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29 August, 2010

Summer Newsletter 2009

Dear Friends of Gwrych Castle,

We hope this newsletter finds you in the very best of health.

Over the months we have been eagerly watching the progress of clearance work at Gwrych Castle and we continue with the Trust whilst we await further developments and plans by Clayton Hotels. The recession has played a part in delaying rapid progression, but we remain behind the Castle to ensure that we continue to do our best for the restoration of this listed building.

In the meantime, the Trust has been active in our resolve as a 'watching brief' and we have supported a number of local events, many of which are connected to the Dundonald family. On Thursday 16th of April St. Michael's Church in Abergele held a concert celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Winifred, Countess of Dundonald (16th April 1859), featuring the organist Graham Eccles and students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama performing specially-composed pieces of music for the event. On Saturday 13th of June St. Michael’s Church also held a very successful Fete in the Gwrych Castle Grounds. The celebration commemorated the 190th anniversary of the laying of the first foundation stone of our landmark Castle.

The Dundonald Heritage Celebration of 2009, organised by Mrs. Pamela Jenkins, also marked the birth of Winifred Countess of Dundonald as the heiress to the Bamford Hesketh family who built Gwrych Castle, St. Cynbryd’s Parish Church, and who supported many other village amenities in Llanddulas. The celebration also reflected on the life and work of today’s Church and village. In recognition of this a special weekend of celebrations was planned for Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th of August 2009 in Llanddulas. Many members attended the events which included the Llanddulas Male Voice Choir, an art and history exhibition and special Songs of Praise Service in St. Cynbryd's Church. This was a wonderful and memorable weekend for all who were involved from near and far. Please see our website for photographs from this event: www.gwrychtrust.co.uk

Once again we are nearing the time for the booking of our forthcoming Annual Christmas Dinner, which will take place on 5th December at the Llandudno Golf Club. Please find enclosed the booking form and menu choice form for return. Alongside renewal Memberships for 2010. The Annual Dinner is always a great success and we are limited to 90 with seating. Please book by return of post since it is a first come first served basis and seats are taken very quickly! We will be providing entertainment, a raffle and a full Christmas menu. We do hope to see you again this year and a warm welcome awaits all.

Please check the website for details of the 2009 AGM, which will be posted in the near future.

We look forward to hearing from you with menu return forms and membership renewals for next year, to assist our administrator, please return both a.s.a.p. Thanks.

With kindest regards and very best wishes,

Nancy Foster (Trust Treasurer)

Trustee Update 13th August 2009

Thank you to all past and present Members and supporters of the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust.

We remain at the side of Gwrych Castle as we await further developments, following some hesitation due to the economic recession. Please keep checking our website for further information.

The Trust has received many invitations to events this year including the celebration of the 1200th Anniversary of St. Elfod and the 150th Birthday of Winifred Countess of Dundonald.

These events have included celebrations at St. Michael's Church in Abergele, plus a garden party and a walk up to Gwrych Castle, more recently the village of Llanddulas celebrated a whole weekend of celebrations for the contribution that Winifred made to the village there, with the building of Llanddulas Village Hall and St. Cynbryd's Church. The Countess is buried in the Churchyard at the Church and it was wonderful to share the weekend with talented musicians, Llanddulas Male Voice Choir and Lowri Morgan our talented supporter of Gwrych who is a professional harpist.

We will be holding our Annual Christmas Dinner at the North Wales Golf Club on 5th December, 2009 (menu now posted on the website). This event is almost fully booked with seating limited to 90. Please look through our past photographs of all events which the Trust has supported.

Our AGM will take place on October 24th 2009 at Llanddulas Village Hall, and will begin at 10.45am.

Thank you once again for your continuing support to Gwrych Castle and we look forward to reporting progress and any developments.

E. W. Salt,

Founder Trustee

Clayton Hotel’s address to the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust, on 6^th December 2008, at the Trust Annual Christmas Dinner

The Trust was delighted to have the pleasure of the company of Mr Kris Clayton and Mr Steven Ellis, directors of Clayton Hotels at the Trust’s Annual Christmas Dinner this year.

Mr Clayton thanked the Trust for their diligence and work over the years to assist the plight of Gwrych Castle.

Extensive clearance work has been undertaken at the Castle and Mr Clayton outlined the huge effort made to date to clear the debris and overgrowth from the building and surrounding area.

Having done this, Mr Clayton informed Trust members that Donald Insall and Associates, architects, had been appointed and were currently drafting plans after surveying the Castle. Insalls had famously been employed at Windsor Castle following the great fire in 1993. Plans will be submitted to the Local Authority in the spring.

Mr Clayton kindly said that he will keep the Trust informed as developments occur.

We look forward to maintaining the work of the Trust as the plans for the Castle continue to develop. Mr Clayton also told Members that personally he hoped for the day when Members of the Trust would be holding their gatherings within the Castle walls.

This is the driving force which continues to hold the Trust together and we all hope for this day.

The Trust will continue to keep Members updated with regular emails, up-to-date news and photographs posted on our website.

Trustee Update 7th December 2008

The Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust held the 6th Annual Christmas Dinner at the North Wales Golf Club on Saturday night 6th December. Everyone enjoyed the evening so much and we have been overwhelmed with telephone calls from Members who had a tremendous time. The event this year was sold out almost immediately and we could have doubled our numbers this year for this event if the venue would have allowed.

We held a gala dinner with Baroque Musicians playing the string instruments from the Royal Welsh School of Music in Cardiff, a wonderful medley of Christmas Carol. Additionally we had a Welsh Harpist and Singer. Our first prize for the raffle was donated by Hilary’s Florist and Floral Designs of Abergele, with special thanks to Angela, Debra and Joanne for their fantastic floral displays. Kris made a statement regarding the clearance work started at Gwrych Castle and the ongoing plans to prepare for planning permission for repair work. A summary of Kris's statement will be posted on the website.

Mark Isherwood AM had prepared a full appraisal regarding the work of the Trust and his support to our work. Michael Tree, the Trust Chairman provided an overview of the mission of the Trust and our interest in listed buildings at risk.

Once again, thank you to everyone for the their ongoing support the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust.

We look forward to further gatherings in the future.

E.W. Salt

Founder Trustee

Trustee Update 15th September 2008

Firstly, the Trustees wish to extend their deepest thanks to all members past and present who have kindly continued to support the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust over the years.

We continue as a ‘watching brief’ in the hope of restoration of Gwrych and we can then enjoy our gatherings at the Castle. It would be simply wonderful to see the lights on in the Castle and to have that ‘welcome in the hillside once more’.

We will be e-mailing all members who have left an e-mail address when the Castle website is updated. Members who do not have the password for the website, please e-mail the webmaster for a reminder.

On Saturday 6th December 2008 we hold our Annual Christmas Dinner. Once again, we are almost sold out of tickets! The event is very well-attended, with good food, entertainment, a raffle included & guest speakers. Alongside classical Christmas carols and other musical entertainment, we expect to have a delightful evening during the festive season.

We look forward to welcoming all for a very enjoyable evening.

At our recent AGM it was decided that 2009 memberships will be accepted in advance and that will help reduce administration work for the Trust. Many members have now already renewed for 2009 and we thank those for their support. Additionally there are many who are eligible for Gift Aid so that is also a tremendous support for the Trust.

In the meantime, please keep checking the website.

We shall e-mail as many of you as possible when the website is updated from now on. Various aspects of the website will be revised soon with new information.

With every good wish,

E. Salt

Trustee

Trustee Update 2nd November, 2007

Thank you to all supporters of the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust for your ongoing support to Gwrych Castle.
 
The Trust remains united as we await developments at the Castle and to report on the plans for the proposed renovation work by Clayton Hotels.
 
We feel very strongly that the Trust has worked very diligently with a team of committed and loyal supporters over the years, and we now have the most positive news which can be attributed to the work of the Trust.
 
At the time of Mark Baker setting up the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust when he was still at school. Mark strived to find adult supporters who could help him to achieve his aim since he determined that Gwrych Castle should have a building Preservation Trust in place.
 
A lady by the name of Mrs. Doris Thornton came forward and she stood behind Mark throughout the early days and the formation of the Trust. Although living in Chipping Norton, Oxon, Mrs. Thornton remained in constant contact with Mark and has been a Trust Member since the foundation of the Trust.
 
Mrs Thornton was a great inspiration to Mark since she had personal knowledge of the Countess of Dundonald and her family worked at the Castle at a time of great importance. It was Mrs. Thornton who provided much information regarding her childhood memories of Gwrych that helped to encourage a young Mark Baker to try and bring about a change with the support of a building Preservation Trust.
 
Sadly, Mrs. Thornton passed away in October 2007.
Mrs.Thornton will be greatly missed.
 
The Trust website will be dedicating a page to the life of Mrs. Thornton alongside family photographs provided by Mrs. Thornton's family. Mrs Thornton was born at the Tan yr Ogo Lodge at Gwrych and we look forward to sharing her story with you.
 
On Saturday 8th December, the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust Annual Christmas Dinner will be taking place at the Llandudno Golf Club. This event has been a tremendous success over the years and provides a forum for a gathering of interested supporters of Gwrych who wait for the day when our Christmas Dinner will be held once more in Gwrych Castle.
 
We look forward very much in hope for this day.
 
Please continue to send your photographs, memories and information to the Trust as we remain behind the Castle as a 'watching brief' whilst we await long term developments.
 
We look forward to seeing many of our Trust Members at the Annual Dinner and alongside our Festive fayre, will be Guest Speakers including representatives from Clayton Hotels who hope to attend to provide an update to the Trust Members.
 
Thank you once again for your loyalty and support to the Trust as we await developments.
 
E. W. Salt
Founder Trustee

Trustee release 24th September 2007

Thank you once again to all Members and Supporters of the Gwrych Castle Trust, both new and long standing.
 
Following our Annual General Meeting, it was decided that the vision statement as outlined by Michael Tree, Trustee should be adopted. Although the Trust has no intention to fund raise, we are welcoming Membership support in order to maintain the administration costs of the Trust.
 
We are now awaiting further information from the Directors of Clayton Hotels in relation to proposed developments at Gwrych Castle and as soon as we have information we will disseminate this via the official Trust website and through our Trust newsletters.
 
In the meantime, our Annual Christmas Dinner Gathering will take place on Saturday 8th December at the North Wales Golf Club in Llandudno. By popular demand, this event will include an update of the current situation and plans for the Castle from Clayton Homes. Entertainment will be provided with traditional Christmas Carols and the raffle will be included in the ticket price. Seating is limited to 70 and invitations will be forwarded to Members in the next few weeks, please reply early with your reservations to avoid disappointment.
 
Once again, thank you most sincerely for your on-going support, our resolve remains that the Trust will stand behind Gwrych Castle.
 
We hope to see you on Saturday 8th December 2007 and thank you once again for your loyal support to the Trust.
 
E.W. Salt
Founder Trustee

Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust Vision Statement

The Future Role of the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust

We were all delighted to have heard of the sale of Gwrych to Clayton Hotels for future use as a hotel, and we are confident that to a large extent this was only achieved as a result of the hard work put in by the Trust over many years. In particular, we believe that the combination of our feasibility study and its publication has been a key item in this achievement. 

There is an argument for discontinuing the Trust – we have all have busy lives and there are many more heritage items ‘out there’ that need our help. On the other hand, let us not forget that Gwrych is in actuality unchanged from the ruin that has caused us so much anguish: what a shame it would be if the rescued Castle were a severe disappointment simply on account of this Trust failing to keep a benevolent eye on all proposals as they emerge. I know that the Amenity Societies will be doing all they can to ensure that this does not happen. Never the less in my opinion there can be no substitute for local community vigilance acting as a safety net. 

I would therefore recommend that the Gwrych Castle Trust is not now disbanded but takes an in-depth interest in the rescue project in consultation with the owners, planning authority and the amenity societies. This should ensure that the ultimate Gwrych Castle is a triumph rather than a tragedy! Indeed, in the long term maybe the Trust could evolve from the ‘eyes and ears’ role to the role of the ‘Friends of Gwrych Castle.’ I suggest this as I suspect the underlying feeling of all of us is that NEVER AGAIN should the Castle get into the pickle it is in at the moment.

I much hope that after consideration both members and Trustees might be in agreement with this rather broad vision for the future subject of course to any amendments, alterations and additions as they may which to see.

Michael Tree

Principal Trustee 
September 2007