The fascinating story of the creation of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail came to life at this year’s County Show, with two of the original team who helped to construct this internationally acclaimed walking trail in the 1960s meeting with Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority staff who help manage the Path today.

Paul Hosgood, from Fishguard, started work driving a bulldozer known as a Bristol tractor carving out the first bit of the Coast Path, and George Edwards, from nearby Goodwick, was part of the follow-up team creating the Coast Path between 1965 and 1970.

Paul Hosgood, who drove the Bristol tractor for five years, recalled: “At the age of 18, I was working for the contractor who supplied the tractor, Roy Morris, and was told I would be driving the tractor. We took delivery of the tractor on a Saturday afternoon, was given the weekend to get used to it and on the Monday went for our first excavation at Dinas - which didn’t quite go to plan!”

“Following this test run, the tractor was taken to Strumble Head lighthouse and the supervisor, Paul Blick, advised me to take all the time I needed and we quietly but steadily carved out the Coast Path all the way to Harbour Village, Goodwick. My instructions were simple; keep the Path as close to the cliff edge as possible!”

When asked why he was entrusted with this task at such a young age, he said that looking back, nobody else wanted to do it!

George Edwards and his father Willy were council lengthsmen, and George followed the tractor with picks and shovels for 12 months, and continued to maintain the Coast Path after it was opened, clearing the path and helping to erect stiles and signposts.

George said: “It was good work, lots of fun. I remember how tough the young gorse was, which would soon blunt the blades of our hooks and cutting tools, and the tent and stove which were a welcome break when the weather turned wet and windy.”

A working Bristol tractor, kindly lent by Mr. Alun and Mr. Richard Nicholas, of Lodor Fawr Farm, Rosebush, of the same model of machines that were used to cut the Path, was also on display at the National Park Authority’s County Show marquee, with some parts of one of the original Coast Path tractors used to repair it.

The National Park Authority’s access manager, Anthony Richards, said: “National Park Authority staff thoroughly enjoyed meeting with Paul and George and listening to their descriptions and memories of their work cutting this Path - in terms of risk assessment, they probably would not be allowed to do the work so close to cliff edge today as they did in the 1960s!

“Paul and George were touched to learn that the Coast Path they helped to create is now walked and enjoyed by hundreds and thousands of people each year and that it makes such a significant contribution to the local economy.

National Park Authority chairman, Clr. Mike James, added: “We were very grateful to have the opportunity to meet with Paul and George - it was very humbling to meet with them and hear about the conditions under which they worked to create this Path, which has brought so many benefits to Pembrokeshire and beyond.

“It’s important to remember the history of the Coast Path creation, and the people who were the main characters in this amazing story.”