Life on the Line

Whilst working on various Public Map Platform mapping projects, you just never know what or where it can lead to. One such project is the one I have been working on with Professor Alec Shepley, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Arts and Society, Wrexham University. It was to research and map old derelict buildings that were along the Anglesey Central Railway line.

Having been responsible for bringing tourism products to market in my career, I have always been fascinated with storytelling as a tool to share information in an engaging, creative, kind way, to capture imaginations, share experiences and learn from one another.

As a Community Mapper on the project, I have the autonomy to grow projects, and I wanted to explore this line more - recording soundbites and images of the nature that has made its home around the railway, what the landscape around it looks like, what historic monuments are situated along the line, videos from past to present, press releases, photos. I wanted to create a social and environmental travel map of this railway, highlighting key points along its way.

Whilst researching a connection to the railway line to gain access permissions, a moment of serendipity came about. In one of my research meetings, I was provided the name, Walter Glyn Davies, Chair of the Anglesey Central Line, and what followed that first conversation on the telephone with Walter was both wonderful and unexpected.

When Walter visited the Public Map Platform offices in the Llangefni Town Hall, we sat down with a paned and Walter started chatting. I realised what he was sharing was a personal journey, his lifetime spent with the Anglesey Central Railway. Immediately, I sprang into action - this was an opportunity not to be missed. After asking permission to record his story, his voice and film any images, I gathered what tech I could and after counting down from 3, I started to record, and his story unfolded.

We decided to tell it in soundbites, small time chapters starting in 1947 when Walter was a young boy. I wanted to respect Walter’s story, and thought the most appropriate way to do this was to map his life story along the railway in date order with click points along the way, allowing viewers to listen and see relevant materials (e.g. tickets, posters) to that point. I felt this would certainly add a much more enriching addition, and a more social dimension to the map of the line.

As Walter tells you his story in such a wonderful way, you cannot but be absorbed in Walter’s tales, starting from when he first became interested in the railway as a young boy. He tells of trips he took to the theatre in Liverpool, but never made it.

Walter brought archived articles, tickets and original posters that have travelled with him over the years, all in mint condition, including his famous satchel that you see in many of his photos. All of these brought his experiences to life. During his story, we laughed, we cried. You cannot help but be completely emotionally invested. Quite often I would observe Walters’ big smile and the sparkle in his eye as he spoke about his happy memories… and I respected the long pauses as he composed himself when recalling the sad points in his time.

A couple of months later, myself, Professor Alec Shepley and the team from Wrexham University met up with Walter to walk some of the line with him.

We wanted to capture moments with Walter in his happy place, to record more of his railway memories. Walter showed us a very old stamper that was salvaged before the station was shut down, with Llannerch-y-medd embossed into the brass part. There was quite an emotional moment when he pulled out a very old metal whistle, the original Llangefni Station Master’s whistle called, ‘The Thunderer’.

We made a little bit of history that afternoon, as the last time ‘The Thunderer’ was blown was for the last passenger-carrying train in 1964. Exactly 60 years later, Walter stood at Llangefni railway track and blew it again, and you should have seen his smile, it was incredible, from ear to ear.

When we carried on the interview in the Bull Inn, Walter brought out a tin, like last time, and with no biscuits in it, which he loves to say, with a mischievous grin, but instead a very old ginger beer bottle that was found once along the railway (I must get Walter some biscuits in a tin 😊).

As I interviewed Walter, I could see the team listening and having the same impact on them as I did, it was lovely to see.

Walter was very happy to have had the opportunity to share his story, and it is fair to say from my perspective from hearing his life’s story to this day, that there is no one else on the Island that has as much knowledge of the line, has such an amazing collection of original artifacts and memorabilia, and who has dedicated their life as much as Walter has to the Anglesey Central Railway Line.

This experience made me reflect and think about the importance of capturing and mapping these amazing stories, celebrating the memories told by those who have lived it and invested so much into their community.

When we wrapped up the recording and interview there was a feeling of accomplishment amongst us all. When I spoke with Walter afterwards, we were happy he had recorded and created something really special, a collection of time-lined memories, tales, and experiences of a life on the line.

Thank you, Walter Glyn for sharing your story with us.

If you know of anyone in your community who would like to take part and share their life’s story on Ynys Môn, it can be about a life’s dedication to a project, a community champion, someone who has had an impact on the Island, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Tansy - TR544@cambridge.ac.uk.