2015 Calendars a total success Virtually all the Cofio Cwmorthin Remembered calendars have all been sold. From a total print run of 250 all but 16 have bee sold. The remainder are on sale at a reduced price of £5 at Brethyn Blaenau and Siop Antur Stiniog. Support from local businesses in the form of advertisements in the calendar helped cover nearly half the print costs and without their support the idea would not have been viable. The Cofio crew would like to express their sincere thanks to all the business owners for their support. Our sincere thanks also go, of course, to all those who supported the project by buying the product! Such backing by the community and visitors alike proves invaluable to the cause.   A raffle held on the “Noson Goleuo Stiniog” in aid of the Cwmorthin Project has raised £66 and was won by Simon Anthony of Tanygrisiau. The Prize was a donated signed copy of “Cwm Orthin”, a photographic portfolio in black & white by the renowned photographer Tom Dodd of Manod The Cofio Cwmorthin Remembered group would like to express their sincere thanks to Mr Dodd for his kind gesture.

In memory of killed aircrew.....

Cofio Cwmorthin Remembered are pleased to announce a date for a Commemoration Service for eight airmen killed in the mountains around the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog during the Second World War

A memorial will be unveiled following the service scheduled for June the 28th at the town’s St David’s Church at 12 noon

Plans are underway to invite a high ranking member of the RAF to read the eulogy and to notify the American Embassy and Canadian High Commission so that they may send representatives in memory of two of the victims.

Cofio Cwmorthin Remembered would like to thank all the local people and businesses who donated the money for the memorial plaques to be made. Thanks also to Andrew Roberts of Greaves Welsh Slate for providing the slate block on which the plaques have been mounted and to Len at Maricraft Ltd for making the plaques.

Hughes Specialist Transport of Manod kindly transferred the block from Llechwedd Quarry to the Church and many thanks to John Jones of Tanymanod for attaching the memorials.

A spokesperson for CCR commented

“This has been a long drawn out project which will now come to a satisfactory close.

“It was during our research into the history of Cwmorthin that we discovered the tragedy involving Robert Bruce McIntyre on the slopes above the valley.

“In a discussion with the late Evan Llewelyn Thomas we discovered the details of the other fatalities. He was sad to reflect that there were no memorials to these young men.

“As a result we decided to go ahead with the project and renowned air-crash author Eddie Doylerush became involved as an advisor.

“Announcements were placed in the newspapers covering the towns in which the airmen were buried in the hope of finding relatives. We were successful on two counts, Parkhurst and Killen, and McIntyre’s family were traced back to Kamloops in British Columbia.

“We sent an account of the crash to Canada together with a small piece of the wreckage which they requested for closure. If we can find a volunteer we would like to video the service on their behalf.

“A newspaper in Pennsylvania, USA, will be taking a report and photos of the service”

Cofio Cwmorthin Remembered would like to thank all the local people and businesses who donated the money for the memorial plaques to be made. Thanks also to Andrew Roberts of Greaves Welsh Slate for providing the slate block on which the plaques have been mounted and to Len at Maricraft Ltd for making the plaques.

Hughes Specialist Transport of Manod kindly transferred the block from Llechwedd Quarry to the Church and many thanks to John Jones of Tanymanod for attaching the memorials.

A spokesperson for CCR commented

“This has been a long drawn out project which will now come to a satisfactory close.

“It was during our research into the history of Cwmorthin that we discovered the tragedy involving Robert Bruce McIntyre on the slopes above the valley.

“In a discussion with the late Evan Llewelyn Thomas we discovered the details of the other fatalities. He was sad to reflect that there were no memorials to these young men.

“As a result we decided to go ahead with the project and renowned air-crash author Eddie Doylerush became involved as an advisor.

“Announcements were placed in the newspapers covering the towns in which the airmen were buried in the hope of finding relatives. We were successful on two counts, Parkhurst and Killen, and McIntyre’s family were traced back to Kamloops in British Columbia.

“We sent an account of the crash to Canada together with a small piece of the wreckage which they requested for closure. If we can find a volunteer we would like to video the service on their behalf.

“A newspaper in Pennsylvania, USA, will be taking a report and photos of the service”

Three fighter pilots were killed in separate incidents

On the 5th April 1942 a Supermarine Spitfire Mk1 serial number X4239 of No.57 Operational Training Unit based at Hawarden, Flintshire crashed near Llyn Newydd .The pilot was killed. He was Pilot Officer Douglas MacGillvary Brown, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 21of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania USA

On the 9th of August 1942 a Hawker Hurricane Mk1, serial number P3385, of the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit based at Speke crashed into the top of Allt y Ceffylau, killing Pilot Officer Robert Bruce McIntyre, aged 24 of the Royal Canadian Air Force, a native of Kamloops, British Columbia

On the 26th of May 1941, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk1 serial number P6834 of the 57th Operational Training Unit based at Hawarden crashed into the north face of Moel Dyrnogydd, killing the pilot. He was Pilot Officer John Tiplady Brown, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, of Harrogate, Yorkshire aged 26

The most horrendous loss of life was in a single crash when five members of a bomber crew were killed when on the night of 21^st March 1941 a Vickers Wellington MK1c serial number R3288 of 150 Squadron RAF was returning from a raid on Lorient in Brittany. Damaged and lost, the plane hit the upper slopes of Moel Farlwyd. Those killed were:

Flying Officer (Pilot) Charles Hamerton Elliot, aged 21

Pilot Officer Roland Clive Parkhurst, 24

Observer/Navigator Sergeant Harold Beddall, 27

Wireless Op/Air Gunner Sergeant Lewis John Kirk, 27

Air Gunner Sergeant John Killen, 20

Air Gunner Sergeant Peter Martlew survived when the rear turret detached on impact.

Douglas McGillvary Brown

Robert Bruce McIntyre

Harold Beddall

John Killen

Roland Parkhurst

Lottery Bid                        Announcement Tuesday

Lottery bid goes in....

Just in time before the March deadline our bid for grant funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund went in.

Having teamed up in partnership with Antur 'Stiniog Cyf. under Ceri Cunnington, group members Mel Thomas, Bill Jones, Catrin Roberts and Evan Dafydd Roberts completed the work by March 28th.

Weeks of hard work were involved getting the bid up to the strict criteria called for by HLF Wales and we have been informed that we can expect a decision on May 31st.

We received many letters of support from highly respected bodies within Wales:

The Royal Commission on Ancient & Historical Monuments of Wales based in Aberystwyth.

Bangor University School of History, Welsh History and Archaeology, headed by Professor Dr. Raimund Karl

Gwynedd Archaeological Trust based in Bangor

Govannon Consultancy's Dr David Gwyn who linked our work with the on-going bid for World Heritage Site recognition of the slate mining areas of Wales

Deri Jones and Associates, Machynlleth, who are renowned specialists in laser scanning and have carried out such surveys of Cwmorthin Ucha and Tai Llyn.

Snowdonia National Park Study Centre, Plas Tanybwlch; nationally recognised industrial and heritage artist Falcon Hildred among the many.

Local contractors D&C Jones Ltd have been awarded the capping contract and work will commence if and as soon as the funding is announced. Huws Gray Ltd have kindly offered materials at a discount price and Greaves Ltd will be supplying slate capping slabs. D&C Jones have already carried out emergency work on Tai Llyn which has undoubtedly saved the terrace from weather damage during the February storms.

The restoration consultation was carried out by Ned Scharer of The Natural Building Centre Ltd based at Llanrwst. He will hold training courses on lime cement use in conservation work.

A watching brief will be undertaken by Ian Brooks of Engineering Archaeological Services Ltd of Glanypwll.

Watch this page for further news on this subject.

Local appeal tops £5000

In November 2013 we set up an appeal to enable emergency work to be carried out on Tai Llyn and it drew a remarkable response.

Grants of £1000 each were obtained from Magnox plc and the Snowdonia National Park's CAE sustainable development fund.

Local sculptor D.J.Nash put £500 towards the cause and recently Bob Borzillo of The Camden Trust donated the same amounts. Rehau Ltd of Tanygrisiau donated £200

Fforwm Plas Tan-y-bwlch donated £100, Mr Vanstone at the Oakley Arms added £100 as did The Cambrian Angling Association. Brethyn Blaenau/Oriel Moelwyn raised £110 through the selling of all-year use cards at Christmas.

Llafar Bro, the local Welsh language newspaper gave £50, Catrin Roberts' Nordic Walking crew raised £45 and Goleuo 'Stiniog collected just over £40

Individual donations are listed on the right.

Mr & Mrs VP WIlliams - £20, Councillor Rory Francis - £100, Ms PC Lindsay & Mr DE Matthew - £20; Mr & Mrs GJ Mullen - £5; Mr A Eardley - £10; Mrs JD Wood - £10; Mrs JA Davies £100; Mrs M O'Rourke - £20; Nesta Evans - £20; Mr & Mrs RW Jones £50; Mr A Tudor & Mr & Mrs R Tudor - £50; Mr & Mrs RE Thomas - £25; M Hughes - £10; CW & M Hughes - £10; Wendy a Evan Llewelyn Thomas - £100; Gemma - £20; Mel Thomas - £20 (fee for lecture on Cwmorthin); Wil Kingshott - £5; Mrs D Bentham - £20; Mr TJ Williams - £50: Mr & Mrs HL Roberts - £50

and anonymous donations of £150

Cofio Cwmorthin Remembered would like to convey their sincere thanks for ALL the kind donations received

Dig at Tai Llyn coming up

In the next few weeks a dig will start at Tai Llyn. It will be in two phases starting with the clearance of either No1 or No2 down to the original floor level. Once No13 has been cleared by the contractors the same will be done there but this will not be until the conservation work is underway.

For the moment we will be concentrating on the first phase with Project Archaeologist Bill Jones in charge. We will announce dates when confirmed but volunteers will be most welcome.

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