Fisherton Sarum had a sucessful day yesterday at the Astolat show in Guildford. Even with the early start, due to the fact that exhibitors were unable to set on the Friday evening (unless you are a certain very talented modeller and photographer ) set up went well and other than one trouble some point motor on the double slip all seemed well.

I really pleased when Bob Symes, you may remember him from such TV shows as "Model World" and "Tomorrows World" in the mid 70's on the BBC, had a good look at the layout and passed many favourable and positive comments. I actually at the time said to one of my fellow operators that his comments had 'made my day'.

I can remember seeing him in person, when I was about 7, at an exhibition in Beaconsfield where he had some of his large gauge radio control trains on show, and getting his autograph!

I was then very surprised when I was asked the Astolat club chairman asked me to come over and receive the best layout in show award from Bob! This was all the more humbling as the voting was carried out by fellow exhibitors and Astolat club members, especially when the standard of many of the other layouts was so high! A nice prize of an engraved glass tankard (which I am please to report was put to good use in the evening!) Many thanks indeed.

I was running a number of locomotives for the first time at the show, as well as some locomotives from the Locomotive exchange trials (see my last blog entry) a couple of N15's recently repainted and a T14 'paddlebox' also made a sucessful debut.

I didnt manage to get any pictures myself yesterday but I know a few people who did so I see if I get some copies.

I must also thank my operating team of, fellow memebers of the High Wycombe andn District MRS, Alan, Simon (aka St Simon), Mark (aka GWMark), Daniel and Roger without whom I would not be able to exhibit the layout. Was also nice to see a few faces from here during the day too.

The next outing is the Abingdon Show on 5th March, hope to see a few of you there.