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What a wonderful weekend it was! Over seventy of us – members, families, friends, local residents and National Trust officials – met at Gelli Iago in glorious sunshine to celebrate the occasion.
Conversations flowed, memories were re–lived, old friendships renewed and new ones kindled as we tucked into a sumptuous buffet provided by Caffi Gwynant. The hot weather even drove some to retreat to the shade of gazebos to escape the sunshine, sip wine and to hear the truly
memorable speeches, which enthused and inspired – Tony's as Chairman, David's as President and John Morgan's of the National Trust which was so encouraging for the future – pausing only once, to listen for a moment to the sound of the stream reminding us of the very essence of Nantmor itself: it's being on and part of the mountain, unique and special. Moving stuff!
Next came a presentation by Bob, the Warden, on behalf of all to Brenig – dubbed from that moment as ‘The
Brenig’ (there could only be one) in recognition of his 43 years of unbroken service to the Association. Years which have seen Brenig in the early days as lecturer at Shenstone College and director of it's Mountain Leadership Course (patiently suffering us wild '60's students), and over the years in various roles from Secretary to current Booking Secretary, and still the same dependable pillar.
Thank you Brenig!
Toasts over, it was time for the cake to be cut by David, symbolically helped by two of the youngest members, Emily and Katie, before it's rock (!) hard icing was skilfully carved up as only Stuart and Val knew how and it's images, painted on by Lesley, were sadly – but tastily – dissolved into memories. |
A few hours to relax(or wash up) then, as the evening approached we were beckoned by Edwin's drifting barbeque aromas as Tony's fairy lights began to twinkle from the old apple tree... Time to discover Gough's bar, cunningly installed in the cool Warden's office to allow settling of the n gallons of beer generously supplied by Tony G, or perhaps to nostalgically search for names inscribed long ago in the old visitors' books.  And on into the evening, so many thoughts shared between friendships sometimes as old as Nantmor itself, until exhausted revellers drifted – or staggered – to bed, either crammed into a very full (and resonant!) Centre, or driven by sober wives to hotels, or maybe groped their way to tents on the dark field, comforted perhaps by the thought of those inviting – but alarmingly sloping – portaloos, a godsend for the desperate. A day to remember!
All this excitement followed weeks and months of detailed planning, plus the hard graft of those who helped at the weekend shifting tables and chairs, putting up gazebos, washing up and generally getting the place ready to receive possibly more people than Gelli Iago had ever seen before. Then there was the food: all locally sourced and produced by Caffi Gwynant, home baked and prepared in Liz Owen–Till's kitchen and delivered to the Centre, and tasting even better than we'd dared to hope. The wonderful weather helped too of course, but the day was really made perfect by the people who came. And so many! It was as good to see some ‘real oldies’ from the past as it was to meet
younger folk, to be introduced to members of the Trust and to welcome ‘the neighbours’ which added to the day a special feeling that Nantmor isn't just a place that's visited then locked up and empty, but reminded us that it exists, as it always has, amongst a living community.
We look forward to the 50th – and beyond!
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