Albert Godfrey died on Sunday, August 30, aged 88.

Eastern Daily Press: Feature on Oulton Broad South station and that was saved despite the Beeching report.Albert Godfrey in on e of the signal boxes.Feature on Oulton Broad South station and that was saved despite the Beeching report.Albert Godfrey in on e of the signal boxes. (Image: © Archant 2012)

Mr Godfrey worked for British Rail for 30 years, starting his career as a porter at Oulton Broad South Station. He also worked as a signalman on the East Suffolk line and then a revenue protection officer before he retired in 1989.

He lived at the former station house at the Oulton Broad South site.

In 1965, Mr Godfrey was a founding member of the East Suffolk Travellers' Association (ESTA), which was formed when the Lowestoft to Ipswich line was threatened with the axe.

He was elected chairman in 1976, served for 20 years and soon after standing down in the late 1990s he was given the honorary title of president. Mr Godfrey was also the Lowestoft branch secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen.

Trevor Garrod, chairman of ESTA, said: 'He worked as a railwayman for most of his adult life and his knowledge of the industry was deep and extensive. His commitment to public service and to campaigning to maintain and improve it was also profound.'

Mr Godfrey, who served in the Royal Navy in the Second World War, was also a magistrate and served on the bench for 25 years from 1970 onwards.

He was on the board of visitors at Blundeston Prison and chairman of the Oulton Broad and District branch of the Royal British Legion for 10 years.

He was also a custodian of the church centre at St Mark's Church.

He married his wife Nancy in September 1948 and the couple had two sons, David and Paul, and four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

David said: 'My father was immensely proud of his working class background and was respected by all with whom he came into contact.'

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