Cleaning railway platforms at dawn, carrying heavy cases and being moaned at by irate commuters...not most people's idea of fun, writes TIM HUGHES. But to stationmaster Colin Giles they are all in a day's work - and he loves every minute of it.

Colin, who runs Cholsey Station single-handedly, has become the pride of the south Oxfordshire village after winning a top national award for its one-man station. The cheerful 62-year-old has been voted Britain's most helpful railwayman following a flood of nominations from satisfied local passengers.

Despite beating off competition from hundreds of bigger stations Colin, from Cavendish Park, Didcot, insisted he was only doing his job. "I love it here," he said. "People have been quite pleased and proud with the award but I am just doing my job properly.

"The passengers are a great lot and I think it is important to keep a good sense of humour. One or two of them might have a moan about the trains but I just listen and let them carry on."

He added: "I have to do basically everything here. I sell tickets, take bookings and reservations, and deal with enquiries. I also sweep up and clean the station in the morning." But he said: "It is a great job. I am always here early and get lots of fresh air. I suppose I just get on with things as required.

"Cholsey is a lovely little village and the passengers are very friendly. The most enjoyable thing is looking after people and letting them go away satisfied."

Cholsey station picked up joint first prize in the Lending a Hand category of this year's Station of the Year Awards, beating off competition from across the country.

But Colin, who has worked at the station for 15 years, insisted the award would not go to his head, adding: "I am quite pleased with the award but I really was the last to know about it - the people in the village knew before I did."

Station owners Thames Trains agreed Cholsey's success was all down to Colin. Lou Tate, public affairs manager for Thames Trains, said: "We were very impressed. The award was given to Colin for helping passengers over and above his duty. He helps carry luggage - and on cold mornings has even been known to give a cup of coffee.

"He was nominated by the people of Cholsey and we received some quite glowing accolades for him." He added: "Cholsey is a one-man station so Colin is responsible for selling tickets, giving information and keeping the place tidy on a day to day basis. In Cholsey the station is very much a part of the community. Everybody knows him and he is a very popular character.

"There are 2,500 stations on the rail network, so to get this accolade is really quite something. We are all proud of him. He has been with the railways for some years and any newcomer to the business could really learn a lot from him. He is a shining example of how we want our customer care to go forward."

A DAY IN THE LIFE

*Arrive at 5.15am

*Clean the station, pick up litter and sweep the platforms

*Greet the first passengers of the day - with a smile

*Field enquiries from stressed-out commuters

*Lend a friendly ear to tales of late trains and missed connections

*Share a joke

*Carry heavy luggage between platforms

*Take bookings and reservations

*Look after left-luggage and lost property

*Give tourist information to overseas visitors

Revive frozen winter passengers with warm cups of coffee

*Have a final check of the station

*Go home at 1pm to relax with a cuppa and microwave meal

THEY ALL LOVE HIM

Cholsey's passengers also think Colin is great.

Villager Christine Fraser of Cholsey, said: "Colin is great - he is always helpful, especially first thing in the morning. I like to have a moan to him if the train is late and he always takes it in good heart."

Barry Tyrrell, of Thames Street, Wallingford, agreed: "He is very good. I used to go to town very regularly but I haven't done it for four years. But when I came here today he remembered me. It is quite remarkable."

He added: "He is very good on advice too. This morning I asked him for a full-fare ticket and he told me I could have a much cheaper one."

Christine Johnstone, of Panters Road, Cholsey, is registered blind but often uses the station to travel to Oxford. She said: "I have been here for ten years and the station has always been okay. The station master is always helpful and it is what I have come to expect.

"It is disappointing that everything closes up at 1pm but being a villager I know that is one of the things that you have to put up with."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.