BigMal

Sad to hear that Owen Gibbon has passed away. A prolific 0 Gauge modeller and stalwart of the NEC exhibition and many other shows around the country. My condolences to brother John and other family members. RIP Owen

The Show was being held in the older building, before the Knavesmire Stand was refurbished. That was the same year as the power cut in the old building (1996 if Martin's date is correct). I was operating on the top (5th?) floor and we found one mains socket still with power available. So while the rest of the Show was in darkness we carried on playing trains on the top floor!

Well, here we are on Good Friday and NOT in York for the second year in a row. So let’s remember those good times. All the doors of the Knavesmire Stand open as exhibitors unload their stands, with a cold wind whistling across the Racecourse and straight through the building. Meanwhile the car park crew is attempting the almost impossible task of trying to squeeze everybody’s vehicles onto the hard standing at the rear of the building. Don’t forget the one or two visitors who turn up every year (not the same one or two) expecting the Show to be open on Friday. The tea room is in full steam, generating an endless supply of tea and coffee. The lunchtime fish and chips arrive (usually with a surplus of chips, enough to last the entire weekend) just as our good friends from Warley turn up with 2 van loads of barriers, and probably a layout or two as well. And then the phone calls start, from those exhibitors arriving late, stuck in a bank holiday traffic jam. Of course, it will all be alright by 10am on Saturday! Happy Days! Here’s hoping we will be all in a position to do it for real by Easter 2022 (16/17/18 April).

Very sad news. First met Dave back in the 1960s and had the pleasure of operating Cromford Wharf amongst his other layouts on occasion. As a stalwart of the York Show we met up every Easter and recall some pleasurabe nights in the hotel bar. My thoughts and sympathies to Liz which I'm sure I can extend from the other members of the York crew. RIP Dave Mal (York Show Manager)

Oh yes. Flexicurve. Still got one - it's in the same "junk" drawer as my sliderule.

Still have my old school slide rule. Might just need it sometime in the future if the digital world implodes. Like beast, I think I can still remember how to use it. Went through school and university all before the days of "modern" technology - the four function pocket calculator!

Damn! I'll never be able to play a LED Zep album again without remembering that image!!

Forget the exhibition. It was all about socialising in the hotel bar on the evening. Yours Faithfully "Drunk & Disorderly"

Is it built to the "correct" ratio of 1:4:9 ?

I come from Hull (flat as a pancake) I don't do hills!

Now, Now Phil Don't give the grate(!) unwashed ideas

A regular at York where I met up with him on many occasions. Always helpful and enthusiastic. Was saddened when he told me a couple of year's ago about his illness and that he would not be able to return to York again. RIP Bob

You mean something like this;

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic - Arthur C Clarke

Remember having a party phone line in the early 60s until the phone company installed enough new cabling to enable us to all have separate lines.

Shortly after 7pm and I am doing my final (virtual) sweep of the venue picking up forgotten bits and pieces (extension leads, stools, layout legs! etc. etc.). Thank you to all who attended this year's virtual Show. I sincerely hope the current virus crisis will be over by next year and we will be free to meet up in person once again. York Show 2021 will be on 3/4/5th April. Signing off Mal (Show Manager)

Let battle commence. 400+ people with 120+ stands all trying to egress the building at the same time and load equipment into vehicles.

Ah! The inevitable Friday punter (we do not open on Friday, even in the real world). Or! Has he got the wrong weekend altogether as Easter jumps to different dates each year?

Almost time for lunch on the 3rd floor cafeteria - and no, you cannot get to the 3rd floor using the disabled (mezzanine floor) lift.

I didn't know we old lifts! Do the Racecourse management know?

You have got another 51 weeks Les - assuming you will be able to bring the layout at Easter 2021. Mal

Hiding in the office with a coffee whilst the information stand deals with all the queries. Mal

First time in over 20 years that I will not be spending the Easter weekend in York, although I realise some of our regular exhibitors / traders /visitors have a much longer pedigree than mine. Couldn't find a pic of my "office" (probably just as well as it's usually organised chaos!) so here is one of the front entrance to the Knavesmire stand. Mal

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Self-isolating Band

I could scarcely believe my ears this morning when I received a phone call asking if the Show was still going ahead. Mal