Lunchtime Meeting - 12.45pm - Speaker Rob Williams

"I bet you are expecting loads of photos of old steam trains?" Rob Williams asked his audience as he started his presentation to Oswestry Rotary Club this week.  Well, the trainspotters were to be disappointed as Rob, Chair of Oswestry's Cambrian Heritage Railways (CHR), quickly ran through the background of the historical importance to Oswestry of the Victorian arrival of the railway, when it employed so many Oswestry people, until its demise under Dr Beeching's axe when Oswestry was 'reshaped' out of the railway network.

The situation grew clearer and more positive after the arrival on the scene of the CHR in 2009, since when leases over the track, which thankfully remains in place, have allowed CHR to make ambitious and exciting plans for tourist attractions at both their Llynclys and Oswestry sites and a public transport link up with the main line at Gobowen.

"I want to dispel the old image of a conflicted set up and show you how the CHR is self funding and has achievable plans to take things forward." Rob said. "The main drive at the moment is to reinstate the line as far as Weston which would allow us to offer visits to Stonehouse Brewery from the Weston Halt by the old engine shed", he continued, "However, we still need the support, financial and with expertise and labour, of our members, supporters and friends together with any grant funding that we can secure to make this happen."

Half-term events at Lynclys, where Halloween Ghost Trains will run, and at Oswestry where the museum will be open and a diesel loco will run, will help to meet CHR's running costs but Rob appealed for help by becoming a member, donating, offering skills, getting involved, talking about CHR to get them better known and, of course, visiting them at Llynclys or Oswestry.

Club members found the presentation very interesting and asked many questions before they thanked Rob for the time he had taken out from his job to come and speak to them; just going to prove that the railways are still very important to Oswestry people.

Visit the website of the Cambrian Heritage Railways