**A nicely colourised black-and-white photograph of an unmistakable event. Taken on the 5th. January 1960, it shows the last day of operation for the iconic Mumbles tram.**
**Original photographer unknown, but taken from the Return of Swansea Slip Bridge Facebook page, with permission.**

COMMENT

It’s not April – quite – I know, but there are a number of announcements needed before early April has passed and hence the need for a brief early newsletter this time. So……

THE FORTHCOMING STOCK SALE

The next diecast sale will take place on Saturday the 2nd. April at 10am. The venue, as before, will be the Main Hall on the ground floor. Once again, there’s always something for everyone at these sales, so put the date in your diaries! Please note though that the sale will also include the balance of the model railway stock that we have in store, including one or two boxed sets, some chipped locos [that’s DCC, not damaged!] and many coaches at just a fiver each [that’s the coaches, not the locos!].

Given the general increase in prices for second-hand stock, they are now even more of a bargain than they were before. As with earlier events, this sale is open to non-members and has been advertised on Facebook.

THE 2022 DAPOL COMMISSION

The Thomas T Pascoe commission has at last been received and some of you will have seen the photos on the club’s Facebook page, together with a background write-up in the Products section of our website. Details of pricing and how to order can be found here.

….and here’s a gratuitous photo of all three gauges, lined up in their party-best!

The commission is already selling well and early purchases are recommended, particularly as these are now with the hobby magazines in adverts. Remember, every other commission has sold out before the next was even a twinkle in Noel’s eye…..

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

For those members who did not see the recent e-mailed agenda [or, for those without e-mail, not read the letters sent to them!], the club’s AGM will take place this Thursday [the 31st March] at 7.00pm in the old library on the first floor of the FOYD building. There will be no elections for Committee posts as there have been no competing applications. Nevertheless, the membership needs to be advised of those who have been nominated to stand, so please make every effort to attend the meeting [which will be relatively short].

BUILDING WORK – AN UPDATE

It’ll have been noticed now that the work on the skylights has been completed with all installed and subsequent ‘making-good’ undertaken by club members [with particular thanks to John Allnutt with additional assistance from Bob Cotton and Peter Ryan].

Whilst this was a protracted and messy affair, relatively little damage was incurred. However, Elsbrige will need some attention to return it to running status and St Davids’ Wells inevitably faired rather worse. The future for St Davids’ Wells is a little uncertain now and further discussion will be needed to determine in what direction the layout – or the room that it occupies – goes.

Happily, modelling and running stock can now recommence without the threat of further upheaval!

THE DAPOL FACTORY OUTING

This recent visit proved a great success with 14 club members attending and I’m reliably advised by our North Wales correspondent that they spent a king’s ransom on items from the shop. Many thanks again to John Allnutt for arranging the event. There is a possibility that this might be repeated next year.