A BELGIAN railway enthusiast who was murdered on his way to work will be commemorated at his favourite station – Crowcombe Heathfield, on the West Somerset Railway – on Saturday March 24.

Laurent Cordier, 52, was one of an informal group of railway enthusiasts who called themselves ‘The Hornby Boys’, the name being taken name from a shared interest in Hornby model railways.

The Hornby Boys will unveil a plaque to Laurent’s memory during the West Somerset Railway Steam Gala.

The friends could often be seen beside a steam railway at their picnic table with its chequered cloth while waiting to photograph the next passing train.

Crowcombe Heathfield was Laurent’s favourite station – not only because of its restoration and setting but also because it had been used in filming The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night in 1964.

He was found on the pavement in Namur, in Belgium, on his way to catch the train to his work in Brussels, on April 6 last year. Police inquiries are continuing.

He worked for Belgian Railways (SNCB) in Brussels, managing the rotation of rolling stock.

In the days before his death, he had been with The Hornby Boys to The Swanage Railway in Dorset and was planning to return to England for a visit to the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire in the forthcoming weekend.

“Sadly, it was not to be” said one of his fellow Hornby Boys, Etienne Labar.

“We were shocked that someone as comparatively young, healthy, vigorous and full of life as Laurent could suffer something so catastrophic: that he would die in the street."

The memorial plaque will be in the Down waiting room next to the signal-box, which can be seen in the Beatles’ film.

“Crowcombe Heathfield was very much a part of Laurent and now Laurent will be forever a part of Crowcombe Heathfield,” Etienne added.