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Retired train driver Jim Walker, 72, helped track down and reinstall the iconic Victorian clock at Carnforth Train Station, in Lancashire, 13 years ago. The 1895 timepiece found fame when director David Lean used it in his 1945 wartime romance starring Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson. Mr Walker voluntarily wound the clock so it always kept good time but when a visitor overheard him having a private chat about Syrian men posing as child refugees to enter the UK, he was reported for “racism”. Last October - without allegedly hearing his version of events - Mr Walker was issued a solicitor’s letter banning him from the station and unable to wind the famous clock.

GETTY/SWNS Retired train driver Jim Walker was banned from winding up the iconic Brief Encounter clock

Pensioner who winds iconic 'Brief Encounter' clock is BANNED Thu, February 9, 2017 Time is standing still at Carnforth Station after the volunteer who winds the famous clock from the film 'Brief Encounter' was banned from the premises. Jim Walker has been keeping the clock running twice a week since it was reinstated 13 years ago. He has been told he can no longer enter the station after a member of the public made a complaint against him over an alleged racist comment. The 71-year-old has now been given a map which outlines areas of the station he is not allowed to enter. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 9 Clock keeper Jim Walker winds up the famous 'Brief Encounter' clock at Carnforth Railway Station.

Now the Carnforth Station Trust board, who temporarily banned him in February, has met again and agreed it will now apply indefinitely. Trust chairman Peter Crowther said: “There’s no change in the situation. “We are waiting for Mr Walker to return the winding gear to us so the clock can be wound.” Mr Walker was barred from Carnforth Station Heritage Centre after a visitor complained about alleged “racist” language. He was discussing, in a private conversation with a friend, a newspaper comment article about Europe’s migrant crisis. Mr Walker explained he agreed with the article - which stressed the Syrian men posing as children to enter the UK bore no similarity to WWII’s child refugees.

GETTY The clock is famously known from the film, Brief Encounter

I’ve been tried and convicted of racism in my absence - where’s the justice? Jim Walker

But his remarks were overheard by a male visitor who muttered: “That man there wants to keep his comments to himself.” A fortnight later the Carnforth Station Trust sent him a legal letter banning him from the station. It cited “loud offensive remarks” which used “inflammatory and highly abusive” language. The ban means he can still approach platforms run by Network Rail but hinders his access to the famous clock.

GETTY Jim Walker was reported after someone overheard his private conversation about Syrian refugees

Mr Crowther said of Mr Walker’s alleged racist remarks: “A visitor complained about racist comments. “Until he apologises for that he won’t come back to the station. “We are now working out with the clock’s owner a way for it to be wound." But Mr Walker said he has already handed the clock’s winding key back to the Trust - who must have lost it. He said: “I don’t know what the trust are talking about. “The key was surrendered because I said I don’t have any use for this any more.”

GETTY The ban means he can still approach platforms but hinders his access to the famous clock