A FORMER headteacher who has been at the helm of the Friends of the Settle to Carlisle Railway Line for six years has retired.

Philip Johnston - pictured on the right - is a regular user of trains and was able to use his knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of rail travel at the numerous meetings he attended as chairman of the Friends.

He spent his working career in education with his last post as headteacher at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Blackburn until his retirement in 1994.

His role of user group chairman in the formative years of privatisation enabled him to lobby for the line, constructed in 1876.

Last year's annual general meeting of the Friends' group saw nine people vying for five committee places. Among them was Mr Johnston's position as chairman which he successfully contested.

Mr Johnston, who has lived in Long Preston for 32 years, said: "I am delighted to have had the experience of being chairman and am very much looking forward to the increased usage of the line.

"I hope that the support I have been given will be given to my successor.

A new chairman will be selected at the annual general meeting in April. In the meantime vice president Pete Shaw - pictured on the left - will become acting chairman.

He said having Mr Johnston as chairman had been of great benefit to the group. "We have been fortunate to have somebody of his calibre. His dedication and enthusiasm has been immense and we are pleased to be able to say thank you," he added.

Mr Johnston will continue to be a member of the Friends' group.