A steam locomotive has been lovingly restored in memory of a young boy who died of a rare, four-in-a-million condition.
The Lord Oliver Brown made its first journey in 17 years on what would have been namesake Oliver Brown’s 17th birthday.
He died at the age of 11 from Myelodysplastic Syndrome, which affects only four-in-a-million children worldwide.
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The 1959 engine was painted in Oliver’s favourite colour – pink – and green to represent the children’s hospice where he was looked after before he died.
Oliver passed away in November 2019 at the Children’s Hospice South West, CHSW, in St Austell, Cornwall.
He’d had treatment for the rare form of blood cancer for three years.
A team of train enthusiasts and friends of Oliver’s parents Mike and Nicky spent the last five years painstakingly restoring the obsolete engine at Plym Valley Railway, near Plymouth, Devon, in memory of Oliver.
It made its first journey from there earlier in March.
“This train can only make you smile,” Mike, from Plymstock, Plymouth, told Need To Know.
“It’s brought so many people together, made new friendships and memories, which is amazing as it’s just what Oliver did through his life – made friends and created memories for others.”
Nicky added: “I am incredibly proud that our beautiful son has inspired this wonderful locomotive and will continue to spread smiles and happiness, whilst also supporting Children’s Hospice South West who have done so much for Oliver and us as a family since 2017.
“Just looking at the train epitomises Oliver it’s so bright and colourful and it just makes you smile.
“That’s what Oliver did every day of his life.”
Annabel Roberts of CHSW said the train was a fantastic way to raise awareness of the work the charity does.
She said: “The amount of effort that has gone into this train is absolutely astonishing.
“It’s such a beautiful spectacle, such a beautiful thing and I think it will appeal to loads of people who will be entranced by this locomotive.
“It’s unique.
“We’re so fortunate to have Oliver’s family as fantastic champions for our charity and the services we provide.”
The locomotive took around 600 passengers aboard throughout the day and around £5,000 was raised for CHSW on the first of many journeys in its new life.
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