Christmas 2014: Rhowniar

For Christmas 1914, various members of Tom's family made their way to Rhowniar, Tom's uncle's house, between Tywyn and Aberdovey on the West Wales coast. Tom travelled to Tywyn, and towards the evening of Boxing Day, he left there to make his way back to duties at Warley barracks, Brentwood, Essex, where he'd been stationed since joining the Irish Guards.

Rhowniar: the Outward Bound Years

Tom's uncle, William Cooke Kettle, died in 1930.  His widow Mary sold Rhowniar in 1950.

Between 1963 and 1994, Rhowniar, the house was in use by the Outward Bound Trust, the educational charity that helps provide developmental experiences in the great outdoors for young people from all walks of life. If you were one of the 51,000 people that stayed there you can contribute recollections to the Outward Bound Generations web site and donate to help young disadvantaged people take part in the outward bound experience - A.K.A. 'Sponsor a child to get lost and we'll help them find themselves'.