The RailStaff Awards 2024

Nominations for Award for Charity

Christian Irwin

Said the following about Paul McQuillan Fundraising Group:

“When a respected a valued member of the Infrastructure Project Signalling Southern team died, a few of his colleagues decided to work together to raise money for charities in his memory and formed the Paul McQuillan Fundraising Group.

The group has supported a number of charities which are important to the team and colleagues.

Paul McQuillan was a popular member of our team, a Signalling Project Engineer based in Swindon, who sadly passed away suddenly in November 2017 after playing Rugby. In his memory his colleagues started fundraising for a defibrillator for a local Rugby Club, by holding events such as bake sales, quiz nights, tuck shop, etc.

The group raised £2248 between March and December last year, which was enough to buy two portable Defibrillators. The team presented one of the defibrillators to Colerne Rugby Club in Wiltshire where Paul played in his youth. Members of Paul’s family were present to share memories of Paul over tea and cake. Paul’s family were over the moon to know Paul has not been forgotten and that the new defibrillators may well save a life in the future.

The second was donated to The Olive Tree Café, Cheney Manor, Swindon. The cafe is a registered charity which aims to help and support people recovering from mental illness or at risk from suffering from mental illness.

The group made up of Jane Hinton, Arlene Willett, Mark Bateman and Lesley Soane have been continuing the fundraising efforts to make a difference.

Between January and June this year they raised £1536 for Railway Children; a charity that provides protection and opportunity for children with nowhere else to go and nobody to turn to.

Recently the Pail McQuillan fundraising team begun raising money for Lissencephaly Awareness. This rare disease was brought to the groups attention when another colleagues baby was diagnosed with the brain disorder shortly after birth. The team are striving to raise awareness of this condition and has raised in excess £500 for this cause so far.

Christian Irwin Project Director quotes; ‘The Paul McQuillan fundraising team are a fantastic credit to my division; and I am so proud of what they have achieved in the memory of Paul. The events and activities they arrange keep the team engaged and motivated and have really brought a family togetherness to our team’.“