CONSIDERING the traumatic nature of his most vivid childhood memories, it was rather surprising that Walter Taylor should have gone on to become a station master.

In 1975 Mr Taylor shared with the Malvern Gazette some of his memories of growing up in Edwardian Malvern, where he had been a pupil at Mill Lane School.

As befits a retired railwayman, he was fascinated from an early age by the trains running on the Great Western line through Malvern, which at that time had two additional stations, Malvern Wells and Malvern Wells (Midland).

But his early memories of the railway were hardly encouraging.

Once a week the boys in his class would travel by train from Great Malvern to Malvern Link for a woodwork class, and the older boys made a habit of opening the carriage door and leaping out before the train had stopped.

Mr Taylor remembered how he had envied them, so one day he tried the trick for himself. He rolled over and over along the platform where he was picked up by the angry station master.

His self-imposed punishment was a walk of two miles each way for weeks, because having given the station master a false name and address he was afraid to go near the station.

On a happier note, his favourite memory was taking a donkey ride to the summit of the Worcestershire Beacon. Later the donkeys were only allowed to go as far as St Ann's Well to avoid cruelty.

A favourite winter activity was coming down the hill, using the half mile long winding toboggan track above the Happy Valley.

The biggest difference in the Malvern street scene in those days was the almost total absence of motor cars.

Most of the well-off families kept horses or a carriage for transport and horse cabs stood for hire at the railway station and on ranks in the town. A horse and cart patrolled the streets to sweep up the horse droppings.

Mr Taylor remembered regularly seeing the Beauchamp family carriage, drawn by four grey horses, which was changed to four roans on alternate days.

In addition to the coachman there was two postillions on the front and two footman standing at the back of the carriage. His lordship, in top hat and morning coat, would be seated alongside the countess, who wore a huge hat trimmed with osprey or ostrich feathers, with their children sat facing them.

Mr Taylor was a choirboy at Christ Church, for which he was paid 12s a quarter. Absence from a service or choir practice incurred a fine of 3d.

At the age of 12 he joined a male handbell quartet with a group of young farmers and recalled riding along the country lanes in a trap or gig, with the carriage oil lamps burning, to fulfil an engagement in some nearby village hall.

Refreshments were always provided, which meant lemonade or mineral water for Mr Taylor, which he drank from a bottle with a small marble in the top to keep the contents air-tight and now popular collectors items.

Mr Taylor was station master at Droitwich, Worcester and Birmingham, Snow Hill.