One of Talyllyn Railway’s first volunteers, John Bate, was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to railway preservation.
For more than 70 years, John has made a significant impact in transforming the railway from nearly derelict to a major tourist attraction in Mid Wales. A skilled engineer, his leadership, encouragement and ingenuity have inspired generations of employees and volunteers alike. John first rode on the railway in 1947 and eagerly joined up when Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society took it over in 1951, becoming the world’s first preserved railway. He gave up his summer holidays that year to work on the barely functional track. In 1957, when a major landslip threatened the line’s future, John led an army of volunteers to rebuild it. He was appointed honorary civil engineer in 1958 and became the railway’s first paid chief engineer in 1963, a role he filled for 30 years, finding innovative and cost-effective solutions to problems with limited resources. Building up the engineering department, John inspired many volunteers to go into engineering and railway careers. He was involved in the extension of the passenger carrying line along the former mineral line between Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol. He also designed and oversaw the building of a new steam locomotive, No.7, Tom Rolt, named after a fellow preservation pioneer, in 1991. When John retired as chief engineer in 1994, he continued as a volunteer and, for many years, operated the self-propelled flail mower which cut lineside vegetation. John’s contribution to Talyllyn Railway and heritage railway movement in general was recognised in a Parliamentary Early Day Motion by local MP, Liz Saville-Roberts, last year. Talyllyn Railway Company chairman David Ventry said: “John steered the engineering decisions of Talyllyn Railway throughout most of its preserved life and had a profound influence on its survival and success. “His leadership influenced the whole railway heritage movement. He has been the right person at the right time, expert at value engineering and a thoroughly good engineer. In our opinion this is an award richly deserved.” Talyllyn Railway is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent tourism organisation representing 600 tourism and hospitality member businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia.
0 Comments
“I am surprised but delighted to have been recognised with an MBE,” she said. “I am proud of the work I have done as an officer of MWT Cymru over the past 24 years, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic when a lot of good people in the industry pulled together to try to mitigate the impact on tourism businesses through that extremely challenging time. “I must thank the MWT directors and staff I have worked with over the years and our member businesses and community groups for their support. I am part of a business community and, for a rural region, we collectively punch way above our weight. “Our strength lies in being a small but flexible and agile team which allows us to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.” Val, who lives in Newtown, was born in Glasgow and worked in the hotel sector in Scotland, including the famous Gleneagles Hotel, before becoming Rowntree Mackintosh’s first female sales representative in Scotland. The sales role led her to England’s South Coast where she met her husband, Mike Hawkins. The couple moved to their current Newtown home on Christmas Eve 1979 when Mike’s parents retired from the farm. Whilst raising their three daughters, Val ran a farm guest house at their home for 10 years before she joined Mid Wales Tourism as membership manager in June, 1999. Working with a range of partners, she secured European funding for a successful training project for Powys tourism businesses and communities and was promoted to general manager in 2005-‘06, a job title that developed to chief executive. During her time at Mid Wales Tourism, now known as MWT Cymru, Val and her team have helped to guide the organisation and its member businesses through a series of major challenges. “Shortly after joining MWT, the Foot and Mouth crisis hit our sector and Welsh Government re-structuring in 2001 was particularly challenging at a time when huge digital advances were revolutionising tourism marketing,” explained Val. “More recently, the Covid-19 pandemic and the current cost of living crisis have been extremely challenging for our businesses.” Val helped to develop and implement pioneering digital technology, with Mid Wales becoming one of the first UK regions to have a destination management system and launched the first Visit Mid Wales regional website in 2001, which expanded to cover the whole of Wales. Widely respected across the tourism industry, MWT Cymru has built strong relationships with Visit Wales, Visit Britain and trade organisations across Wales. “It has been a bit of a rollercoaster, with a new challenge around every corner,” added Val. “We are constantly having to think three years ahead, guided by the Welsh Government’s policies. “As an organisation at the interface of the public and private sector, it’s often an uncomfortable place to sit and requires soft diplomacy and a lot of hard work behind the scenes, which is more my style. “I started with Mid Wales Tourism at the time of the digital revolution which was a big change for society as a whole. Due to my passion for technology, we have managed to stay ahead of the curve and create new opportunities for our members. “I am proud that we bring together businesses, local communities and national organisations here in Mid Wales which has helped to reinforce the position and reputation of MWT Cymru.” A former seamstress has been reunited with a vintage Laura Ashley wedding dress which she helped to make in 1992 and still carries a tag that she signed. Sharon Wells, 56, who is now a teaching assistant in her home village of Corris, was one of a team of seven seamstresses that made the wedding dress when she worked at Laura Ashley’s factory and bridal studio in Machynlleth. Now the dress is to feature in a special display in the free entry exhibition 'For the Love of Laura Ashley' at MOMA Machynlleth from June 24 to September 6 https://moma.cymru/en/e/for-the-love-of-laura-ashley/. This 10-week exhibition has been organised by Ann Evans, founder of Heritage Hub 4 Mid Wales (HH4MW), to help preserve the legacy of Laura Ashley, the famous Mid Wales-based textile and fashion visionary designer whose name became a global lifestyle heritage brand. The Heritage Hub is a group of volunteers, whose aims include to enhance local civic pride in significant entrepreneurial pioneers from the region, including Laura Ashley. Laura Ashley was always proud to say that her team in Mid Wales were instrumental the global success of her family business. Ann, who worked for Laura Ashley for 20 years from 1975, wanted to find something special for the Machynlleth exhibition. Following a social media post by a past Laura Ashley employee, she found and bought the vintage wedding dress for £200 from the Oxfam charity shop in Witney, Oxfordshire. “The dress is like new and the tag signed by Sharon, before she married, is still attached,” she said. “It’s a perfect example of quality work by Laura Ashley seamstresses in the company’s Machynlleth factory bridal studio.” Ann hopes the dress will become part of a Heritage Hub archive collection for a permanent Laura Ashley Heritage Hub - her mission for 2025, which would have been Laura Ashley’s 100th birthday. Sharon, who worked for Laura Ashley in Machynlleth for around seven years, said: “It was lovely to be reunited with the dress and a real blast from the past, especially as it had the tag signed by me still with it. “I was one of seven seamstresses selected to work on dresses and suits for brides, bridesmaids and pageboys from start to finish. We would put our signatures on tags with the finished garments and it was just lucky that my name was on this wedding dress. It was very much a team effort. “I once had a ‘thank you’ letter from a lady in America who had worn a wedding dress which had my name on the tag. I did enjoy being part of the bridal team as it always felt a privilege to make a wedding dress for somebody’s special day.” Ann, who helped to set up Laura Ashley’s mail order operation from 1976, has been supported by volunteers, friends and colleagues, with whom she worked at the company, to set up the previous and future pioneer exhibitions and other events. ‘For the Love of Laura Ashley’ also features a pixel portrait quilt of Laura Ashley commissioned by Ann and made by British quilter Devida Bushrod, who now lives in Tulsa, USA, from 1,500 pieces of fabric in 13 colours. Two vintage Laura Ashley collectors, Ann Davies from Mold and Karen Morgan from the Forest of Dean, who runs www.lauraabsolutely.com , are also loaning items for the exhibition. HH4MW has collaborated with Machynlleth Artisans to organise a special event, 'Be inspired by Laura Ashley', on July 8. Guest speakers include Ann, Tegwyn Morris from Merched y Wawr and Russell George, MS for Montgomeryshire. Tickets will be available through MOMA Machynlleth. Ann and Heritage Hub are seeking help from those who have archives and memories to digitally record the social history of Laura Ashley and upload their photographs and written and oral stories to https://www.peoplescollection.wales/ , the digital heritage website of National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. Scams targeting the hospitality sector: An update from the Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales15/6/2023 Analysis of crime reports from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) reveals that the hospitality sector is increasingly being targeted by criminals impersonating IT providers.
Typically, fraudsters will call restaurants and hotels purporting to be a representative of the company that provides their reservation or booking system. The criminals will try to convince the employee to reveal their login details, often under the guise that it’s required in order to complete an important software installation. Once an attacker gains access to a business’ computer systems, they will steal any customer data they come across, this will often include databases of customer names and contact details. This data will then be used to perpetrate targeted phishing scams that are highly convincing. For example, victims have reported receiving calls from people impersonating a restaurant or hotel they have a reservation with. The caller requests a payment from the victim claiming that it’s required in order to confirm their reservation. How to protect your business
Director of the Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales Montgomery Canal Plans for the future and the benefits a revived canal can offer Shropshire and Powys will be discussed at the annual Montgomery Canal Forum later this month. The forum, which is open to the public, will be hosted at the Aico Centre of Excellence, Maesbury Road, Oswestry on Wednesday, June 21, at 2.30pm. Presentations will highlight recent events, which include a new section of canal opened to Crickheath, Montgomery Canal Triathlon, the ongoing reconstruction of Schoolhouse Bridge, last bridge blockage in Shropshire and initial works in Powys of a multi-million pound restoration programme supported by the UK Government Levelling-Up Fund. Michael Limbrey, Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust chairman, said: “Our ambition is to extend the canal through the final two miles in Shropshire and then through to Welshpool and beyond. “Experience across the country shows that canals bring social, environmental and economic benefits to their area. These benefits are integral to the strategy for the Montgomery Canal. “A safe space for recreation and well-being will provide opportunities for visitors and residents which will benefit the local economy. “The substantial investment in canalside nature reserves near Queen's Head will be matched in Powys to safeguard rare and protected wildlife. Maintenance will ensure water continues to flow and the canal is not blocked with aggressive plants. “Rebuilt bridges on both sides of the border will make it easier for walkers and others at crossings which have blocked the canal for many years. “In Shropshire, the volunteer work parties which rebuilt the canal channel to Crickheath – finishing on budget and on time – have started work on the next section. “The support they received from the National Lottery Heritage Fund has now finished and the Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal is raising money to pay for materials and plant hire. “Donations for the Schoolhouse Bridge project show how much people right across the country value what’s special about the Montgomery Canal and we hope that that support will continue for the next stage.” The forum is organised by Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, formed in 1980 to bring together the public and voluntary organisations interested in the future of the Montgomery Canal. Talyllyn Railway locomotive Number 2, ‘Dolgoch has returned to service after an extensive programme of refurbishment. Dolgoch was withdrawn in the autumn of 2021 to be taken apart and stripped down for her regular overhaul and 10-year boiler inspection. Dolgoch is the second of the railway’s original two steam locomotives that had worked up until Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society was formed in 1951. The loco, which has now been repainted in the traditional Talyllyn Railway green livery, returned to service for Founders Day on May 14 when it double headed the ‘Heart of Gold’ train with locomotive No.7 ‘Tom Rolt’. The teaming of the locos was very apt, as No.2, the ‘Old Lady’, kept services running in the early days and No.7 is named after Tom Rolt who, along with other early preservation pioneers, saved the railway. Dolgoch continued in daily service over the Bank Holiday and school half term week when a busy timetable saw four of the society’s six locos available in steam each day, enabling an easier turn around at Tywyn Wharf Station. Lorraine Simkiss, the railway’s commercial general manager, is delighted to see Number 2, ‘Dolgoch return. “She is back at last and looking superb in the traditional livery of Deep Bronze Green,” she said. “The 10-year overhaul was plagued by breakages and setbacks which had considerably delayed the return. However, the team pulled together and it is lovely to see her back now and once again part of The Steam Team!” The only surviving narrow-gauge Sentinel steam locomotive from Stonehenge Works on the Leighton Buzzard Railway in Bedfordshire will be taking part in Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway’s celebration of 60 years of preservation.
The Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Tywyn has announced that the locomotive, nicknamed Nutty, will remain on long-term loan at Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway. The four-wheeled, vertical-boilered, chain-driven locomotive was one of three built in 1927 for London Brick Company at Peterborough. Originally 2ft 11in gauge, it was named after “Nutty” Rowell, the driver/fitter who kept the locomotive in service for 30 years. In 1964, Nutty was donated to the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Trust, re-gauged to 2ft 6in and loaned to Welshpool and Llanfair Railway where it worked on shunting duties for a time. After withdrawal from service, Nutty was returned to Tywyn until 1991 when it was loaned to Whipsnade Zoo for restoration and eventual service on its railway. Dismantling took place after which work ceased. In 1994, it was moved to Railworld in Peterborough and, two years later, to a nearby engineering works where re-assembly and cosmetic restoration was undertaken. It was loaned to the Leighton Buzzard Railway in 2012 where it was on public display until now. Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway was keen to bring Nutty back and the museum trust has reached an agreement with both railways. Keith Theobald, Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Trust chairman, said: “It is good to see this unique loco going to Welshpool, with which it has strong historical links and where it will gain a fresh audience. “We are very grateful to our friends at the Leighton Buzzard Railway for looking after Nutty so well for the last 11 years.” David Wood, Leighton Buzzard Railway Preservation Society chairman, said: ”It has been a privilege to give ‘Nutty’ a home for more than 10 years, creating extra interest for our visitors. We are glad to see it go now to an equally suitable location on another of Britain’s brilliant narrow-gauge railways.” James Brett, Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway’s general manager, said: “It is great that we have been able to get Nutty back in Welshpool for this year’s big celebrations. “We are grateful to the museum trust for agreeing to the loan and to the people at Leighton Buzzard who have worked very hard to make the physical move possible so quickly.” For more information about the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum, visit http://www.narrowgaugerailwaymuseum.org.uk/ Award-winning actors and TV canal stars Timothy West and Prunella Scales are supporting a new £250,000 appeal to restore the next section of the Montgomery Canal. Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust chose the opening of the canal’s recently restored section, to Crickheath, near Oswestry, to launch the new Restore the Montgomery Canal! Appeal. West and Scales who said: “Volunteers working on the very special Montgomery Canal have successfully restored the canal to Crickheath on time and on budget. “Generous supporters’ donations have funded the reconstruction of Schoolhouse Bridge, the last highway blockage in Shropshire. With just two miles derelict in England, can you now help the volunteers to reopen more of the canal towards the Welsh border?” Michael Limbrey, Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust chairman, said: “For the first time for more than 80 years there were boats at Crickheath Basin, some of them even from the working days of canals. “It was a day to celebrate the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Canal & River Trust and particularly the effort of volunteer work parties over many years. “Having brought the canal to Crickheath, the volunteers have already started work on the next section. There is no lottery support for this so we are asking anyone who can to help reopen more of this special canal by supporting our latest Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal. “I am delighted to say that the appeal got under way on the day of the Crickheath opening with a generous donation from a supporter of £1,000 which was increased by 25% through Gift Aid. “Half a mile from our celebrations, contractors are working on the reconstruction of Schoolhouse Bridge, the last highway blockage in Shropshire. This project, funded by private donations from across the country, is part of just two miles of dry canal, all that is now left to restore in Shropshire. “This work in Shropshire will complement substantial projects in Powys where UK Government Levelling-Up funding will build bridges so towpath users no longer have to dash across the road where the canal is blocked. “The funding will also create new canalside nature reserves to replicate the special habitat and safeguard rare and special flora and fauna and restore the canal channel where it is in water but not capable of use. “There are so many success stories around our canal network of reopened canals that add to the visitor economy, the conservation of plants and wildlife, safe towpaths for recreation and well-being and historic structures from our first transport network. “They all bring social, environmental and economic benefits and we are keen to see those benefits here in the borderland of Shropshire and Wales.” The opening ceremony marked the completion of restoration to Crickheath, near Oswestry, adding add a further 1.5 miles to the national canal network. North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan and Shropshire Council leader Councillor Lezley Picton, with other VIPs, travelled the newest section to the new terminus at Crickheath Basin. Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, volunteers of the Shropshire Union Canal Society (SUCS) cleared, shaped and lined a length of canal that had been dry and derelict for many years and contractors for the Canal & River Trust constructed a new basin where boats can turn. Lezley Picton commended the work of the volunteers from all over the country. “They all have one thing in common, which I imagine quite a few of us here have in common as well, which is we absolutely love this canal,” she said before unveiling a plaque with the MP. Other speakers included David Carter, SUCS chairman and Crickheath project leader, Richard Parry, Canal & River Trust chief executive, National Lottery Heritage Fund trustee Julian Glover and John Dodwell, Montgomery Canal Partnership chairman. The opening coincided with news of further funding for the Montgomery Canal. A grant of £7,531 has been awarded from National Grid’s Community Matters Fund for towpath improvements which will benefit people who use the canal towpath south of Oswestry. The celebrations concluded on June 3 when SUCS volunteers, following a tradition of the 1800s when navvies were rewarded with a barrel of beer, celebrated with a barrel of Navigation Ale sponsored by Monty’s Brewery from Montgomery. Restore the Montgomery Canal! is promoted by the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust with the Friends of the Montgomery Canal, SUCS and Inland Waterways Association’s Shrewsbury District and North Wales branch. Montgomery Canal Forum, which is open to the public, will be held at 2.30pm on Wednesday, June 21, hosted by Aico, Maesbury Road, Oswestry. The Quilt Association’s annual summer exhibition opens at the Minerva Arts Centre in Llanidloes on July 1, featuring three galleries of art, textile art and quilts. The exhibition runs until Saturday, August 5 and opening times are Wednesday to Saturday, 10.30am to 4.30pm. The main gallery this year houses a Retrospective Exhibition of the work of Welsh artist, textile artist and maker Annie Bielecka Jones who was born in Criccieth and the backdrop of Snowdonia continues to inspire her work. Annie has shown at the Welsh Parliament /Senedd Exhibition of Welsh Women and War where her painting of ‘Grace’ was featured. Her bold, colourful paintings are on many themes and her art crosses the boundaries between fine and applied art. In the last 15 years, she has found a new vision which brings together the two key elements in her art, textiles and colour. The rear gallery and workroom feature two smaller exhibitions of quilts from The Quilt Association’s collection of more than 250 antique quilts. ‘A Load Of Old Flannel’ showcases some of the antique Welsh flannel quilts in the collection, many made using flannel from workshops and mills in the town. ‘Bright And Beautiful’ includes some of the trustees’ favourites, a mix of colourful patchwork and appliqué quilts using a variety of techniques, colours and fabrics.
“I am looking forward to the new challenge,” said Mike, who lives in Crew Green, near Shrewsbury. “As a business, we constantly strive to deliver first class customer service which is why we are always proud to get previous customers recommending us to their friends and family.
“We were delighted to win another national award that relies on votes from those customers, earlier this year. Our aim is to maintain and, wherever possible, improve the high level of customer service that we provide. “Despite a challenging economic climate, I believe the staycation boom, which began during the Covid-19 pandemic, will continue. “Many people are still looking to invest in touring caravans, motorhomes and caravan holiday homes which will allow them and their families to escape for a holiday or short break anytime they wish.” He says 2023 will be a year of consolidation and organic growth within the business, which has more than 200 employees. “The company is run like a family business and we are lucky to have loyal and talented employees who tend to stay with us for many years because it’s a great place to work,” he added. Away from work, Mike plays for Guilsfield Cricket Club. Salop Leisure supplies caravans and luxury lodges to 250 holiday home parks across the Heart of England and Mid Wales. In addition, the company has this year launched Salop Leisure Innovative Solutions, a special projects division that works with partners to maximise the retail opportunities presented by booming demand for glamping and staycation holidays. Salop Leisure also owns Love Plants, a specialist plants centre that celebrated its 10th birthday at Easter and Love Coffee restaurant at its Shrewsbury headquarters and the neighbouring multi-award-winning Love2Stay touring and glamping resort. |
Categories |