We certainly hope not.
Yesterday's talk on the railway in Rhuthun/Ruthin by Fiona Gale as part of Gŵyl Rhuthun was informative and interesting. I would guess that most of those present knew something about the railway but not everything and certainly not always in a coherent and chronological order. Fiona has a knack of presenting things accurately and with interest.
But the talk was poorly managed. It was advertised in the Festival brochure as an open and free event at The Old Courthouse. After printing, in fact at almost the last moment, it transpired that TOC could only accommodate 25 people. This apparently was as a result of a coronavirus risk assessment. Efforts were then made to limit numbers by introducing a booking system. How well this was published is unsure. Posters certainly hastily made mention of this. And of the bookable 25 slots available via Siop Elfair saw 30 names, although one was unable to attend.
A further 15 turned up on spec (plus several who elected to leave), including two great grandchildren of the last town stationmaster. Understandably, those who rocked up had not realised the requirement to book, as this was not publicised in the Festival brochure. The organisers managed to squeeze those who stayed in. It resulted in an over-full venue which, including the organisers, saw about 55 within.
All sorts of plans as agreed jointly by the Civic Association and History Society were overturned before the event, sometimes twice, with poor Fiona Gale caught in the middle. Who changed things? In any case, who held the responsibility? The Festival, who seemed to instigate the talk and who changed the way it was organised? The Civic Association, responsible for the craft centre & railway project in town? Or the History Society, who appeared to front the meeting?
Thee appeared to be only one trainspotter within the audience, who referred in a nerdy way to the non-standard gauge for the proposed railway to Cerrig.
