Sir Nigel Gresley Marries Ethel Fullagar at St Annes Parish Church

Sir (Herbert) Nigel Gresley (19th June 1876 – 5th April 1941) was one of Britain’s most famous steam locomotive engineers, who rose to become Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway. He was an apprentice at The Horwich ‘Loco’ works and later became a locomotive foreman in Blackpool. He met Ethel Frances Fullagar in Blackpool in 1899 and married her at St Annes Parish Church in October 1901. The plaque, funded by St Annes town council, commemorates the marriage. He was knighted in 1936.

Gresley was the designer of some of the most famous steam locomotives in Britain, including the LNER Class A1 and LNER Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific engines. It was his A1 pacific, Flying Scotsman, that was the first steam locomotive officially recorded over 100mph in passenger service, and an A4, number 4468 Mallard, still holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world (126mph). Gresley’s engines were considered elegant, both aesthetically and mechanically. He was born in Edinburgh and was raised in Netherseal, Derbyshire, a member of a family long seated at Gresley, Derbyshire. After attending school in Sussex and at Marlborough College, Gresley served his apprenticeship at the Crewe works of the London and North Western Railway, afterwards becoming a pupil under John Aspinall at Horwich of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. After several minor appointments with the L&YR, he was made Outdoor Assistant in the Carriage and Wagon Department in 1901. In 1902 he was appointed Assistant Works Manager at Newton Heath depot, and Works Manager the following year. For more on Gresley, visit this website.

The St Annes-on-the-Sea railway station serves the town of St Annes-on-the Sea, commonly known as St Annes, which is part of the conurbation of Lytham St Annes. It is located on the Blackpool South to Preston railway line 3+1⁄4 miles (5.2 km) south-southeast of Blackpool South. The first station to serve the area was opened in 1863 as Cross Slack. It was relocated to the present station which opened on 1 November 1873. It was renamed St Annes-on-the-Sea two years later. The station lost its Up Side platform in 1986 (although this is still visible), when the line from Kirkham was reduced to single track (the line west of here had previously been singled in May 1982) and most of the station was demolished. A new, smaller building was erected to house a ticket office, staffed on a part-time basis, which was officially opened in September 1986 by the Area Passenger Manager. The station is currently served by the Northern trains between Blackpool South and Preston. Sunday services provide the only direct route to Colne.

The station has a ticket office which is staffed from the morning peak until early afternoon six days per week. At other times, tickets can be purchased from a vending machine on the platform side of the ticket office (which can also be used to collect pre-paid tickets). Train running information is available via digital display screens, telephone and timetable posters whilst there is a waiting shelter and bench seating on the platform. Step-free access is available from the adjacent street. Services are from Monday to Saturday. There is generally an hourly service westbound to Blackpool South and eastbound to Preston (and beyond to Blackburn and Colne on Sunday only). The one daily service from St Annes to Manchester Piccadilly was withdrawn at the end of the 2007–08 timetable.