Club members with some family and friends met informally on 17 December as all met for the last major pre-Christmas Club night. Everyone was in good form and enjoyed their mince pies, a cake or two and some tasty food. Of special interest was a huge corn beef pie provided by new friends Meirion and Carol Jones with daughter Hayley and grandson Justin. Carol’s cordon bleu cooking skills were very evident – the pie all went in less than half an hour! A variety of liquid refreshments met all members’ requirements.
Noel Blows (Chairman) thanked everyone for their year’s hard work and pointed out that he received regular plaudits for the way he had built the Club. He felt this was unfair as so many Club members contributed to the wellbeing of SRMG. To prove the point he had decided to instigate a Clubman of the Year and the Club provided an engraved cup for the purpose. This would be awarded annually with the winner’s name and year added. He would add a personal gift on each occasion and would endeavour to make it suitable for the winning candidate.
Noel’s contenders for 2015 were John Allnutt, Gwion Davies, John Gray, Ted Hylton, Scott Rhodes and Tony Richards. He chose Ted Hylton as his Clubman for Ted’s unstinting work on both the construction of South Dock – the Club’s 0 Gauge layout – and also for his hard work in preparing for the Club’s management of its 1st model railway show - the 6th Swansea Exhibition at The National Waterfront Museum.
Ted Hylton is seen receiving his Clubman’s cup together with a bottle of port from Noel Blows and some informal scenes at the Club’s premises on 17 December.