I was born in Gerlan, raised in Tregarth, schooled in Bethesda, spent holidays with my Nain in Blaenau Ffestiniog and lived in Cwm Penmachno for many years. A childhood spent visiting Cwmorthin, riding the Ffestiniog Railway or wandering along the Penrhyn Railway, along with exploring the mines and quarries of Cwm Penmachno, means that the slate areas are very close to my heart.
Following completion of a Masters in Community Development in my retirement, recognition of the depopulation of the slate villages, coupled with the lack of facilities and employment opportunities led me to develop the Snowdonia Slate Trail. This project involved the local and county councils, the Snowdonia National Park Authority, a number of agencies, landowners and local people, as well as many schoolchildren. It has resulted in the creation of an 83-mile long-distance walking trail intended not only to contribute to the tourist economy but also to bring our unique slate heritage and culture to local, national and international attention.
I hark back to the days of my youth when most people around me depended on slate for a living, when my mate`s dad used to catch the Purple Motors quarry bus, carrying his red Oxo tin of sandwiches. I look forward to the day when walkers and other visitors will bring new life and opportunity to this amazing slate area of ours, attracted not only by the Snowdonia Slate Trail but by World Heritage Site status.