November Volunteers' Working Weekend

November Working Weekend

Our huge thanks to all those who turned out for the November Working Weekend and did their bit to make this event another success. Over the course of the weekend in excess of 35 volunteers attended and not only was it a pleasure to see so many returning faces but also many new ones.

Friday was spent clearing the debris resulting from the recent hedge laying at Rowley Cross. There was a significant amount to clear from the field side of the boundary and by the end of the day we were able to leave the site looking tidy with the task completed.

The bulk of the gang spent Saturday and Sunday undertaking the complete replacement of approximately 200m of fencing at Caffyns. It was pleasing to see the professional job our team of volunteers had achieved by Sunday afternoon. We are getting increasingly proficient at undertaking these fencing tasks as these skills are passed on to more of our team and the results are a credit to both our volunteers and the Railway.

A small team were also dispatched to Rowley Moor on Saturday and Sunday, tasked with clearing the debris that had resulted from the recent hedge laying completed at the farm.

Mention must also be made of our small team of “Grottettes” who once again performed their magic in transforming the marquee at Woody Bay into Santa's Grotto, ready for our Santa Specials starting next weekend.

And of course not forgetting our wonderful “Soup Fairy”, L&B Catering Manager Judy Williams for providing us with such a hearty lunch on Saturday.

Rowley Cross

1. The debris at Rowley Cross waiting to be cleared.

2. James Bloomfield, Maurice Hartnell, Richard Rider & Rob Ford loading logs.

3. The cleared site at the end of the day.

Caffyns

4. Maurice, Peter Gallon & James clear the fence line of undergrowth.

5. Replacement fence posts were used for the entire run.

6. Martin Steel, Sam Kiddell, Keith Lamprey & Peter "planting" straining posts.

7. With posts in position Matt Evans, Steve Castle, Bob Evans, Steve Smart & Lindsay Palmer run out the fence wire.

8. Lindsay cuts the wire ready for attaching to the straining post.

9. Tea break on the site of the former halt.

10. The final straining post is completed.

11. With wires run and droppers fitted the final task is to attach the sheep netting.

12. From the half way point looking back towards the end of the completed fence by the barn.

Rowley Moor Farm

13. The mist descends on Rowley.

14. Steve Oates and Malcolm Hector clearly taking their task at Rowley very seriously.

Woody Bay Station - Santa's Grotto

15. Sandy Hector, Julia Snashall & Sonia Oakey. AKA the “Grottettes”.

16. The forest.....

17...and Santa's Grotto.

Photos:

1-4 - Alan Jeffries
13 - Steve Smart
14 - Stuart Duddy

Rest and text by Pete & Jules Snashall

Next Volunteer Work Party Weekends

23rd - 25th January 2015
27th - 29th March 2015

NOTE that unless the timetable says otherwise the railway will be closed to the public during these weekends.