Cled On The Right Track At Porthmadog Library

The winner of a competition to name the train in the children’s reading section at Porthmadog Library has been announced. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Local girl, Mali Fflur Pritchard, 11, came tops out of 40 entries with her suggestion of “Cled”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The names entered to the competition varied from ‘Tomos’ to ‘Blanche’ to ‘Usain’ and ‘Gertrude Gwynedd’, but the name CLED was on the right tracks according to judges. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Explaining her inspiration for the winning name, Mali said: “The idea came to me as I had read a book at the library about a small dog called Cled, and I though it would be suitable as a name for the train too.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As a prize, the winner received a family train ticket for a journey between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestinog. The competition was jointly sponsored by Gwynedd Library and Information Service, Arriva Trains Wales, Cambrian Railways Partnership and Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mali was presented with the award on Friday, 29 July at Porthmadog Library in the company of Samantha Hughes, Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways Booking Office Manger, Phil Caldwell, Arriva Trains Wales Schools Liaison Officer, Porthmadog Library Staff along with members of Mali’s family. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Upon receiving her award, Mali said: “I am very proud to have won, and hope to travel on the train from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog with my family tomorrow.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​