Catholic Herald Reporter
MR. E. GOOCH, Member of Parliament for South Norfolk, will be at Walsing
ham this Sunday (August 18J to receive a Petition, signed by train pilgrims, appealing that the threat of the Beeching "Axe" be lifted from the London-Walsingham line.
The occasion is the National pilgrimage which will he attended by thousands of people travelling by train. coach and car from all parts of the country. It will be led by Bishop Parker of Northampton.
But unless the rail route from London is kept open at least for goods (and thus ensuring availability for the National and schools pilgrimages) this may well be the last opportunity for hundreds of pilgrims to visit this famous shrine. For them it is not practical to travel by coaches which would also overload the narrow lanes already crowded with traffic.
Following appeals over the past two weeks, a number of parishes have arranged train parties. and others have taken the initiative of asking parishioners to add their names to a further petition, Ealing Abbey, for example, has a list of 240 signatures headed by the Abbot; While the Isle of Dogs parish has spontaneously added its quota of names.
• There's still time to book for Stmdayl By phone to VANdyke 5526, and pay on arrival at Liverpool Street (Fare 32s. 6d., children half price; train leaves 10.16 a.m., returns by 9.36 p.m.). Seats will also be available for those who wish to turn up on Sunday morning without having booked in advance.