Arwyn Morgan
Elis Arwyn Morgan 1934-2008[1]
He joined Boston Lodge from 22nd November 1954 having completed an engineering apprenticeship, working with Morris Jones (1892) on the rebuild of Prince. He drilled many of the holes required (by the ratchet and swan neck method). He was called up for National Service in 1956 and was in the Royal Engineers for the next two years. He returned to Boston Lodge in 1958. He also wrote the obituary of Morris Jones in Festiniog Railway Magazine No. 83 page 2. He wrote a one page summary of early days on the FR and rebuilding Prince in 1955 with Morris Jones in The Pioneers' Stories.[2] He was able to pass on the knowledge he had acquired from Morris Jones to both volunteers and permanent staff. Among volunteer train crew, firemen and guards, he had a reputation for having a lively locomotive driving style.
He had a period driving for Silver Star coach company.
In 1969 Arwyn was a fitter in his third spell at Boston Lodge. His outside interests included local government and accomplished vocal concert work.[3] In the winter of 1971/2 he was listed as chargehand at Boston Lodge. [4]He left the staff in July 1972 to become a guard on BR at Llandudno Junction.[5] Perhaps as a result of working with volunteers at Boston Lodge he recognised in himself the aptitude to become a teacher. He trained as a secondary teacher at Normal College in Bangor. From there he joined the staff of Ysgol Penrallt, Pwllheli as a metalwork teacher. He soon moved on to Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle in Penygroes and taught metalwork and the broader subject of technology until he retired in the mid 1990s.
Arwyn has highly respected by pupils and staff alike. He worked with the boys choir throughout his time at Penygroes and led them to winning many awards. One of the boys was the young Bryn Terfel. Arwyn was an enthusiastic member of Madog Male Voice Choir. He was also a local historian and so a frequent user of Gynedd Archives. He was instrumental in arranging for major renovation of Penmorfa Chapel. His funeral service was held there and such was the respect in which he was held that the mourners filled the chapel, the village hall and spilled into the area out side.
- ^ "Elis Arwyn Morgan 1934-2008", Ffestiniog Railway Magazine, Issue 203, page(s): 008
- ^ Morgan A in Great Railway Eras, Festiniog 1946 - 1955: The Pioneers' Stories (2007) Davies M and Mitchell V, page 67, Middleton Press, Midhurst, West Sussex, GU29 9AZ.
- ^ "Introducing the Staff", Ffestiniog Railway Magazine, Issue 044, page(s): 008
- ^ "Who's who at Portmadoc", Ffestiniog Railway Magazine, Issue 055, page(s): 010
- ^ "Staff News", Ffestiniog Railway Magazine, Issue 058, page(s): 009