A FORMER Lord Mayor and train driver – who drove the iconic Mallard in the 1950s – has thrown his full support behind The Press’s campaign to save the National Railway Museum.

Bernard Bell, 89, of Woodthorpe, served as a York councillor for many years until he retired in 2003 and spent his working life on the railways, starting by cleaning Mallard and progressing to driving it in the 1950s.

He contacted The Press after being shocked to hear that the museum, where the locomotive is a star exhibit, was under threat of closure.

“I couldn’t believe it really,” he said. “I think it’s a damned shame and want to pledge my full support to the Press campaign. I hope you are successful.”

The Press campaign was launched last week after Ian Blatchford, director of the NRM’s parent organisation, the Science Museum Group, said the NRM or one of its two sister museums in the north – the National Media Museum in Bradford and the National Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester – would “almost certainly” close if the group suffered a further cut in Government funding.

Numerous shops in York are now displaying the petition forms on their counters, including Tullivers of Colliergate, York Fine Arts of Low Petergate and the John Bull Sweet Shop of Minstergate.

Sue Lamming, of P+S Hobbies and Models in Walmgate, expressed concern about the impact on businesses if the museum shut, while Anne Braithwaite, of The Braithwaite Gallery, said: “All local people love the museum. It would be a tragedy for York if it closed.”

Passengers at Selby Railway Station have also flocked to sign petition forms at the Choo Chews Cafe. Nearly 3,500 people have also now signed the Press’ online petition.