The charitable trust at the Wensleydale Railway in North Yorkshire appointed renowned mountaineer Alan Hinkes OBE as a patron.

The Wensleydale Railway Association (WRA) and the Wensleydale Railway Trust (WRT) merged in 2015 to establish ‘The Trust’.

Today, it provides funding and support to a range of projects across the railway, including track maintenance and operational and running costs.

It also has employed staff that engage with the local public and schools to raise awareness of the local heritage and the railway through an education programme, which elevates cohesion between the communities along the line and is supported by the National Lottery fund.

Alan Hinkes grew up in Northallerton and still resides in North Yorkshire. Known for his mountaineering, he became the first Briton to climb all 14 mountains in the world which are taller are than 8,000m.

He is also a mountain guide, outdoor equipment, technical consultant, author, photographer, cameraman, environmentalist and motivational speaker.

We are pleased to welcome Alan as a patron of the Trust. We are committed to encouraging the involvement of the wider community in Wensleydale and the surrounding area. Alan’s generous offer to become a patron will indicate the railway’s continued desire to provide a variety of opportunities for its members and visitors to enjoy whilst visiting the railway. We are now looking forward to Alan being involved in a number of fund-raising activities, open to all, during the course of the present season which we will be publicising in the not-too-distant future.” 

Richard Leathley, Trust Chairman at Wensleydale Railway

Alan grew up in Northallerton, close to the Wensleydale Railway, and has great passion and enthusiasm not just for our railway but also railways in general. He’s a champion of all things Yorkshire, the environment, people, education and local communities.” 

Nick Keegan, Fundraising and Marketing Manager at Wensleydale Railway