News / Obituaries
Tributes paid to tireless campaigner Julie Boston
From saving suburban railways to protecting our city’s trees, if there was a cause to get behind in Bristol over recent decades then there was a good chance that Julie Boston was involved.
Julie, who has died at the age of 88 after a short illness, was a veteran campaigner who was at the forefront of environmental activism in Bristol for many years.
Warm tributes have been paid to Julie, including from Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, who tweeted that she “was a real regular at @BristolCouncil public fora over many years – and a particularly passionate supporter of investment in local rail”.
is needed now More than ever
Julie was at the forefront of Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FosBR), originally known as Friends of the Severn Beach Railway, since she helped found the group in 1995 at a time when many trains had been replaced by buses.
FoSBR’s first action saw residents meet at Avonmouth station with buggies and bicycles to show that buses were not a suitable substitute for trains.
Julie made a vocal case for local rail and won several important victories. In 2007, Bristol City Council agreed to fund extra services on the Severn Beach Line; and in 2021, a long-held ambition was achieved when the Severn Beach Line moved onto a largely half-hourly timetable from Monday to Saturday as far as Avonmouth, and hourly to Severn Beach.
Julie campaigning with Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways at Montpelier – photo: Martin Booth
Carol Durrant from FoSBR said that Julie had an “indomitable enthusiasm”.
She said: “Her interests were not confined to trains. She also campaigned for public footpaths, public libraries, public toilets and buses.
“Ideally an event or action or walk would encompass several of these campaign strands, and involve a creative element such as poetry, banners, fancy dress or music.
“Many FoSBR members were inspired to get involved by Julie’s indomitable enthusiasm, through both campaign disappointments and successes. FoSBR would not exist today without her cajoling and charm.”
Julie Boston has been remembered for her “indomitable enthusiasm” – photo: FoSBR
Former FoSBR chair, Bernard Lane, said: “Julie was an amazing campaigner who never gave up. Her tenacity not only gave us courage when we wondered if anything would change but also inspired and brought results.
“Her energy levels always amazed me and left me feeling tired! The Severn Beach trains and indeed all Bristol services must be her legacy.”
Current FoSBR chair, Rob Dixon, added: “Julie inspired many people to act. I wouldn’t have got involved if it wasn’t for her and her encouragement. Her determination saved local lines and services and led to the start of half hourly local services.”
Main photo: FoSBR
Read next:
- A love letter to the Severn Beach Line
- Work starts to build Bristol’s first railway station in almost a century
- Campaigners highlight Bristol’s poor public transport interchanges
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