May 20, 2019 4.46 pm This story is over 64 months old

Rod Stewart donates £10k after railway club vandalism

He’s asked his fellow celebrity friends to do the same
Rod Stewart has dug deep. Photo: Claudio Guido

Singer Rod Stewart has donated a massive £10,000 to help a railway club get their show back on track.

The 74-year-old, and model railway enthusiast, said he was “absolutely devastated” to read about the news and has urged his fellow musicians to dig deep.

As previously reported, the scale of the damage rocked the Market Deeping Railway Club when they found it on Saturday, May 18.

Four youths have been arrested and released by Lincolnshire Police in connection with the “horror” vandalism at Queen Eleanor School.

Carefully and painstakingly constructed models had been smashed to pieces, tables checked across the school hall and other items broken.

The sight railway enthusiasts were greeted with. Photo: Stamford Model Railway Show

The club’s fundraiser asked for just £500, but they were very surprised to find just a couple of days later that people donated more than £63,000.

They have now upped the fundraising target to £75,000.

One of the club member’s said: “The response has been out of this world and overwhelming. We are truly grateful for everything that has been donated both money and gifts.

“We weren’t the only ones to suffer and our thoughts are now turning to those others affected and how we might assist them too.”

Sir Rod said in a statement to the Press Association: “I feel their pain.”

He said: “I was absolutely devastated to hear that vandals had destroyed what was to be a lovely show by the Market Deeping Model Railway Club over the weekend.

“The collection was priceless and I am donating £10,000 to help compensate those affected and asking fellow enthusiasts Jools Holland, Roger Daltrey and others to do the same.”

Many of the exhibits for the show, which was due to open on Saturday, take tens of hours of precise craftsmanship.