Railway Chairman asks staff and volunteers to “smile occasionally” after complaints of many walking around “with a face like a wet weekend”

Great Western Society Chairman Richard Preston has urged his staff and volunteers at Didcot Railway Centre to smile.

He commented that while chatting to volunteers, he was asked why so many staff and volunteers walk around “with a face like a wet weekend”. The volunteers failed to understand why some people should look so miserable, when as a volunteer they obviously came to Didcot because they wanted to work for the society and as for the staff, why continue to be an employee if you weren’t happy?

In the email sent out to volunteers, Mr Preston commented “We all want to achieve the same thing, at least I hope we do, we may not agree on how we get there, but that should not stop us working together to form a consensus that we all accept and work towards achieving.” He continued with “I suppose what I’m asking is for everyone to enjoy working at DRC and to treat others, as they would like to be treated themselves, and if at all possible smile occasionally. Please don’t shout at someone, denigrate their work or generally be unpleasant.”

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