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“Thank you Tony and all members of the Committee for your warm welcome to all of us.
What do you say to an organisation which is 45 years old?
“Pretty good going..... but please, please, keep going..”
Why?
Well certainly not to prolong the life of a relic beyond its sell by date; that's for sure.
Rather, it's because there is clear evidence that people, young and old who have trod the dressed slate floor of Gelli Iago and slept under its roof, wrestled with its water supply, crowded together to cook in its kitchen, repaired its plaster walls, cleared its chimney and in between, climbed above the Centre to gaze on the spumes of wind blown waters of Llynnau Cerrig–y–myllt, Llyn–y–Biswail and Llyn Llagi and much, much more in Snowdionia's ancient landscape are
interesting and interested people whose lives have been enhanced by the experience. A very large number of these people were under the age of 21 at the time and open to gaining significantly from these long lasting and formative experiences.
How?
Dedication, quiet perseverence and the generating of fun and purpose amongst the 45 years of committees has, I suspect, been the key.
No words of mine can possibly be adequate to acknowledge the leadership of our Nantmor Mountain Centre Committee chaired for the last 27 years by Tony Tatford. Tony and our Warden, Bob James, supported we know full well by Sue and Julie have given 38 years each to Nantmor. And of course there are others we would want to commend for their energy and loyalty to making this all work culminating perhaps in 'The Brenig's' 43 years of service given quite selflessly. Brenig Garrett has been no less than a rock to Nantmor throughout almost all its history and we thank him for it. And then there are all of you gathered here together with the many who could not share this day with us in person. That's how!
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Thankfully, in Britain, there will always be beacons which shine out and defy a culture of mediocrity or worse. We need them to be there in the fields of sport, education and the arts where parallel inspiration and dedication enable a continous flow of enterprising projects to contribute to the lives of successive generations. Nantmor Mountain Centre, essentially that's the people, the place and the programme which operates from here is one such beacon. We all know that we are close to the time when a
new generation of Nantmor enthusiasts needs to stand up and take us forward.
At Nantmor in 1963 and the years which followed I discovered the power of the elements, raw and simple.
They challenged me and, I believe, shaped much of my future. For many of us they provide a respite from an overload of 20th and 21st century living. Nantmor though is more, much more than a piece of restorative sticking plaster in an uncomfortable world but only if we invite its invigorating healing possibilities to get inside us and work for us and thereby for others.
I hope and believe our members have, over the 45 years proved good stewards of this place. Is it in a more sound condition and fit for purpose than we first found it in 1963? Undoubtedly yes.
In a conversation recently with a senior worker in the National Trust for Scotland I was hearing of the pains they take to find suitable tenants for their properties; we were talking about a west coast island in particular. Of course the National Trust did not 'select' us. They 'inherited' us in much the same way as they inherit other highly valued assets. I would like to think that the National Trust feels as positive about our association as the nation generally values and appreciates the National Trust.
It is our pleasure, as our Chairman has said, that John, Richard, Arwyn and Sabine of the National Trust, together with some of our immediate neighbours in the valley have generously made the time to be with us today.
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“Thanks for a great weekend! The whole event (Saturday's weather included) revolved around preparation and the hospitality of all the members present. ..a lot of good memories, old friends seen again, and a few new friends too!
I'm looking forward to the 50th.”
Terry Smith
“It was an incredible weekend which will remain in everybody's memory for a long time, especially so in mine...”
Bob James
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“What a wonderful day! ..it was lovely to hear about everything that has been
achieved over the past 45 years... ”
Lynne Davies
“It was a fantastic evening, we all really enjoyed it and are so glad we came! Thank you for inviting us.”
Margaret Brooks, Fedw Bach
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