LNER Colleague's Special Connection To York Minster As The Anniversary Of The Fire Approaches

An LNER colleague will be joining special events at York Minster as it prepares to mark the fortieth anniversary of the devastating fire which gutted the cathedral’s South Transept. It’s thought the blaze was caused by lightning striking the roof.

At the time, 8-year-old Laura Edwards was fascinated by the story, reading press clippings sent to her by her York-based grandparents, which detailed the damage caused to the iconic building. Little did she know it would be the start of an ongoing, forty-year relationship with the cathedral, which dominates the city skyline.

Following the fire, the BBC children’s TV programme Blue Peter ran a unique competition to design a boss for the new Minster roof, with the winning design being made and installed by the master craftspeople working on the restoration. The competition caught Laura’s imagination. She entered her design, inspired by the Rose window which narrowly survived the blaze, and was thrilled to be selected as one of the six winners whose boss would sit in the new Minster roof for hundreds of years to come.

Laura, who now lives in York and works in the LNER Risk and Assurance team said: “It was an amazing experience to be a part of and my family and I were completely taken aback when we learnt my design had been selected out of over 32,000 entries. It was all quite a secretive process. We were invited by telegram to visit the Blue Peter studios to discuss my design, but when we arrived it was obvious that we were part of the final selection.”

Laura has kept an album of special memories detailing her involvement in the restoration of the beloved building, with pictures showing her hundreds of feet up in the Minster roof, watching her design being fitted into place. Her album also includes many letters from the legendary Blue Peter producer Biddy Baxter and of course, her cherished Blue Peter badge.

Laura’s relationship with the Minster continues to this day with her involvement in the commemorative exhibition marking forty years since the fire. ‘Out of the Ashes’ opens on Thursday 27 June. Laura will also be attending a special remembrance service on Tuesday 9 July where her boss design will feature on a special commemorative badge.

Laura said: “I consider myself very lucky to still be involved with this great building, and to have played a small part alongside the amazingly talented craftspeople who brought the Minster back to life. It’s also lovely to think that I work for a train operator who brings thousands of people to York every year, many of whom visit the Minster and learn about its history.”

Rosalind Kelly, Marketing Manager at York Minster said: “2024 is an incredibly important year for York Minster, where we remember the damage caused by the fire and give thanks for everyone who came together to restore the building, one which has huge meaning for people all over the world. It’s lovely that Laura and others involved in the rebuilding of this magnificent but fragile cathedral are joining us. They share a very special relationship with the Minster, both with its history and its future.”