of this event. It was delivered as a collaboration between Melissa George and with Kent Community Rail Partnership’s Project Officer Vicky Wright, with assistance from Diane Weaver.
Feedback and Thoughts
(To note all participant names have been made anonymous)
“The music was wonderful and lovely to hear everyone sing!”
“It was lovely to have singing onboard, seeing the scenery and chatting about other times spent on trains”
“Thank you for the other day. It was really lovely, we all enjoyed.” – a local care home.
“Oh look at **** so nice seeing him enjoy himself and laughing!”
“Thank you for today, *** really enjoyed herself.”
“We had a really lovely time singing along with Claire we can’t wait for the next adventure!”
This event was inspired by the original Forget Me Not trains arranged up in the Esk Valley.
You can find out more on the project here:
Forget-Me-Not Trains – Esk Valley Railway
