General

There is much to report on this month so read it all. Please make sure you attend the AGM on 19 November.

Thursday’s attendances are now into the high 30’s so please do stock repairs / alterations in the modelling room and not in the Club room as there really is now insufficient space to mingle with those eating and drinking. This really only need apply to Thursdays.

Finances

The Club has paid out on agreed, committed expenditure at both the NWM and on new and existing layouts. These items have been the subject of intensive Committee examination with prior approval given for each item.

SRMG has been able to meet unforeseen expenditure but there is pressure on finances and, as subscriptions have remained unchanged for more than 11 years, your Committee will be asking the AGM to ratify an increase of £5.00 per month from each member from 1 January 2016. New and existing members are reminded that it is a fire requirement that everyone in the building signs in on arrival so that all can be identified if an emergency should occur. SRMG also asks that members each add £1.00 per week when signing in – this goes towards the overall cost of the refreshments made available to us all.

We remain grateful to John Gray for his hard work in keeping up with the finances.

Membership

John Rogers has spent some time recently in hospital. We wish him a speedy recovery as we have missed his wit and enthusiasm in the Club! Club membership now stands at 82 as:

John Hammond from Clydach and
Nathan Taylor – a Swansea University student from Bridgend – both joined in late September.

Lewis Davies from Pentrechwyth arrived in October together with
Lyn Davies from Resolven, Neath
Michael Harvey from West Cross
Richard John from Gorseinon and
Gwyn Jones from Fforestfach

Please give a warm welcome to all our new members. Many are new to railway modelling so need some support.

Swansea Exhibition at The National Waterfront Museum

This was the 6th Show held at the NWM but it was the first year when the event’s running was handed over completely to SRMG by the local NWM staff. About 12 months ago Ted Hylton took up the challenge to be the Exhibition Manager and he gathered around him a model railway team including Mike Brooks and Ken Lewis with others helping on an ad hoc basis. All were inexperienced but, after much hard work, their organisational efforts were rewarded and much praised at the show by those with whom Committee members came in contact. The publicity bore fruit as 3,000 people set foot in the NWM over the 2 days of the event. This was 3 times the number the NWM expected to see at an event at this time of year. It was good to count more than 50 of the Club’s members present. The show should make a small net profit of just under £500.00 for SRMG thanks to the generosity of a couple of traders and because some layout owners refused expenses for their layouts’ use. The raffle contributed £350. Peter Lydiard (Neath), Jayne Jeavons (Llangyfelach), and Cyril Jones (Swansea) won the raffle prizes for a couple of nice 4mm locos and station set donated by some traders and a local model shop.

The public voted 0 Gauge Penfold Priory the best layout in show. The owners, Bridgend MRC, received a special commemorative plaque “ Best in Show ” to mark the occasion. Many of the traders and exhibitors have already expressed a wish to participate in 2016. The Committee will now assess the show’s production with a view to tightening up some procedures, re-evaluating the costs and cutting out unnecessary paperwork. It was always acknowledged that this was going to be a first effort upon which SRMG could improve. The Club’s thanks are due to all who helped and, particularly, to Ted Hylton and his team.

Layouts

Box: Axel Richardson found an article written some years ago by John Cook about Box Station. John had completed extensive research into the GWR construction of the original Box Station and built a model in N Gauge. John has now been to the Club and passed on details of his valuable research to assist SRMG in its reproduction of Box Station. Axel and John Meredith – the 2 principal modellers of this layout – will now be able to short circuit the time which otherwise would have been necessary to research the layout’s details.

Clear Creek: Phil Place and Tony Richards will soon begin to build a demountable 00 layout to replace the On 30 fixed layout. The Club will use the completed new build on the exhibition circuit. The Club needs a number of excellent layouts to exhibit. A finite amount of club space means all new builds now need to be portable.

St David’s Wells: Rob Pendry is now wiring the sidings on Wednesdays as the last part of his work there. Alan Burton will be finishing his Thursday scenic work by the end of this month. A low Perspex screen is to be added to the baseboard inner well to prevent scenery accidents caused by loading stock to track by layout users. Members please note this layout will revert to operational use once more after the AGM on 19 November 2015.

Lectures

There was a good turnout for the lecture on The White Rock Copper Works and members found it most interesting.

Hywel Trick has organised Mark Jutsum of World War Scenics to give a demonstration on Tuesday 24 November at 7.00 for 7.30pm. It is hoped future lectures will be interspersed with demonstrations by stock manufacturers. Plans are to arrange lectures at about 6 week intervals between September and Easter each year with a suitable break over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Modelling Competition

The 2016 Modelling Competition will be expanded to 6 categories. You are encouraged to enter in the appropriate categories with whatever modelling skills you possess. There should now be something to encourage modellers of all abilities. The closing date for entries will be 7 April 2016 when please bring your completed model(s) to the Club for judging. Full details of the modelling categories and competition terms are available on the Club’s noticeboard. If in doubt please contact Tony Richards here.

AGM

This is scheduled for Thursday 19 November at 7.00pm and will be held in the 1st floor library. Please make a special effort to come. There will be much up for discussion as SRMG’s ever-expanding membership has space ramifications for us all. Recommendations for the Committee for the 2015 / 2016 fiscal year need to be approved at the Meeting. Any member wishing to stand for office should seek and complete an application form from the secretary before returning it to him no later than Thursday 12 November 2015. However before applying please read the next item relating to the Committee’s running of the Club as it may influence any decision to stand.

Christmas Festivities

Some club members meet during the year. This year the Committee decided to organise a Christmas Curry evening meal at The Patti Raj at which everyone can meet socially without the pressure of an organised Open Evening. The Club has booked a private room and bar for Saturday 5 December at 7.00pm. This caters for up to 60 and a set meal at a maximum of £20.00 per head exclusive of drinks will be provided. Drinks will be down to individuals’ own account. Both meal and bar will need to be settled on the night but no prior deposit is needed. The overall price per head may be reduced if the numbers attending are high. Please add your name to the list on the Club notice board if you wish to come. A basic menu is available for those who do not like Indian food. Please indicate on the list if you do not want Indian food but don’t expect a gourmet Western meal.

NB The Reading 0 Gauge Trade Show is on the same day.

SRMG will also maintain its traditional pre-Christmas Club festivities on Thursday 17 December – our last Club evening before Christmas. Some traditional nibbles (mince pies, stilton and other cheeses will be available) with some appropriate drinks. Peter Ryan will organise a raffle. There will be no refreshment charges for the evening.

SRMG and its Future

I have reconsidered my decision to stand down as Chairman. I am prepared to carry on but need to delegate more of my regular responsibilities. The following Club / Committee members have either agreed to continue or take on new / additional duties. These now need ratification at the AGM:

John Allnutt will take over all duties associated with Club Open Evenings, delegating where appropriate.
Tony Richards will email the monthly Newsletter to members and post copies to non-Internet users.
Ted Hylton will stand as Club Secretary, taking a more active stance than Tony’s time has permitted him.
Tony Richards will stand for the revived position of Deputy Chairman.
Ted Hylton will become the interface with FOYD.
Tony Richards and Scott Rhodes will continue to manage stock sales but I shall no longer be involved.
John Gray will seek re-election as Treasurer.
Nick Kerslake will become the new Membership Secretary. I’ll still be the initial point of public contact.
*Hywel Trick will take on the role of Lectures Co-ordinator and expand it to include other Events.
*Peter Ryan will organise all raffles. He will ensure all Fire procedures are properly managed.
*Gwion Davies will continue as Webmaster.
All Committee Members and secondees have signified their willingness to continue in office.

*Non-committee positions.

In practice these Committee positions may be challenged if other members decide to stand for the roles of Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. This would necessitate a vote. Spreading the above responsibilities is with the knowledge that all those involved understand the SRMG roles they will undertake and have expressed a willingness to work for our Club.

Gauge Representation

The large SRMG membership means that any members’ individual requirements need to be funnelled properly to the Committee for consideration and action or they will be forgotten. Accordingly, your gauge interests should be directed to the following Committee members:

N Gauge, 009 – Axel Richardson
4mm (00, On 30 and other closely related variations) – Tony Richards
0 Gauge – Scott Rhodes
G-Scale – Nick Kerslake

All new members will be asked their interest(s) when joining and then directed to the appropriate gauge representative(s). Existing members should make their interests known to the relevant indivisual(s).

FOYD

FOYD wants SRMG to run trains from 11.00am to 4.00pm on Saturday 21 November. We’re to charge £1.00 per head and the sum collected will be passed to FOYD. Other groups will be making their own contributions to the Fayre so let me know if you’re prepared to come and help for all / part of that day to run some of your stock.

Club Clothing

Peter Ryan reminds both new and existing members that it’s probably time for everyone to consider their Club clothing needs and he’s there to take orders. You may either have outgrown your existing clothing (too much good food!! or simply because you’re growing up naturally and require a larger size) or you may be new to SRMG and unaware of what’s available. See the list on the notice board by the Club Room door and note the prices are still unchanged – but they cannot expect to remain so for ever. Remember cash with orders please!

Diary

19 November – AGM – 1st floor library.
21 November – FOYD Christmas Fayre – 11.00am to 4.00pm.
24 November – Demonstration by Mark Jutsum of World War Scenics at 7.00pm for 7.30pm.
28/29 November – Warley MRC Annual Exhibition – see their website for more details.
5 December – Christmas Curry at The Patti Raj from 7.00pm onwards.
17 December – Last Club Thursday pre-Christmas – Mince pies, Cheese, Sloe Gin, beers, wines and a raffle.
15 January 2016 – Open Evening for members, family and friends with a raffle.
7 April 2016 – Modelling competition and Open evening – again for members, family and friends and a raffle.
1/2 October 2016– 7th Swansea Model Railway Exhibition, National Waterfront Museum – 10.00am – 4.00pm