ILMINSTER AREA NEWS: Let’s Rescue Doreen in restoration project to beat the arsonists

VOLUNTEERS are getting together to try and restore the historic Donyatt Halt which was badly damaged by arsonists.

A small committee has been formed and volunteers have generously responded with materials and labour to help rebuild the waiting hut, replace the Donyatt Halt sign and the reprinting, framing and installing of an interpretation board.

But there is still one essential piece of the Donyatt Halt refurbishment which needs to be sorted – the statue of Second World War evacuee Doreen Ash.

Committee spokesman Donna Grabham said: “This was so extensively damaged by the fire that a complete rebuild is required.

“The cost for this work which includes 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.”

A bank account has been set up called Let’s Rescue Doreen and a collection box has been placed in the George pub in Donyatt.

It was back on Wednesday, November 25, 2015, when arsonists set fire to a wooden shelter at the Donyatt Halt which had been installed as part of a restoration project to bring to life the history of the former railway platform which had been heavily used during the Second World War with young evacuees arriving in Somerset for safety away from the bomb-hit cities.

PHOTO – ABOVE: The statue of Doreen Ash at Donyatt Halt following the fire.

PHOTO – RIGHT: The burnt-out remains of Donyatt Halt following the fire.

The statue of Doreen Ash was created by Ian Edwards, of Chard, who’s own grandfather was also evacuated to Donyatt at the same time as Doreen.

The restoration of Donyatt Halt was part of a community project between 2005 to 2009 which saw a group of volunteers from Ilminster, Donyatt, Knowle St Giles and Chard work together with district and parish council to link the communities along the disused railway line with a cycle path.

Now the work needs to be done again to restore

The original Donyatt Halt was built in 1928 with a single platform faced with wooden sleepers and a small wooden waiting shelter.

In 1940 it became part of the Taunton Stop Line which was built by the Army to contain any German invasion of the South West.

The defences were 50 miles long and ran from Burnham-on-Sea on the Bristol Channel to Seaton on the English Channel comprising of a continuous line of anti-tank obstacles with pillboxes and road blocks.

Between Ilminster and Chard it followed the Great Western Railway branch and is a prominent feature of Donyatt Halt with the anti-tank obstacles – large blocks of concrete known as dragon’s teeth – still visible thanks to the heritage project, which received National Lottery funding, uncovering them from overgrown vegetation as part of the restoration.

PHOTO – ABOVE: Donyatt Halt with the anti-tank blocks – known as dragon’s teeth – at the top of the photo.

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