During our busy WHR100 event weekend, an important presentation took place on the Saturday morning (June 24th) as the winner of the WHR100 Research Competition was announced.
The WR100 Research Competition was launched last year, with the support of Mortons Media Group, publishers of Heritage Railway and The Railway Magazine, with entries encouraged to submit a piece of original research on the history of the WHR, the North Wales Narrow Gauge Railway Company (NWNGR), its associated activities and personalities.
The winner would be awarded a prize of £500 and presented with a certificate at the event.
A final list of three entries was selected by the two judges, Dr Dafydd Gwyn, who advised Gwynedd Council on its successful bid for UNESCO World Heritage status for the slate landscape of North West Wales, and Gareth Haulfryn Williams, a former county archivist of Merioneth and later Head of Culture for Gwynedd Council.
Following lengthy discussions, these two eminent historians selected Dr Stephen Murfitt’s submission titled ‘The Saints’ Way: A failed mission – Ffordd y Saint.’ as the winner.
Stephen’s essay examined and explored the WHR’s journey from closure in 1937 to it’s re opening and explained why when many powerful national organisations, including the National Parks Commission, the Ramblers Association and the Council for the Protection of Rural Wales, sought the creation of a long-distance footpath along its route, with the railway and its supporters eventually proving the victorious.
During the ceremony, Dr Stephen Murfitt, was joined by Cedric Lodge, Lord Peter Hendy and Liz Saville Roberts, as he was presented with his certificate.
Congratulations to Stephen from everyone here at the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways.
Yn ystod ein penwythnos prysur o ddigwyddiadau RhUC100, cafwyd cyflwyniad pwysig ar y bore Dydd Sadwrn (24ain o Fehefin) ei gynnal, wrth i enillydd Cystadleuaeth Ymchwil RhUC100 gael ei gyhoeddi.
Lansiwyd Cystadleuaeth Ymchwil RhUC100 y llynedd, gyda chefnogaeth Mortons Media Group, cyhoeddwyr Heritage Railway a The Railway Magazine, ac anogir ceisiadau i gyflwyno darn o ymchwil gwreiddiol ar hanes RhUC, Cwmni Rheilffordd Gul Gogledd Cymru (NWNGR), ei weithgareddau a phersonoliaethau cysylltiedig.
Byddai’r enillydd yn cael gwobr o £500 ac yn cael tystysgrif yn y digwyddiad.
Dewiswyd rhestr derfynol o dri chais gan y ddau feirniad, Dr Dafydd Gwyn, a fu’n cynghori Cyngor Gwynedd ar ei gais llwyddiannus am statws Treftadaeth y Byd UNESCO ar gyfer tirwedd llechi Gogledd Orllewin Cymru, a Gareth Haulfryn Williams, cyn archifydd sir Feirionnydd, ac yn ddiweddarach Pennaeth Diwylliant Cyngor Gwynedd.
Yn dilyn trafodaethau maith, dewisodd y ddau hanesydd hyn gyflwyniad Dr Stephen Murfitt o’r enw ‘Ffordd y Seintiau: Cenhadaeth a Fethodd – Ffordd y Saint.’ fel yr enillydd.
Roedd traethawd Stephen yn archwilio taith RhUC o’i chau ym 1937 i’w hailagor ac esboniodd pam pan geisiodd llawer o sefydliadau cenedlaethol pwerus, gan gynnwys Comisiwn y Parciau Cenedlaethol, Cymdeithas y Cerddwyr a Chyngor Diogelu Cymru Wledig, greu cynllun hirfaith. -llwybr troed pellter ar hyd ei lwybr, gyda’r rheilffordd a’i chefnogwyr yn y pen draw yn fuddugol.
Yn ystod y seremoni, ymunodd Cedric Lodge, Lord Peter Hendy a Liz Saville Roberts â Dr Stephen Murfitt, wrth i’w dystysgrif gael ei chyflwyno iddo.
Llongyfarchiadau i Stephen o bawb yma yn Rheilffyrdd Ffestiniog ac Eryri.
