Longest-serving New Malden station clerk to commemorate World War II bombings
Dewan Sehmi, Chief clerk at New Malden Station for over 30 years, is showing his passion for the station by organising a talk to collect memories from New Malden bombing in WWII.
Malden and Coombe Heritage Society will lead a talk this evening (Wednesday 16 August) at New Malden Baptist Church to mark the bombings as the station was caught in the crossfires of WWII.
"I'm quite attached to the station," Sehmi said. "My main aim [of the event] is to share memories...I would like to learn more about the incidents and the happenings."
After hearing how New Malden station was bombed on 16 August 1940, Sehmi and some customers collected pictures of the aftermath and put up a display alongside a plaque of remembrance.
Sehmi added: "As for myself I don't have any memories. But I have visions and vivid imagination of what has happened here.
"I'm standing in the office, in the place where the bomb has dropped."
At tonight's event, Sehmi will give an introductory speech and then a spokesperson from Maldens and Coombe Heritage Society will show a presentation on the effects of the bombing.
Next, a woman, from Raynes Park, will speak about a book she wrote on the 1940 bombings and her son will read a passage of the book.
Then, Sehmi will encourage people to share their memories of the events of that day: either from themselves, their friends or their family, or their childhood memories at the station.
Sehmi commented: "I would like to compare then and now. The more I learn about New Malden from the people, the better."
Starting out as a railman at Hampton Court station, Sehmi later moved positions to a clerk at New Malden station.
Sehmi said: "I have known so many passengers, who were kids and now they have come back and they still remember me. They come back to see their parents and they come to see me. It makes me proud and happy."
Coming to the UK from India in 1976, Sehmi has lived in New Malden for about 40 years. However, at the start of his career, many of his colleagues struggled to pronounce his name and so he was nicknamed "Sam", which 45 years later has remained.
He said customers would frequently chat to him whilst he was on duty- and even asked for the train times on his day-off. Sehmi said: "Earlier on we used to discuss the news, the weather and all that. The same person now we discuss our health and hospital appointments!"
"It's nice to be known. I'm not just a person behind the window but I'm part of the New Malden heritage," Sehmi said.
Last year, after an illness and spending six months in hospital, Sehmi fell into depression. When he recovered and come back to the station, he described himself feeling "as good as new".
He said his customers had missed him, sent him flowers and cards. "It's these customers, it's these people who know me by my first name, you can see a smile on their face that they're happy to see me."
Sehmi commented. "It makes me so happy. I've been given a new lease of life."
What does the future hold for New Malden's longest serving chief clerk? Sehmi said he has another three years to make it to 50 years of work. "Then I would like to retire gracefully," he said.
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The event is held tonight (Wednesday 16 August) from 6:45pm with a 7pm start.
Location: New Malden Baptist Church, 1a Westbury Road, New Malden, Surrey KT3 5BE.
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