Restoration of Donyatt Halt

Good news at last! - A small committee has been formed to undertake the restoration of the Halt. Volunteers have generously responded and we have now received the following promises:

Waiting Hut: Materials and labour to rebuild the hut. Donyatt Halt sign: Labour to refurbish and replace. Doreen (Interpretation board):  Professional reprinting, framing and erecting.
These generous offers are much appreciated. Thus there remains just one item to complete the entire restoration: The statue of Doreen. This was so extensively damaged by the fire that a complete rebuild is required. The cost for this work, including removal of the damaged sculpture and erection of its replacement is £3,000. Considering the original cost of the statue, we believe this charge is a most generous offer by the original sculptor Ian Edwards who is equally upset by the mindless damage to his work.

As a first step to raise the £3,000 we have set up a bank account entitled: Let’s rescue Doreen and installed a collection box (with the same title) in The George in Donyatt.
Other volunteers are currently engaged in seeking restoration funds from local businesses and other sources such as crowd funding.

WHAT COULD YOU DO? Doreen’s story has touched the hearts of many people who have visited this site – many from far afield – her experiences in the village during WW2 are a reminder of the good that is to be found even during the worst of times.

PLEASE make a donation to our Let’s Rescue Doreen fund – however small - and VISIT our Let’s Rescue Doreen website on Facebook

Photo - The statue of Doreen which sits waiting on the platform depicts a young evacuee from London sitting on her case awaiting collection by her carers - more details on our Chard Branch page. Copyright Mike Roach 23rd March 2015