devonmodeller

Many thanks to Dave and his team for organising this friendly event so well. We had a great time with Harris Sidings. It's a very good show and hope it goes from strength to strength. The pasty was good as well!!

Very sad to hear of Jim's passing. I went several times to Blackburn with Geoff Drew and the North Devon group and always enjoyed the show which was very well organised. After he left Blackburn I used to see him regularly at Bristol and Exeter exhibitions. The last time I saw him was in Buffet City at Exeter when he was having a meal with Zena and Dave and Shirley Rowe. I believe Shirley has gone now. RIP Jim and condolences to Zena.

As I remember Westbourne Model Supplies was in Poole Road and I think the proprietor was Greek but memory fades after time. There was at one time another model shop in the next road over - which was a crescent round the back of the Westbourne Arcade and this may have the Dudley Dimmock connection. Regards the large scale models at the West I remember a model of an SR Breakdown Train being in the waiting room - much used on freezing cold days - but can't remember any in the main hall. I wonder what happened to it? I bought a lot of stuff from Westbourne Model Supplies - Mastermodels, Peco track, scenic scatters. And also there was quite a good model railway section in the toy department of Beales of Bournemouth - I wonder if anyone remembers that?

What a wonderful description of ERG and it's exactly as I remember it. Very glad that Nina found a life for herself afterwards. I also can recall the wooden trays and I wonder if they were old typecases - I was learning my trade as a printer at the time. I wonder if dj has any memories of the model shop in Westbourne - ride on the 25 trolleybus from Central station or The Square - which was next to the cinema as I recall - then it was back on the train from the West station or on the H&D 111 or 121 from the Square Bus Station. The Westbourne shop seemed to have most of the latest offerings, including the then new Kitmaster coaches and the Peco interiors for them.

I also have memories of the Boscombe Roumelia Lane Shop. I had just started my apprenticeship - £3 a week - and used to visit him. I had often wondered what happened to it and the Google link in the binnsroad article describes it very well. The shop - cellar - was damp and had a very distinct aroma of cats when one went down! Also remember the Model Railway further down towards Pokesdown. This too was in a basement and as I recall it was outside third rail, very large and seemed to be automatically controlled with a big rack of relays etc. on the wall, all clicking and clacking away. It was very well sceniced with a lot of Bilteeze buildings. There were quite a few Tri-ang conversions, like DMUs running and also a very nice Farish Merchant Navy on Pullman cars. The owner sat in a little booth down the stairs and there was a showcase with built models from Wills kits etc. displayed and probably for sale but way out of my reach for that time in my life. Occasionally something would go wrong and he would emerge from the booth - sadly he wasn't very communicative. There was actually a little information leaflet and track plan available which I bought but probably is long-lost now. On the floor above there was a toyshop called Toyland and I had heard about the fire which led to the layouts demise. On another tack does anyone remember the little model shop - Westbourne Model Supplies I think - which was next door to the cinema in Westbourne. This was on my itinerary for a Saturday morning visit via the 25 trolleybus then back to the West station for the train back to New Milton or down to the Square for the Hants and Dorset 111 or 121 back. I bought quite a lot of things from him and he was always pretty up to date with the then new releases like Kitmaster coaches!!

Regards the North Devon presence at Bristol Geoff Drew was from Newquay and sadly passed away, as have nearly all of the other regular North Devon operators who were at Bristol. Most of the layouts were sold and are still in existence as far as known. Jamaica Reach, Caddiford Water and Porth St. John are in the care of Bristol East and the last two have been shown fairly recently. They were all stored in Geoff's quite damp garage but survived that quite well.

Very sorry to hear of Keith's passing. The last time I saw him was at the last Minehead show, he seemed in good spirits then but I knew he had been fighting cancer for a long time previously. I seemed to meet him at most of the West Country shows and always had a chat. At peace now and will be sorely missed - a real gentleman.

Very sorry to hear the news. I well remember Shirley and Dave in their 'tent' at the Bristol show when it was in the Exhibition Centre, quite a few years ago now. I believe Catalunya is still in the Peco exhibition - at least it was on my visit last year. Sincere condolences to Dave and family.

Very sorry to hear this unexpected news. I knew Graham very well and exhibited at the Thorncombe show several times. He was a true gentleman with a wonderful sense of humour and it was always a pleasure to meet him and chat. My sincere condolences to his family.

Being a new exhibitor to Warley with Lindon Road I was really pleased with the outcome. We were well look after, access into the hall was well controlled and easy as was the packing up and leaving. The layout was packed up by 5.30 p.m. and after getting the car from the East Car Park and getting access into the void behind the show - there being no queue - we left around 6.15 and were clear of the site and on to the M42 by 6.30. My helper and myself had a really great time and many thanks to the Warley club members who worked so hard and also to the NEC staff who we found pleasant and helpful. Lindon now packed away - next show is Bristol Thornbury.

Many thanks to Dave and his team for another well organised show, and also thanks to Mike3 for providing a bed for the Friday night, showing me his fantastic layout and operating Southurst for the meal break. Also good to see devonseasider is recovering and enjoying his role as babemagnet. All in all a very enjoyable couple of days in good company.

Very enjoyable day showing Streatwell Green. Many thanks to Dave and the club members for a well organised and friendly exhibition. Also to the cafe staff, the coffee and walnut cake was pretty good as well.

Another big thank you to the Barry and Penarth organisers and club members for a very enjoyable exhibition. And another thanks to the dinner ladies!! And not least thanks to my fellow operator Nick for his help on Streatwell Green, in between his car park duties. Layout all unloaded and put away last night, the M4 and M5 were ok, unlike the Friday afternoon!!!

A bit delayed but many thanks to the organisers for a very pleasant weekend. Also thank you to the club member who operated Southurst on the Saturday and Sunday to enable me to have a lunch break, and a special thanks to the ladies who brought the teas and coffees round. The show was well organised with some lovely layouts and the catering very good indeed.