News.
2024 Annual Exhibition
The next Exhibition is planned for Saturday 11th May 2024 at Queens’ School, Bushey.
We have twenty-three layouts confirmed, as well as confirmation that the school will again provide catering for the public. There will be a good array of traders, many wishing to return from previous shows, and representatives from various railway societies. Also, of course, our own publicity stand and shop.
As always, please keep the date free in your diary as we would love to see you there and we also need good attendance from members to help run the show.
See Exhibition page for the flyer and list of Exhibitors attending.
Open Day and mini-exhibition 2023
The Open Day and mini-exhibition of club and members’ layouts was held on Saturday, October 7th, at All Saints Church, Leavesden. Seven club and members’ layouts were shown: Luffield (00) and the Dudley Frey Extension (N) both operating as ‘work in progress’, Cromarty (N), Fenworth (H0, US), Hobbs Row Halt (009), Springfield Street (H0, US) and Thomas Town (00). Luckily, good business at the sales stand offset the relatively poor (though enthusiastic) attendance.
On the plus side, some good experience was gained in operating the ‘work in progress’ layouts.
Outings
Thirteen members (and three guests) had a great day out in the sunshine at the Didcot Railway Centre and then at the Pendon Museum in September last year.
We steamed up and down behind Hunslet 0-6-0 “King George”, watched it being watered and coaled at the coal stage, were fascinated by the broad gauge replicas and inspected the big collection of Great Western locos and rolling stock. At Pendon, we were treated to stories about the wonderful Vale of The White Horse model and the other layouts.
We are trying to plan another outing, possibly to Northamptonshire, in the Spring or early summer.
Some pictures fom Didcot and Pendon below.
Film night
The next Film Night is planned for Tuesday 16th April – more details later.
Lincolnsfield Open Days
The next Open Day is on Sunday 25th February and we always hope to have at least two layouts up and running to show to the visitors. Volunteers are requested to add their names to the attendance sheet on the club notice board for availability to ‘man’ the clubhouse on the open days.
‘Back to Basics’ sessions
These are aimed at beginners who want to broaden their knowledge but as there are a wide range of topics (such is our hobby) many members may like to attend 1 or 2 of the sessions.
The format will be in groups of 3-4 and will include a ‘have a go’ section where attendees can ‘ get their hands dirty’. Sessions can be repeated if numbers interested exceed the small group size, so no one will miss out.
There will be more sessions starting shortly, including some repeats to allow our newer members to attend them.
Members’ Projects
See the Members’ Projects page for layouts available for Exhibition.
If you are prepared to show your own layouts (especially portable ones) to the world, we will add details and pictures to the web page and also Facebook. Please contact the Secretary if you have news and / or pictures of your own own model-related project.
AGM and Committee Meetings
The 2024 AGM is planned for Tuesday 12th March.
If you would be willing to serve on the Committee, nomination forms will be circulated and posted on the club notice board soon. We are short of at least two representatives.
Subscriptions for the current period were set at £125 to cover the fifteen months from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024. Fees for members joining during that period are set proportionately. Next year’s subs will be set at the AGM for the following 12 months.
The current Committee members are as below: –
Chairman and Exhibition Manager: John Davy
Treasurer: Ron Drew
Secretary: Ken Halse
00 gauge rep: Rob Thomas
Committee member and Exhibition Trader Coordinator: Peter Hodge
Vacancies are for N gauge rep and second 00 gauge rep/Member without portfolio.
Minutes from the AGM and the most recent Committee meeting have been circulated and are posted on the clubroom notice board.
The next Committee meeting is on Monday 15th April.
Clubhouse rules and COVID precautions
The Clubhouse is fully open for use by members.
Legal COVID precautions having been removed, the Committee decided to retain the following measures on a voluntary basis: –
- Hand sanitising (sanitiser provided)
- Separation as far as practical
- Ventilation (open doors) as outside temperatures permit.
Hand sanitiser and facilities for boiling water plus soap and towels for hand washing are provided.
Club tidiness
A reminder: quite a lot of work is being done on the layouts, emphasizing the need to tidy up afterwards and keep the clubhouse neat and clean, especially as we open up to the public once a month. Also, please would all members remove or otherwise safeguard any of their own possessions that are at the club – and throw away any unusable or waste material – bins are provided. Thank you.
We continue to wish all our members and their families good health and happy modelling.