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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 6th 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
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