A long-distance steam railway buff and lay preacher has travelled well over 10,000 miles to Abergavenny and back over the years.

Although Ken Mumford is secretary of Abergavenny and District Steam Society, he lives in the old railway town of Swindon with Tricia, his wife of 40 years.

To attend the monthly meetings of the society at the Hen and Chickens public house on the second Tuesday of every month means a journey by car of around 170 miles.

"But my wife and I love our regular forays back to Wales," says Ken, a 62-year-old former teacher from Cefn Forest near Blackwood, who taught science, religious education and geography.

His interest in steam trains began in 1992 when he spotted a railway magazine about a meeting to be held at the Station Hotel in Abergavenny.

"I wrote to the hotel manager and asked him to pass my letter to the society," said Ken, who is also the editor of the society's magazine, The Coal Tank. "Then I came down from Swindon and joined up."

He has not missed a meeting since he became a member five years ago. Guest speakers keep enthusiasts entertained with talks of the good old days of steam travel.

Ken's newsletter distributed to members has attracted more enthusiasts of the bygone age of steam from as far afield as Portsmouth, London and even Northern Ireland.

The oldest member is Ken's father, Fred, who is 81, but who nowadays rarely attends meetings.

Ken, a lay preacher since he was just 17, and Tricia, travel to Wales to take services, and only recently they were at Zoar Baptist Chapel in Pandy for a morning service.