Mark and faithful Louie, popular with passengers at Buxted.
MARK Leary was once ‘the man from the Pru’. But the former insurance salesman now sells rail tickets instead of collecting premiums.
During the past four years Mark and his faithful dog Louie have become the faces of Buxted station, one of a host of attractive stations which sit on the undulating East Croydon to Uckfield route.
And as far as villagers and other users of the station are concerned, Mark, 54, can do no wrong. Every quarter last year his Southern Railway station scored 100 per cent for passenger satisfaction. And he is currently the proud but modest custodian of Southern’s gold award for staff excellence.
Since joining the railway four years ago, keen gardener Mark has quietly revolutionised the look of the station that serves the East Sussex village.
“I was given £50 a year to buy plants to put into baskets and containers. I potted them up at home.
“Then the parish council approached me and said they would be willing to put in another £50. So now I have £100 to spend and have introduced two half barrels of plants on to the platform.”
As well as his horticultural efforts, Mark is the station ‘librarian’. Passengers take him books they have read which he then sells to raise money for a charity called International Animal Rescue.
In the middle of the booking office/waiting area there is a table containing a jigsaw. “Passengers waiting for trains are welcome to come in and while away a few minutes helping to complete the jigsaw,” says Mark.
Canine pal Louie has also become a firm favourite with passengers and is rarely away from Mark’s side. A cross between a Labrador and an Alsatian, Louie was rescued by Mark 18 months ago. “He didn’t like to be left on his own, he likes company, so I contacted the station manager to see if I could bring him in.”
Mark, who lives in nearby Heathfield, said: “I’ve always been interested in the railway and saw adverts for ticket office jobs in Eastbourne and Lewes. But when I popped into Buxted with my application form, the lady here said she was leaving.
“So I asked the railway to earmark me for her job – and here I am.”
Mark added: “People around here love their station and to them I am the man looking after it for them.”