Volunteer Update

By Clive Higgs & Jenny Edwards, Railway Volunteers

Annie was a very intrepid volunteer, happily carrying buckets of water in her wheelchair, across rough ground and along the station platform at Capel Bangor.

We shall miss her sparking smile and sense of humour. Annie died on July 7th after a long illness, devotedly looked after by Jenny. Jenny returned to volunteering and was soon working at every session and summarizing: ‘It has been a busy season for volunteer involvement with the VoRR. Tasks have ranged from preparing and painting a station building and a water tank, to maintaining floral displays at their best amidst what can only be described as challenging conditions. The great thing from my point of view as a newer volunteer is to learn new skills and to just have a go at something different, to do your bit whilst being part of a bigger picture.’ By June, the Aberystwyth Station’s gulls seemed to have stopped digging up the violas and primulas and had moved away, perhaps in search of people’s fish and chips. The volunteers were driven by the weather instead. The routine of meeting just once a week was dropped for months. During the dry spells there was watering at Aberystwyth, Capel Bangor, Nantyronen, Aberffrwd and Devil’s Bridge every few days. In the wet spells the geraniums at these places needed deadheading .and the weeds needed clearing The isolated Rheidol Falls and Rhiwfron halts had no plants needing

watering but their banks were cleared of brambles and aggressive weeds. The mountainous clematis montana hedge at Rhiwfron grew over the platform seat and sat down there. We were able to see the seat after an hour of trimming and to sit on it after two. There were several trips to find and clear the footpath above Rheidol Falls. The buildings of the intermediate stations and halts were cleaned. John and Clive painted the smaller water tank on the bank opposite Aberffrwd Station. It was hidden by overgrowth. We had to cut a path to it and around it but couldn’t step back and see it overall. Until later, when the permanent way gang cleared the view. Seven volunteers turned out to paint Aberffrwd Station including the original volunteers Maurice and Mark. A very sociable time, especially with the chorus of ‘You’ve missed a bit!’ from laughing passengers. Now, the station can be seen from the revealed water tank. The autumn jobs were weeding at all the stations, appreciating kneepads and planting narcissi bulbs at Devil’s Bridge. After the trains hibernate in November, we planted lots of tulip bulbs and moved the 25 boxes of geraniums in the Nantyronen platform troughs inside the waiting room to protect the plants from frost. The 25 boxes of bulbs that were parked outside the building were put into the platform troughs. A very busy period for the volunteers: Philip, Edwina, John, Mark, Maurice, Jenny, Clive and Maureen, who looked after the Aberffrwd gardens alone.

Our volunteers meet once a week, and through their efforts our stations always look at their best no matter what the weather. If you wish to join our amazing band of volunteers helping to maintain our stations then please get in touch via email: info@rheidolrailway.co.uk