News.
2024 Annual Exhibition
This year’s Exhibition was held on Saturday 11th May 2024 at Queens’ School, Bushey.
There was a splendid collection of twenty-three layouts exhibited, ranging from the miniature to an O gauge scene stretching the entire length of one of the halls.
A video of the Exhibition has been posted on our Youtube channel – see the link on the Contacts page or just search for South West Herts MRS videos.
A message from our Chairman reads: “A huge thank you to all members, wives and friends who helped with the exhibition on Friday and Saturday. We have received a lot of very good feedback from the public, the traders and the exhibitors. I think it was enjoyed by all and I have had about seven of the exhibitors asking to return with other layouts. The ladies running the lunchtime did a very good job and several positive comments were received on the exhibitors’ lunches.
Although numbers have yet to be finalised, the visitor numbers were over 420 adults. This is down on last year, but on the first weekend where we had decent weather, I can’t blame families for wanting to get out into the sunshine. We should still have a nice surplus so we can call the event a success. There were several enquiries from prospective members and a number of the membership application forms available were taken away.
Here is a very complimentary response from one of the exhibitors and this is typical of the feedback we have received.’
“On behalf of Oxford & District Model Railway club and members attending, I would like to thank you for a brilliant day that we all enjoyed. We were very well looked after and appreciated your excellent hospitality.”
Open Day and mini-exhibition 2024
This year’s Open Day and mini-exhibition of club and members’ layouts will be held on Saturday 5th October at All Saints Church, Leavesden. The list of layouts attending will be published in due course.
Outings
We have had to abandon plans for an outing this year.
Film night
The Film Night was held on Tuesday 15th April with a dozen or so members attending and enjoying a programme of videos compiled by Peter Hodge. Accompanying doughnuts and hot drinks were also appreciated.
Lincolnsfield Open Days
The next Open Day is on Sunday 26th May 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.
The final session currently scheduled will be held on Thursday 23rd May on the subject of Layout Planning and Wiring.
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 was held on for Tuesday 12th March.
Minutes of the meeting have been circulated and posted on the club notice board.
The newly elected Committee members are as below: –
Chairman and Exhibition Manager: John Davy
Treasurer: Ron Drew
Secretary: Ken Halse
Committee member and Exhibition Trader Coordinator: Peter Hodge
OO gauge rep: Mike Roaulle
N gauge rep: Laurence Preston
Members without portfolio: Malcolm Calaby, Philip Chown.
The next Committee meeting is on Wednesday 5th June.
Minutes of the last meeting have been sent out and posted on the club notice board.
We continue to wish all our members and their families good health and happy modelling.