Whimple Primary School’s great “Welcome to Whimple” artwork

Passengers using or passing through Whimple station on the East Devon Line, the western part of South Western Railway’s Waterloo-Exeter route, will see a bright “Welcome to Whimple” artwork at the Exeter end of the station.

The sign is the result of work by pupils at the adjacent Whimple Primary School in a project organised and led by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership with the support of South Western Railway.

Rebecca Catterall, the Partnership’s Development Officer, led for the Partnership. She arranged for local artist Alistair Lambert to work with the schoolchildren on the design for the artwork.  

This was then turned into a large panel which was made and installed by Rydon Signs of Exeter.    In the photo above, Alistair and Rebecca are pictured either side of the artwork 

Paul Webster of the Community Rail Network joined Rebecca, Alistair and teachers and pupils from the school to launch the finished artwork in July 2023.

The project was made possible thanks to grants obtained by the Partnership from the Community Rail Development Fund, a joint initiative of the Department for Transport and the Community Rail Network, and CrossCountry Trains’ Community Engagement Fund.

Whimple Primary School have also adopted a number of planter tubs close to the artwork and these are being looked after by the school children.