Closely associated with many of these events was Mr. James Allport, the
Midland general manager, one of the foremost and ablest of the early
railway pioneers, regarding whom it is fit and proper a few words should
be said. Strangely enough I never saw him until nearly two years after I
entered the Midland service, and this was on the occasion of a visit of
the Prince and Princess of Wales to Derby. We clerks were allowed good
positions on the station platform to witness the arrival of their Royal
Highnesses by their special train from London. Mr. Allport accompanied
them along the platform to the carriages outside the station. Probably
the chairman and directors of the company were also present, but our eyes
were not for them. Directors were to us junior clerks, remote
personalities, mythical beings dwelling on Olympian heights.
[Sir James Allport: allport.jpg]
It was a great thing to see the future King and Queen of England, and our
loyalty and enthusiasm knew no bounds. They were young and charming, and
beloved by the people; but, hero worshipper as I was, our great general
manager was to me even more than royalty.
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