I'm a 75-year-old train driver and have just been honoured for spending 50 years with the same company

Mike Hughes, who is known by everyone at work as ‘Sparky’ started working in the industry for British Rail at Bolton station in October 1974. Mike, 75, has gone on to dedicate two thirds of his life to the company. 

On the anniversary of his fifth decade working in the rail industry (Thursday October 10) he was invited to attend the opening of a new garden at the depot – only to find it was called ‘Sparky’s Peace and Development Garden’ in tribute to his long service.

Commenting on the surprise, Mike said: "I would like to thank my friends and colleagues at Newton Heath. It was completely unexpected and a huge surprise. To have a garden named after me is something I shall always remember and the commemorative plaque will be on my mantlepiece to remind me of my life on the railway."

Five years after starting at Bolton station, in 1979, Mike moved to Manchester Victoria as a ‘shunter’ moving trains about the station before joining the team at Cheetham Hill in the same role for the next nine years. In 1989, he moved to Red Bank Sidings, first as a driver and then as the ‘chargeman’ overseeing all train movements on the site. In 2003 Mike moved to Newton Heath to be a driver. It is this role that he has held since, for over 20 years and counting. 

Neville Dyson, TrainCare Centre manager at Newton Heath, said: “Mike is something of a legend on the depot. He’s been working on the railway since before most of his colleagues were born. When we were putting the finishing touches to the new garden, we couldn’t think of a better person to dedicate the space to.”