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Chris Leigh - 50 years in railway journalism


dibber25
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Congratulations as well Chris.

 

Does that mean you get a gold plated 'Flying Scotsman' with engraving as a gesture to celebrate your 50 years service?

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

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If he's lucky he'll get that Flying Scotsman clock!

 

Ed

 

 

Think that would be a 'tasteful gesture' to commemorate this wonderful achievement.

 

Not sure if Chris would like it though? ;)

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

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Just happen to have a copy of MRC for March 1967 in front of me, where there is an article on 'Lady of Quality' converting the Tri-ang Hall model to a Saint, by a certain C.J. Leigh.

 

For those interested, there are 2 photos of 2098 taken around 44 years apart, showing significant variations.

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Hi Chris

 

Wow - many congratulations.  It's an amazing achievement and recognition is well deserved.

 

I wonder if there is anyone starting out in railway journalism this year who will still be writing about model trains in 2063?  And if so, what form will the models take back then?  And will blue diesels still be considered "modern image"??

 

cheers

 

Ben A.

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Around about now I chalk up 50 years since I started as a Junior Editorial Assistant on Model Railway Constructor in the Autumn of 1963. 

 

As a young lad I remember reading my dads copy of MRC at that time. Congratulations on your achievement Chris.

Edited by Pannier Tank
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Chris

 

You must have met many interesting people in this hobby over the years. Any surprises out there, perhaps some famous modellers who mostly kept their hobby secret, or maybe modellers who had a reputation, but turned out entirely different?

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Hi Chris

 

Wow - many congratulations.  It's an amazing achievement and recognition is well deserved.

 

I wonder if there is anyone starting out in railway journalism this year who will still be writing about model trains in 2063?  And if so, what form will the models take back then?  And will blue diesels still be considered "modern image"??

 

cheers

 

Ben A.

It would be good to think so. When I started, IAL was the training ground for such careers. Since then it has become EMAP/Bauer that trains the young railway journalists of the future. I recall when I was at IA during the 1980s, a phone call from a very anxious Christopher Wain, who had just been appointed transport correspondent by the BBC. He wanted to know what I could tell him about railways. I hope I helped. I also, during a Railfest at York some years ago, was approached by a 15-year-old who asked what he should do to become a railway journalist. I suggested he came for work experience to find out if he liked it. He did - two years running. He's now Deputy Editor of Steam Railway. I think, too, I was the first Editor to give Pat Hammond a regular 'slot' and the first to feature Steve Flint's Kyle of Tongue layout and subsequently to commission him to photograph layouts. Mike Wild also learned his trade in what was then EMAP's transport division. 

A very delightful gentleman, who died tragically young, David Lloyd, who was (I think - I'm getting very bad with remembering names) Editor of Continental Modeller and Assistant Editor of Railway Modeller, once worked out that we who were railway/model railway editorial folk were an elite bunch of no more than 150 worldwide. I guess even though there are more magazines now, the economics of running them mean fewer staff, so I bet that number hasn't gone up that much.

As to the question above about interesting people - oh, yes, and it has been a real privilege. My piece for Model Rail mentions a few from the early days. Perhaps there are four from within the 'business' who stand out as having influenced me as great people within our hobby as well as really great people to work with/for.

Alan Williams - Editor of MRC and my boss when I joined in 1963. Went through my work with a blue pencil and taught me HOW to write magazine articles. He also laid down rules for product reviews which have been my guiding principles ever since. 

Alistair B. MacLeod - 'Uncle Mac' ex-BR Isle of Wight CME and LMR Stores Controller was IA librarian. He knew the Lynton & Barnstaple first hand and would scold me because I couldn't recognise a McIntosh chimney.

Colin Gifford - as magazine designer at IAL he rocked the boat. His photography was loved or hated (I loved it) but it was his ideas for pushing the boundaries of model photography that really influenced me. Much of what we did was faked, but without Photoshop. It was innovative modelling and a degree of darkroom chicanery but I think it resulted (1964-66) in some of the best B&W model images ever. 

Steve Stratten - Editor of MRC for over 20 years and a tireless worker for the model railway hobby particularly through clubs and exhibitions. He brought new thought to the magazine and introduced me to the delights of overseas railways, and road vehicles and scenic modelling. Steve became my boss in 1966 and we have been friends ever since.

Thank you, everyone for your kind comments. I didn't  post on here in order to solicit such nice thoughts, but really just to 'advertise' the next issue of MR, knowing that there are one or two on here who enjoy Backscene.

Thank you one and all,

CHRIS LEIGH

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