SWR train dedicated to King Athelstan unveiled in Kingston

The podcaster and historian’s efforts coincide with the 1,100-year anniversary of Athelstan’s coronation in Kingston upon Thames.

Kingston station saw the ceremony, where Mr Holland, surrounded by Saxon warriors, revealed the new King Athelstan train name on one of SWR’s Class 450 trains.

Saxons, Joseph Silke (SWR), Sir Ed Savey, Mayor of Kingston, Tom Holland, Deputy Lieutenant Martin Hislop, Bishop of Kingston (L to R) with King Athelstan train (Image: JACK HALL) Local schoolchildren, dignitaries, and the Bishop of Kingston, who blessed the train, were present.

Mr Holland said: “Who better to have a train named after him than Athelstan, the great Anglo-Saxon king who first set England on track to becoming a united kingdom?”

The event saw choral performance by the Tiffin School and children from the King Athelstan Primary School donning crowns.

Guests at King Athelstan train naming (Image: JACK HALL) Sir Ed Davey, the MP for Kingston and Surbiton, and Cllr Noel Hadjimichael, the Mayor of Kingston, joined Mr Holland with tributes on behalf of the town and borough.

Sir Ed Davey said: “When we were planning on the sorts of things we might do to celebrate Kingston 2025, I don’t think any of us envisaged the dedication of a train.

“It’s a little unusual but absolutely in the spirit of the occasion and I’ve been delighted to be a part of today.”

Tom Holland with King Athelstan Primary School and King Athelstan train (Image: JACK HALL) Cllr Noel Hadjimichael added: “The King Athelstan train celebrates the Royal Borough of Kingston’s unique place in the country’s history, as the crowning place of the first king of a united England.

“To have it unveiled as part of the Kingston 2025 cultural celebrations is very special – a wonderful part of our six-month festival of past, present and future across the royal borough.”

Today’s ceremony was part of the wider ‘Kingston 2025’ celebrations for the anniversary.

Later in the day, commemorations continued at All Saints Church, the site of the coronation.