A railway carriage has been named at Snowdon Mountain Railway to honour North Wales’ bass-baritone Bryn Terfel CBE.
A two times grammy award winner, Bryn is one of the most well-known opera singers in the world and in 2006 he was awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music following his CBE for services to Opera three years earlier.
Last September, cycling supremo Sir David Brailsford CBE was moved to tears when he became the first person to be honoured in this way having grown up in the nearby village of Deiniolen.
Alan Kendall, General Manager at Snowdon Mountain Railway said:
“Bryn is a true son of Gwynedd and a fantastic international ambassador for North Wales.
“This special ceremony is to recognise the tremendous contribution Bryn has made to the area, including hosting his own festival in Faenol for nine years.
“It’s great to be able to honour someone who’s local to the area and is at the top of his profession.”
Speaking after the ceremony Bryn Terfel said:
“What an honour to stand on a platform looking at my own carriage and receiving the courtesy bronze medal of the iconic Snowdonia Mountain Railway.
“A smiling North Walian farmers son who just can’t wait to get to that marvellous summit again.”
Bryn Terfel is set to star at this summer’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in a performance of Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway smash-hit Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
For more information about Snowdon Mountain Railway, visit www.snowdonrailway.co.uk or follow on Twitter @SnowdonMR