Michael Blyth (SH 56-61) sends a final report about Plas Alltran.  “The renovation of Plas Alltran, the birthplace of the Old St Beghian, John Fox Russell VC, in Holyhead, Anglesey, is now complete.
The building had been left to deteriorate for many decades. It was the home of the first GP to be established in Holyhead in the 1890s and one of his seven sons, John Fox-Russell, was sent to St Bees School, Cumberland for his education.  Subsequently, Fox-Russell studied medicine and became the first of the three St Bees’ Victoria Cross winners in the First World War, when he ran out to rescue wounded soldiers at the Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, but was then machine-gunned to his death. He was only 23. What a waste! Link to Wikipedia - John Russell (VC) may be found here Tenants will soon be moving into the three modern apartments of the now restored house. These apartments are specially reserved for short-term tenants who are transitioning from homelessness to permanent accommodation. I was first moved to act by a BBC Article inspired by the UK Victorian Society published in 2021. Link to BBC News article may be found here
	Then Old St Beghian surgeon Mike Jamison (F61-65) and myself decided to start the ‘Friends of Plas Alltran’ to encourage the Local Authority not to delay or give up on its original plan to renovate this unique building.  With two others we have been running the restoration campaign for over four years. Now with our goal successfully achieved, this mini-organisation is closed. Sad to say Mike Jamison, the much loved and respected surgeon at the Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital died last February 2024. If you are going in or out anytime on a Holyhead Ferry, you can see Plas Alltran standing like an ancient sentinel at the main road entrance end of the concourse for vehicles as you enter the harbour area.
I recently had confirmation that my request to have a Blue Plaque memorial for John Fox Russell VC placed on Plas Alltran front wall is being put to Anglesey County Council.” Further photos may be seen here.

 

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The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk