“I’m not sure how many Marians know that David Fink, the school’s biographer, history teacher and Second Master was also a devoted railway enthusiast. A small group of us who visited the recently purchased Farchynys found out quickly enough when we went on a visit in early January 1965. We were a small party of geography students on a mini field trip to Mid Wales.

The accommodation was pretty basic I remember, and the weather was bleak and sleeting. David Fink thought he would cheer us up and took us to the refreshment room at Machynlleth, to indulge his passion for Great Western Manor class steam locomotives and to get us some hot food, the best buffet steak and kidney pies in Wales. A real treat.  We saw the Cambrian Line locos firing up in the yard, then it was off to Bala Junction, scheduled for closure on 4th January, but retrieved for a few more weeks.

We felt we were pioneers at Farchynys. Happy days, never to be repeated”

Nick Sanders QM 1958-65