A fine line-up and this surely requires no caption at all!
Source unknown but used with thanks.

COMMENT

October – and the coming of Autumn with its dark nights – traditionally sees club activity resuming after the quieter Summer months. This year is no different and the club is now a far busier place, not least because of greater post-pandemic optimism over visiting and attending events but also because of a number of very recent new members [and welcome to you all!]. This month’s newsletter will reflect this, with news of planned developments which include a potential 2023 wagon commission, the strong possibility of a proper show next year and arrangements for this year’s Christmas do. It really is beginning to seem like business as usual again. But we really must start with a note on the recent Open Day, our first public event since, well, can anyone remember?!

THE SEPTEMBER OPEN DAY

This was a hugely successful event which saw around 250 visitors over the day and all three floors of the building well utilised. The club’s stock sale table began the day heaving and, by close of play, about two-thirds of what had been on offer had been sold. Other traders reported a good day also. The layouts on show received favourable comment from many and this opportunity to show-case the club has resulted in a number of new members joining, others asking if they could visit again and relationships with traders and other societies reinforced. All objectives were met!

So many members had a hand in the running of this event it would take a whole page to thank them all, but to those who worked so hard to get the layouts ready, the members who helped with the set-up and break-down, the kitchen staff who slaved and everyone else, thank you all so much. Gwion Davies must be mentioned above all however as, without his drive, planning and sleepless nights, the day would have not happened at all. And a particular thank you also to Lorraine and Andy Horobin, who undertook the thankless task of running the entry table and ticket sales for the day.

We have decided that an annual Open Day should become a staple part of club activity and will be planning a repeat next year. This will not be to replace a big show but, rather, to open the club to a wider community for a day to display what we have achieved.

THE 2023 SHOW

For obvious reasons it’s been an age since our last one but, all over the country, clubs are beginning to run them again and a good number have taken place this year to date. Not to be left behind, we are in the early stages of planning an SRMG show for 2023 and the proposed date is the weekend of the 9th and 10th of September.

Gwion Davies is currently contacting exhibitors to check their availability and options for venues are being pursued also. It is far too early to begin posting on detail but what is obvious is the considerable amount of administration and planning that such an event requires and, so, support from members will be essential to make this plan a reality. Regular updates will appear in the newsletter and requests for help by way of a show team will follow in the near future.

THE ANNUAL DAPOL PRIVATE OWNER COAL WAGON COMMISSION

A couple of updates for you all here……

First, the existing commission has sold well with a number also going at our Open Day and only O gauge and N gauge models are now left in stock. The prices for these are really competitive [in O gauge, up to £8 cheaper than other societies’ commissions] and should any wish to purchase, full details may be found in our website under ‘Products’. Do note that every previous commission completely sold out and examples of them now appear on internet sales sites at very much higher prices!

And for next year, an eye-catching design which will again be available in all three gauges has been provisionally agreed. There’ll be more information on this development once the final design has been agreed between ourselves and Dapol. I can say that it will be a Swansea wagon however, continuing our theme, and many thanks to member Mike Sarsfield for suggesting it. His lips are sealed however, so you’ll all need to be patient. I can’t even give you a clue!

THE CHRISTMAS DO

Traditionally [well, almost] we have held our Christmas / annual do at Norton House. Always enjoyed and well attended, we looked to see whether a Christmas booking would be accepted again this year. Unfortunately, there are no convenient dates available in the run-up to Christmas and so we have decided to have the next annual do there in the early New Year, probably February or March. The event will be entirely subsidised for members as before, with favourably reduced rates for wives or partners. John Allnutt is co-ordinating the arrangements and he’ll provide further information in a couple of months.

We will be having a Christmas buffett / do in the club however, possibly on the 15th. December. All to be confirmed.

ACCESS TO THE CLUB WHEN THE GATE IS LOCKED

A number of members found recently that they were unable to access the cub as the car-park gates were locked. Should any of you find yourselves in this position again, please note that the combination for the padlock can be obtained from key club members. If you are the last person to leave the club, please remember to apply the padlock to the gates and ensure that the tumblers have been rolled to prevent the lock from being opened without using the combination.

THE END OF THE SKYLIGHT SAGA

We are fairly confident now that this headline isn’t tempting fate! The recent very heavy rain has not penetrated the modelling room skylight and it’s now time for the necessary cosmetic repairs to take place. Nick Kerslake and Bob Cotton will undertake this shortly and then, for the first time in ages, we should be totally watertight! It is possible that the modelling room might be out of commission for a day or two during the week of the repairs, but should there be any longer inconvenience, I will let you know.

THE WORKSHOP

Situated along the dark fire escape corridor on the top floor, the function of this room will shortly be transferred to the old kitchen room adjacent to ‘Pennard Halt’. The new room has everything that the old one does not: it is large, very well lit with windows on two sides, far more suitable for power tool use and not handicapped by having a large diagonal beam crossing it. In short, it will be far safer. Steve Rodwell is leading on the move which should have commenced by the time of the next newsletter. The original room will them be used for storing timber.

STOCKSALES

Gwion and I are having a brief respite from stock sales and, consequently, we have not planned one for the immediate future. Having sold so much stock recently, we urgently need to undertake a stock take to put what remains in order and decide how best to move it on. We have also bought in two collections recently and need to consider them in the same way: one was a collection of electrical items [including Gaugemaster controllers] and other modelling materials from the estate of the late Jim Law, and the other a collection of ‘OO’ rolling stock [including a Bayer Garrett loco] from West Wales. We are aware that with Christmas on the horizon however, there will be a desire for another sale and so there should be at least one mini-sale before then.

AND FINALLY……..

I have been asked by a number of members about organising another modelling competition. This will receive serious consideration and the November newsletter will advise further. Probably, St David’s Day 2023 [or maybe the nearest Thursday, March 2nd] would be a suitable judging day? We’ll see.

That’s all for this month.

Best wishes

Tony