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Railpen, the investment and administration manager of the railways pension schemes, is delighted to be supporting this bicentennial Tea Dance

Railpen has been built on heritage. From our origins in Darlington - home to the world’s first public railway - Railpen’s innovated and evolved to serve the needs of the industry and the financial future of its workers - from their first day on the job, throughout their working lives and into retirement.

This Tea Dance is a part of the rich heritage of rail and the appreciation of those who have devoted much of their working lives towards it.

It’ll be a chance for retired rail workers to dance, reminisce and connect with historic and current traditions.

Tickets* are available locally via the Institute. You can also get them online through the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF), a charity that supports current, former and retired rail workers and families across the UK. You can register your interest in attending the Tea Dance on RBF’s website at railwaybenefitfund.org.uk/news/shildon-railway-institute-tea-dance.

What the event will look like

The ‘Tea Dance’ will blend the elegance of the past with the vibrancy of the present. A lively "little" big band from Leeds will offer the perfect soundtrack for dancing, in collaboration with the Shildon Modern Sequence Dance Club. Guests will be offered tea, coffee, sandwiches and cakes and have the opportunity to showcase their finest attire.

Where the tradition comes from

Since the 1840s, Tea Dances have been a cherished way for Shildon residents to mark significant railway milestones. The earliest Tea Dances were led by railway pioneer and SRI president Timothy Hackworth, who founded a unique institution to support railway families, acquiring a building with a small library and games room that rail workers and their families could enjoy.

Dancing became one of their favourite pastimes, and a rich part of Shildon Railway Institute’s history that continues to this day. SRI’s Modern Sequence Dance Club, established in 1951, continues to be well attended on Tuesday evenings, and marked its 70th anniversary in 2021.

"There are many in the town, and further afield, who either spent their lives in the service of British Rail, or whose partners did. We want these people to be at the heart of this celebration” - Shildon Railway Institute.

*Tickets are free of charge