**From a turn-of-the-century post card**

COMMENT

Although the tiresomely on-going work to replace the skylights is limiting some access to the club, this month’s newsletter still has lots of good news and information about developments. In spite of the building work however, we are working hard to bring it to a conclusion and Noel Blows is in near-daily contact with Foyd to chase progress and express our concerns over the continuing delays. It will eventually be completed but, in the meantime, some areas of club activity can now resume and we have decided to make other areas available until work begins there. There’s more on this below, together with updates on stock sales [they’re back!], the AGM and, of course, this year’s DAPOL commission.

THE FORTHCOMING STOCK SALE

As notified in my recent e-mail to all members, this Thursday [the 10th March] at 7.00pm we will be holding the first of a monthly run of mini-sales at the club. The venue will be the small annexe to Pennard Halt [on the first floor] and the sale will involve a selection of what we currently have in store. We intend to hold these sales on a monthly basis on the second Thursday of each month until further notice. Our card machine will be available to help with purchasing [cash equally acceptable though!] and it’s very much a ‘first come, first served’ event as we cannot offer an advance preview.

THE SALE OF DIECAST MODELS

We also have a date set for the next diecast sale. This 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!

THE DAPOL COMMISSION

DAPOL have now released the OO component of this year’s commission and the N gauge and O gauge editions will follow in short order. We’ve had to rely on artist’s impressions so far and it’s good at last to be able to show the finished product.

We have received 144 of the OO edition and over 50% have so far been reserved. We anticipate that this commission will sell out as quickly as all of our earlier ones have and so, for those who have yet to order, it would be wise to order now and so avoid disappointment later! The club still regularly receives requests from collectors for our earlier commissions: this one will prove no less popular. The price for the OO edition is £17 [plus £5 for postage for those who wish to purchase in that way]. Orders should be placed with Noel Blows at the club or e-mail him at noelblows@btinternet.com

Photographs of the N and O gauge models will appear in the April newsletter.

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

For obvious reasons, the club’s AGM has had to be cancelled several times. It is important that one is held as soon as possible however, not least so that members may receive and accept the statement of approved accounts and also consider either an election of officers or approve the sitting officers continuing in post. Consequently, the AGM will take place on Thursday the 31st March at 7.00pm. The venue will be announced shortly although it will probably be the old chapel on the first floor.

Attendance at the AGM is important for members as it allows a public opportunity to raise any issues or concerns that exist and also approve the statement of accounts and confirm officers’ positions. Please do make every effort to attend.

THE DAPOL FACTORY OUTING

I’m delighted to announce that this outing will now take place. 14 members have signed up for it, sufficient for it to be viable, and payment is now required to cover transport costs. For those travelling, please ensure that you have paid your £37 no later than Thursday the 10th March. This may be paid by cheque [to Swansea Railway Modellers Group] or cash at the club, or by bank transfer [Please see Ted]. If you pay by transfer, please put your name in as a reference to identify your payment.

CLOCK TOWER STORAGE SPACE

Do remember that space is now available for members to store stock, etc [reasonable sizes only please!] in the Clock Tower cupboard. Steve Rodwell is managing this project and all enquiries should be directed to him. The rental for space is a very reasonable £1 per week, paid three months in advance [ie £12]. Items stored will need to be at owner’s risk. The lighting in the cupboard area has been improved in advance of anticipated use.

CWMFELIN PARKWAY N GAUGE LAYOUT

The builders of Cwmfelin are asking for help! They would very much appreciate some assistance with the build of this layout and interested members should contact either Bob Temple or John Meredith at the club if they’d like to be involved. Experience of working with N gauge is not necessary. Give it a thought?

BUILDING WORK – AN UPDATE

The work to install new skylights has been necessary but disappointingly poorly project managed. I know that this has caused members some irritation and disappointment, but I’d like to stress that it has not been an SRMG project nor one over which we have had any real influence. Noel Blows has had near-daily contact with those involved but days have passed without any work taking place.

The situation now is that with the windows in the far-end room [Box, Downton, Cwmfelin, etc] and the library installed, cosmetic finishing work has taken place in readiness for painting.

Paint has been purchased and it is hoped to have this final work competed this coming Monday. If any members are free on Monday and would like to help Noel Blows and Bob Cotton with the smallish areas of decorating on that day, please contact Noel at the email address given earlier in this newsletter. Help would be appreciated.

It follows from the above that building work on the various layouts in the large end-room may recommence from next Thursday. The library will be back in use from that day also.

The Test Tracks remain out of use which, given the continuing delays, is not acceptable. Consequently, the covers of the Test Tracks will be removed and members may bring stock in to run from next week. However, once work on the single window to be replaced commences, the tracks will need to be covered once more and remain so until plastering and painting has been completed. The cosmetic work will be undertaken quickly as that is one area over which we have complete control.

Once again, thank you all for your continuing patience.