Station project celebrating stories of residents from Banbury expanded
A project at Banbury Station which celebrates the stories of people from the town has been expanded.
An additional 16 people have joined the “Wall of Fame” on the station’s overbridge, which features portraits recognising the diverse and inspiring people who make up the heart of the Banbury. Over 140 community nominations were put forward and they were narrowed down to 16, taking the total number of portraits at the station to 34.
The first phase of the project was unveiled in February 2025, and the gallery has been expanded through a collaboration between operator Chiltern Railways and Banbury Business Improvement District.
It was funded through Chiltern Railways’ Community Investment Fund. The fund supports schemes which create lasting change across the network.
The "People of Banbury" expansion was unveiled at a launch event taking place at the station today (Thursday 21 May). Participants who shared their unique stories and had portraits displayed were invited to attend the launch event.
The scheme follows various improvements which have recently taken place at Banbury, including a new café, toilets, and painting programme.
Harry Burr, Community Rail Lead at Chiltern Railways, said:
“The People of Banbury project is a wonderful community initiative which engages and celebrates the rich tapestry of Banbury residents.
“We are grateful that our Community Investment Fund is able to support such exciting and important projects like this across the entire Chiltern Railways network.”
Jasmine Gilhooly, from Banbury BID, said:
The People of Banbury has always been a passion project for me, and working closely with the community to bring it to life has been so rewarding.
“Thanks to the vital funding and continued support from Chiltern Railways, we’ve refreshed the gallery, filled the remaining gaps, and showcased even more inspiring local faces.”
Nicola Day, who runs the Dementia Active Charity Shop in Banbury and whose portrait is on the wall, said:
“I feel humbled and overwhelmed by people's kindness in nominating me.”
More information on Chiltern’s Community Investment Fund can be viewed here.
Videos of the participants can be viewed here.
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Notes to editors
- Chiltern Railways is part of the Arriva group, one of the leading providers of passenger transport in Europe, employing around 35,670 people and delivering around 1.5 billion passenger journeys across 11 European countries.
- Chiltern operates commuter/regional rail passenger services from its Central London terminus at London Marylebone along the M40 corridor to destinations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands along two routes. Services on the Chiltern Main Line run from London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford, with some peak-hour services to Stourbridge Junction.
- Chiltern also runs trains on the London to Aylesbury Line to Aylesbury (with some trains terminating at Aylesbury Vale Parkway instead), between Princes Risborough and Aylesbury and between Oxford and Bicester.