Historic Time Capsule Featured in Railway Exhibition

An exhibition, “Kemble Through The Ages,” which commenced on Tuesday at Kemble Station, is showcasing a time capsule interred at the railway station almost 90 years ago. This capsule, discovered a decade ago, is among various artefacts on display. In 1935, Cyril Feldwick, who served as the station master at the time, placed a postage stamp and a handwritten note inside a tobacco tin. His granddaughter, Bronwen Dale, currently possesses this capsule. Additionally, the exhibition pays homage to past village life, Kemble’s Women’s Institute, and local war heroes. A substantial assortment of railway memorabilia also constitutes a segment of the display, which was assembled by Great Western Railway colleagues Al Watkins and Sarah Bennet. Mr. Feldwick concealed the tin between a wall and a window that overlooked the station garden. Ms. Dale received the time capsule as an inheritance from her mother following her passing. “My mum actually remembered her dad writing the note and placing it in the tin,” she stated. She added, “When it was found 10 years ago it was handed to mum, and when she passed away, I took possession of it. “Donating it to this wonderful exhibition seemed the perfect thing to do.”” In the letter enclosed within the tin, Mr. Feldwick noted that he included a 1935 jubilee stamp because he “couldn’t afford to put a pound note in.” Ms. Dale further commented, “His whole working life was working on Great Western Railway.” She concluded, “It’s lovely, it really is nice that this tin and the letter can be on display and not just hidden away in an attic.” Mr. Watkins, who works as a customer sales advisor at Kemble, described the public’s reaction to the exhibition as “quite overwhelming.” He explained, “To get this together, [it took] probably eight, nine months total, and that’s from start to finish.” Mr. Watkins also mentioned, “I’ve had people approaching me, giving me new memorabilia, new stories, new pictures.” He anticipates, “It’s only going to grow and get bigger.” Readers can follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or submit story ideas via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.