Fondly Remembered

Folk gathered together today to remember a friend who left us recently.    John's ashes were interred at Brynglas Memorial Garden this morning, a full train travelled up the line to be there.  My first memories of him were of a young man who joined my family in the train one day and shared all sorts of stories about the railway and it's history.  That was about fifty years ago and John had volunteered in various roles ever since.  Guard, Station Master, Chief Bodger ( bodging used to = carriage repairs,) Roster Clerk, local publicity, changing the posters .... and more.

The wake which today remembered perhaps his greatest achievement of all, the rescue and reconstruction of a Wurlitzer Organ, now installed in Neuadd Pendre, the community hall at the edge of town.   I remember seeing it in an old barn during the lengthy repairs thirty odd years ago and Ruth recalls helping move parts from the barn to the hall ten years ago.  Today we could take a look behind the scenes at some of the nearly 1000 pipes, bells and whistles.  Among others it was played today by a long time friend of John's, also a long time Talyllyn volunteer, David Lowe, who first played it in 1968 in a London cinema!  It's a fitting tribute to one of the kindest men you could wish to meet.