Children's book about Second World War evacuees in Carmarthenshire will raise funds for heritage railways
The book will help raise money for railway attractions like the Gwili Steam Railway in Bronwydd Arms
A new children's book about evacuees fleeing to west Wales by rail during the Second World War has been published.
Written by north Wales author Anne Signol, 'From the Blitz to the heart of Wales' features the village of Llandybie, Carmarthenshire, and was illustrated by Scott Artus, who is the marketing manager at the Gwili Steam Railway attraction in Bronwydd Arms, north of Carmarthen.
Anne and Scott had previously written a children’s book for Gwili Steam Railway in 2017 which has since raised hundreds of pounds.
Scott, who lives in Bonllwyn near Ammanford, said: "I have worked for Anne for over 30 years as her illustrator and she wanted to support me during the Covid crisis, we both lost our normal income streams during lockdown."
The new book is free for selected heritage railways to raise funds after the pandemic.
Pictured above with copies of the book is Gwili Steam Railway Preservation Society treasurer Dave Johnson.
All sales of this book will go to Gwili Railway, The Heart of Wales Line and Friends of Llandovery Station, Llandovery Station Café Friends, Llandybie Church and the Llandeilo Hub.
The tale is heart warming one about evacuee children escaping Manchester during the December blitz of 1940.
Their children brings them to Llandybie where they experience Welsh village life and farm living.
Scott said: " The book was created and researched during lockdown.
"I spent a year illustrating it and we researched the clothes, farms and which stations and trains were used.
"After a bit of research we decided to base the story in this area of Carmarthenshire.
"This was due to a story in the press about evacuees who stayed in Llandovery and Llandeilo on the local farms.
"We wanted to show the difference between living in an industrial city and the shock of suddenly being a part of a small rural farming community and learning Welsh and enjoying the culture of 1940s Wales.
"We also wanted to feature the Heart of Wales railway line community."
He added: "Our first run is a limited first edition run of 500 copies, with more being printed as demand increases.
"All proceeds will be shared between Gwili Steam Railway, Heart of Wales community projects and others.
"Two local schools Tycroes and Llandybie primary schools will also receive copies as part of a world book day assembly I did online.
"Other Heritage organisations can request copies to sell to raise funds for their own ends."
Anyone wishing to puchase a copy of the book can contact Scott by email at artuscreative@icloud.com.
Alternatively copies will be available at the Gwili Steam Railway when it is scheduled to reopen in May.
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