THE HENDY & PENDLE TRUST VOLUNTEERS AWARD: Y GWEITHDY, MINFFORDD

We began with one less common railway structure; we end with another - the Gweithdy (workshop) at Minffordd.

This hall, essentially a timber framework clad and roofed in corrugated iron with tongue & groove panelling within, began life a century ago as a chapel for the village of Minffordd.

It sits in a small car park adjacent to the Ffestiniog Railway’s station, so when the opportunity arose to purchase it 25 years ago (it had long ceased to fulfil its original function and was pretty derelict), the FR bought it, carried out some essential repairs, and turned it into a well-used workshop and garden store. Its well-regarded sign-writing school is one regular activity here.

Age caught up with it, but it was too much of a local landmark to knock down and too useful to lose, so under the inspired leadership of the late Eileen Clayton, it was thoroughly repaired and modernised inside and out while retaining as much of the original fabric as possible.

Sadly, Eileen succumbed to serious illness just before its completion, but the revitalised Gweithdy stands as a practical memorial to her wide contribution to several aspects of the Railway over many years. The onset of the coronavirusnecessitated lockdown has delayed the final completion of the access ramp.

A further restored grave was entered and received the Chairman’s special Highly Commended accolade: that of Bessie and Will Jones, both long-serving Ffestiniog Railway employees, at Bettws Garmon.