sixteen 12by 10s

i mainly operate portable or semi portable, on HF and usually when on holiday on Skye as MM0IUQ, i will keep my ears open 73's

Thanks for all your kind comments, we, Cradley heath model railway club, are planning some kind of tribute, at our exhibition in October Gary Hinson Chair, CHMRC

Yes Frank had started to get back interested in radio, as he was not in the best of health for carrying around heavy layouts, and he was going to visit my shack M0IUQ

Hi Nick Thats quite a tribute! Coming from someone who has built such a fine layout, thanks

Frank Collins I had a phone call last night, to inform me that Frank Collins had passed away in his sleep, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Frank was a prolific modeller of all things related to the Cambrian railway, and built several layouts such as Penybont (twice !) and Steam on the Cambrian. Personally, I first met Frank some 45 years ago, as a member of the long defunct Stourbridge CC model railway society. I was 14 at the time, and junior members were frowned upon by a large proportion of the membership, but Frank was very accommodating. I lost touch with him for some time during the 1980's, at that time he got involved with amateur radio, and obtained a call sign of G0RXO, the zero meaning he was proficient at transmitting and reviving mores code. In latter year I caught up with him as a member of the Cradley Heath Model Railway club, which we were both committee members, Frank for some years been exhibition manager, and who put the clubs first show on. He had an absolutely wicked and dry sense of humour, and sometimes his sarcasm would go straight over peoples head!. He kept his personal life, to himself, but I do know he had his fair share of family grief, but I feel this is not in the scope of this tribute Goodbye Frank me old mate, and no, I still don't agree that the Stanier Princess class, was a Swindon engine built at Crewe !! Photo, with kind permission of Chris Nevard

(in)famous Saltley Seagull Stacker Steadman, who got the name "A bridge to far" ?

thanks, came home with a big snagging list, and quite a few invites, here's how i found the one fiddle yard after Her Ladyship had been operating

this venue is certainly a lot more spacious than the old community centre

Just come back from a meeting at the club, the exhibitor list is a little "fluid" which will account for the discrepancy, never the less, all space is as today full

Yes, that's the one, free parking on site, and it will be sign posted

Presented by Cradley Heath model railway club Note, new larger venue, 31 layout plus trade

i must say, what an absolutely superb time was had, not only did i win the layout of the show, i won the hubcap trophy (awarded to the biggest piss taker of the scousers) thanks lads for a bostin time

slight problem, most of the operating team ended up in Bridewell jail, luckily for the show, bail was excepted, so see you tomorrow

first outing for my Black Country micro "Blackbrook Halt", looking forward to it

interesting, i had the same thoughts, but my committee decided to go on the safe side

you will find it difficult to get a straight answer, as the advise is confusing and contradictory. From what I found out, you have to create a “covid safe environment”. Basically, you have to arrange the venue for social distancing, and provide lots of reminders in the form of notices, we also had a cleaning list that was completed on opening the club rooms, things like cleaning door handles . I say all this in a past sense, we went from tier 1 to 3 and then last week 4, hope this helps

i am not going to argue, or quote on the subject anymore, until i find somebody with authority that can say yes or no, and the outcome is safe for those involved, its not in my nature to argue on a subject that i know little about. Lets just put faith in the boffins to sort out this mess

This is where the rules are confusing, as ever!, my interpretation of them is this. If you can keep people 2m apart, then the 6 in a group rule doesn't come into play. think of it like this, pubs and restaurants have multiple tables, and as long as they can keep them apart, or put up a physical barrier, then they can entertain as many groups of 6 upto the capacity of the venue. I'm still mystified by it myself, just trying to find if there is an advisory body that you can run your case past

we had a committee meeting earlier, and decided to go down the route of been "a covid safe environment" this means we have to have a risk assessment, covid policy, and also enforce social distancing at all times, basically, we see the rule (and they are bloody confusing to say the least) that if the national social distancing rules are followed, you can do what you want. we are going to address this by dividing the club room into 2m squares, and only one person will occupy a square at a time, face coverings will be compulsory, this is to limit contaminating surfaces. It looks like this problem will be around for some time, so we need to find safe ways to get on with life, i will let you know how we get on

the second paragraph is worth a look at If partaking in permitted activities users of COVID-19 secure community facilities should limit their social interactions with anyone they do not live with. Whilst activities may have 6 or more people participating (where it is safe to do so and capacity permits) it is important for all parties to maintain socially distant, 2 metres or 1 metre with actions taken to reduce the risk of transmission (where 2 metres is not viable) between households. For example, use of face coverings and encouraging good hand hygiene on entering premises and throughout visit."

we moved out of a community center in February, where we had a small room, not more than a storage room, and if we where still there we would not be able to open at all. We now have a spacious room and can't use it to its full potential !

My interpretation is, keep 2metres apart or 1 metre with face coverings, and have a covid policy, and you are ok, an my club (Cradley heath) have done that from when we reopened, last month, we do have one thing on our side, space

here's the relevant information, as confusing as ever "From 14 September, whether indoors or outdoors people from different households must not meet in groups of more than 6. This limit does not apply to meetings of a single household group or support bubble which is more than 6 people. Community facilities following COVID-19 secure guidelines can host more than 6 people in total, but no one should visit or socialise in a group of greater than 6. Further information on social contact rules, social distancing and the exemptions that exist can be found on the guidance on meeting with others safely. These rules will not apply to workplaces or education settings, alongside other exemptions. See more details on what has changed. If partaking in permitted activities users of COVID-19 secure community facilities should limit their social interactions with anyone they do not live with. Whilst activities may have 6 or more people participating (where it is safe to do so and capacity permits) it is important for all parties to maintain socially distant, 2 metres or 1 metre with actions taken to reduce the risk of transmission (where 2 metres is not viable) between households. For example, use of face coverings and encouraging good hand hygiene on entering premises and throughout visit." the first paragraph advises no more than 6 and the second contradicts it,

That is my interpretation of the ruling, if there is organized distancing control then you are ok, ....no raves best cancel the strippers then

I have posted elsewhere on this topic, but what are other clubs opinions on reopening, after the changes on the 14th of this month ?