Hello everyone,
I am extremely pleased to say that our “Western Roads” themed meet was a great success. All those who volunteered in response to the September Train Orders can give themselves a hefty pat on the back. You were all so helpful and as a result the event passed off very smoothly. Thank you everyone who came along to sweep, vacuum and mop floors on Friday prior to assisting layout operators and traders unload and set up their stands. Then on Saturday to man car parking duties, look after stands whilst owners took a well deserved break, to deal with pay desk duties in the pay hut at the entrance to the site was really appreciated. Very special thanks are due here to Christine Lushman (Rory’s wife) who spent virtually all day at this task; you really are a star Christine! Sunday was covered in a similar way with different members undertaking these duties with assistance being given to those packing their stands away before leaving the site at the end of the show. As ‘old Mr Grace used to say whilst waving his walking stick’ – “you have all done very well” – so a big thank you, to you all.
The disposal of the late Bill Burke collection in the APT was very successful thanks to Les Herriot and Ray Elwin who managed to sell all the items raising a good figure to send to his widow. Additional thanks are due here to Geoff Poulter who kindly paid to take off our hands all the remaining items unsold at the end of our event. In total we raised £1200 after selling all the items Mike Lenz and I brought from Bill’s home earlier this year.
The whole show and the now expected evening meal on Saturday at these special themed meets has drawn only positive comments from the many members attending. It is amazing that 30 rooms were booked in hotels around Crewe and that close to 50 people sat down to dinner Saturday evening.
Our guests from abroad Tom Griffiths from New Jersey, USA and Patrick Bopp and friends from Luxemburg were made most welcome and they all seemed to enjoy their stay with us.
Special thanks must go to Tom for his help throughout the weekend. We have photos of his heroic efforts with broom and mop on Friday, helping man North Western Mills layout on Saturday and Sunday and we appreciate his many other small moments of help to others during the weekend. During the visits to the event by first The Mayor of Crewe and then by Edward Timpson MP (Member for Crewe & Nantwich) we were able to ask Edward to present Tom with certificate and Calder Northern Division baseball cap granting him honorary membership of our group.
My final vote of thanks must first go to Mike Lenz for all the background work he undertook with the Crewe Heritage Centre Trust and liaison with the Friends of the Heritage Centre in organising the extra activities available for our visitors to enjoy. Then secondly grateful thanks to all of the Volunteers who manned the miniature railway, the refreshment counter, book shop in the Signal Box and the Class 03 loco giving rides. It is these attractions being available that helps to make our events such a success – Thank you guys.
As you all know the aim of this event was to raise funds for our group and to use some of any surplus to finance the purchase of Perspex to provide cover over the Devils Creek layout so that it can be permanently on display and for ‘anti- little fingers’ protection for the front of the North Western Mills layout.
Well I can happily announce we can achieve these planned tasks. Our takings for the whole event amounted to £2198.50 and once expenses are taken away we are left with a surplus of roundly £800. It was agreed by committee members that we also give £250 to the Crewe Heritage Centre and £250 to the Friends of Crewe Heritage Centre for their assistance and kind efforts over the whole weekend. We see this as part of a partnership in maintaining good relations and common interest on the site and being able to work together toward improving the attractions for the public.
Finally, considering our event clashed with the Manchester Model Railway Club 75th Anniversary Train Show and Crewe Fire Station Open Day we did well to have just over 100 NMRA members attending and 300 paying members of the public (400 including the free entry for children). A grand total of 500 persons was not bad considering! Thanks again to you all!
Terry Wynne, Chairman
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