Evangelist George Verwer at 80

He explained that the idea of travelling to most of the major cities in the country and spending a whole day there was so he could catch up with old friends and also hear the stories of people he’d never met.

“Last year we had big celebrations for our (OM’s) 60th anniversary and often in these celebrations I only got a couple of minutes to speak to people because so many people are there and so I thought instead of one celebration I’m gonna have twenty in a more relaxed atmosphere drinking coffee.

He started his journey in the iconic Paddington railway station in London and finished the tour at Liverpool Lime Street.

George reckons he’s travelled over a million miles by train since 1962 as he travelled nationwide fulfilling preaching engagements.

Fellow train enthusiast Ian Britton, Premier’s Northern Correspondent, met up with George when he spent the day in Newcastle upon Tyne.