A railway worker from London is being celebrated by colleagues for having clocked up half-a-century’s service on the railway.
Shashi Vyas, now 74, first joined the industry at just 23 years old after moving to the UK from Uganda.
Marking his five decades of service this week, the Avanti West Coast employee said: “I love working on the railway – it’s an industry I’m proud to have carved out a career in. Every day is different, and my favourite thing is meeting new people.”
Meanwhile his colleagues paid tribute to him as a kind, humble man with an “infectious” smile.
Mr Vyas began his career in the admin office at British Rail’s Management Training Centre in Watford, the same year Apollo 17 landed on the moon, and Chuck Berry’s My Ding A Ling was number one in the UK charts.
He went on to spent time working at the telephone enquiry at Croxley Green Depot in 1974, and at Croxley Green station in the stores.
He moved to London’s Euston Station in 1993, and has worked there ever since, in the booking office and now in the station’s cash office where he works as a clerk.
To mark his five decades of service, Avanti West Coast team presented Mr Vyas with a photo album documenting moments from his time on the railway so far.
Colleagues at Euston gathered on the station’s concourse to celebrate the milestone, along with Mr Vyas’ family, to give him a round of applause while a congratulatory message was displayed on the information screen.
Mr Vyas said: “It’s the people that make the railway special and have given me the fondest memories of my career – we’re one big family and all look out for each other.
“My colleagues have kept me going over these 50 years and everyone I’ve worked with is happy, welcoming and takes pride in their job. This is something that will always stay with me and are values I’ll keep up, as I continue my service on the railway.”
Alyona Bennett, Avanti West Coast Station Manager at London Euston, said: “Shashi is the most humble, modest, and happy colleague I have ever worked with. The most kind and infectious smile are what comes to mind when I think of Shashi. He always meets you with a smile and gratitude no matter what obstacles he may be faced with and gets on with what needs to be done.
“Shashi is a true ambassador of the railway and achieving 50 years of service is an amazing milestone! On behalf of Avanti West Coast and the team at Euston I’d like to congratulate Shashi on his achievement and thank him for all he’s done. It is an absolute honour to work alongside him and we wish him many more happy years on the railway.”
