Cancelled due to vandalism- Stamford show 18th May

[Mike Storey]

They are going to have to raise that target again - £81,000 plus and counting.

 

Superb. As Gareth has said, one awesome responsibility for the club, but perhaps a nicer one than that which they originally faced.

 

[Claude_Dreyfus]

I don't know. I am a club secretary myself, and I would be having probably more sleepless nights now than before if I were in their situation . This is a huge amount of money, raised very publicly. Given the amount, there will inevitably be greater scrutiny around the fate of the funds. 

 

It is too early for the club to make those decisions, there is a myriad of other things going on...not least the huge media interest. How their committee and their membership is coping is something to be admired.

 

There was been a huge amount of support shown to the club, but giving the money is the 'easy' bit. Their support needs to be emotional as well, these are not professional fund-raisers and they will need the support of the model railway community more than ever when the hype dies down and decisions need to be made. 

[Colin_McLeod]

Just heard on Tim Lihoreau's programme on Classic FM that Rod Stewart is his "person of the day" for his very generous contribution.

 

It's heartening to hear this. A classical music programme, a rock star and a model railway club all in the one sentence. 

[Colin_McLeod]

https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/crime/model-railway-club-chair-overwhelmed-as-50-000-raised-in-24-hours-after-vandals-wreck-exhibition-1-8933368

[Oldddudders]

Gareth’s contribution (Trains4U) is very uplifting. Well said, Sir! Embarrassment is a reasonable response to so much money, but it is not a penny too much. I wish them well in recompensing those who suffered losses, and then taking and making something memorable for themselves. Stressful events of this unprecedented order deserve to be rewarded. 

[Dunsignalling]

48 minutes ago, Claude_Dreyfus said:

I don't know. I am a club secretary myself, and I would be having probably more sleepless nights now than before if I were in their situation . This is a huge amount of money, raised very publicly. Given the amount, there will inevitably be greater scrutiny around the fate of the funds. 

 

It is too early for the club to make those decisions, there is a myriad of other things going on...not least the huge media interest. How their committee and their membership is coping is something to be admired.

 

There was been a huge amount of support shown to the club, but giving the money is the 'easy' bit. Their support needs to be emotional as well, these are not professional fund-raisers and they will need the support of the model railway community more than ever when the hype dies down and decisions need to be made. 

Quite agree. It's best not to rush into anything regarding how the funds donated are to be used/distributed.

 

It will take a while for the outcomes of insurance claims to be finalised and it will become much clearer what needs exist after that process is complete.

 

John

[Ian Hargrave]

26 minutes ago, Oldddudders said:

Gareth’s contribution (Trains4U) is very uplifting. Well said, Sir! Embarrassment is a reasonable response to so much money, but it is not a penny too much. I wish them well in recompensing those who suffered losses, and then taking and making something memorable for themselves. Stressful events of this unprecedented order deserve to be rewarded. 

 

Anyone who has had dealings with Gareth over the years will recognise that this is typical of him.A thoroughly decent man who runs an excellent retail business.An example to all.

[caradoc]

The generosity of so many people is astonishing, what a pity it had to be in response to such a horrible incident. And it's unfair to single any one person out, and I don't have any of his records, not being to my musical taste, but Rod Stewart......what a guy !

[bike2steam]

26 minutes ago, caradoc said:

-, not being to my musical taste, but Rod Stewart......what a guy !

And he has asked Jools Holland, and Roger Daltrey to match his pledge.

[wombatofludham]

I'll re-iterate a comment I made earlier given how support has flooded in.  Are there any people in our community who could offer any experience in admin, finance or even emotional support as practical assistance to the club if they need it?  It's nice we have all dived in to help financially, and with offers of modelling help, but I can't help thinking the club might just need some help in fields they probably never have needed before right now, such as emotional support, help with dealing with the flood of e-mails referred to in the news item, and of course, this amazingly generous financial help.  They may already be getting this, but if not, it might be within our ranks we have trained counsellors, retired financial directors and administrative experts who could assist the club in this unprecedented task.

 

I do wonder if at the moment their collective heads are buzzing and they are in danger of being swamped with the kindness of others.

[Mike Storey]

50 minutes ago, caradoc said:

The generosity of so many people is astonishing, what a pity it had to be in response to such a horrible incident. And it's unfair to single any one person out, and I don't have any of his records, not being to my musical taste, but Rod Stewart......what a guy !

 

Indeed. It has been on "Lorraine" this morning (I was alerted by Mrs Storey to it, you will understand), but in its "Hollywood Report" item, entirely because of Rod Stewart, and the reporter mentioned that Sir Rod is encouraging his showbiz mates to also chip in.

 

[PhilJ W]

2 hours ago, Claude_Dreyfus said:

I don't know. I am a club secretary myself, and I would be having probably more sleepless nights now than before if I were in their situation . This is a huge amount of money, raised very publicly. Given the amount, there will inevitably be greater scrutiny around the fate of the funds. 

 

It is too early for the club to make those decisions, there is a myriad of other things going on...not least the huge media interest. How their committee and their membership is coping is something to be admired.

 

There was been a huge amount of support shown to the club, but giving the money is the 'easy' bit. Their support needs to be emotional as well, these are not professional fund-raisers and they will need the support of the model railway community more than ever when the hype dies down and decisions need to be made. 

My thoughts exactly, they probably have many projects in the pipeline that are 'when funds are available'. My own club for example wants needs to extend its club room and no doubt our treasurer is imagining what can be done. However what is to be done with this money is for the future, at the moment the immediate aftermath of this event has to be dealt with first. On a more serious note, this money has been donated to the official club site. There is also a near identical 'unofficial' site that has also received several thousand pounds. Has this been merged with the official site or at least closed down?

[Legend]

2 hours ago, caradoc said:

The generosity of so many people is astonishing, what a pity it had to be in response to such a horrible incident. And it's unfair to single any one person out, and I don't have any of his records, not being to my musical taste, but Rod Stewart......what a guy !

 

The donation was great, but more than that I think its that he understood the grief and sense of loss of something that took 25 years to build , that was the key point .   Well done Rod !  I think more than anything he understands  "One of the locomotives had been built by a man who has terminal cancer. Not only was it worth in the region of £8,000, it had also taken him a lot of time to build and because of his cancer he will never be able to rebuild it.

"He had also brought along a layout that he had created over 25 years. Again, this is something he will not be able to remake"   I obviously don't know the state of layout and model, but if something could be done to have them restored to help this gent that would be great.

 

I can well appreciate that the scale of donations could well be seen as an embarrassment and great burden of responsibility to the club. My advice is not to do anything immediately  but give a considered response later . I'm still shocked by the events and despair that some people could do that and I'm sure people closer to it and who have had their models destroyed are even more in shock. So not a time for immediate decisions.  

Edited May 21, 2019 by Legend

[Trains4U]

10 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

 There is also a near identical 'unofficial' site that has also received several thousand pounds. Has this been merged with the official site or at least closed down?

 

I'm aware of two.  One administered by Natalie Wilson (Who appears to have links with a clubmember) and has raised @£600

And the other by Steve Follows (No known connection) that has raised @ £2000

 

As these have been linked via comments from my original facebook post, I am in the process of contacting them and asking to merge their funds.

I'm not suggesting these are anything but well meaning, but fundraising ought to be under the control of the club.

 

If anyone is aware of any others, please can you PM me with a link?

 

thanks

[Phil Parker]

I'm sure the club will need time. Any offers of practical help being made to help with the funds are being made in private. There's no need for us to speculate here. 

[Trains4U]

2 hours ago, Ian Hargrave said:

 

Anyone who has had dealings with Gareth over the years will recognise that this is typical of him.A thoroughly decent man who runs an excellent retail business.An example to all.

 

Are you trying to make me cry?  It will do nothing for my image you know...   

[PaulRhB]

I'm delighted to see the number of calls to give them time  Much like Notre Dame it isn't going to be quick to recover but a superb example of community spirit  

[Widnes Model Centre]

19 minutes ago, Trains4U said:

 

I'm aware of two.  One administered by Natalie Wilson (Who appears to have links with a clubmember) and has raised @£600

And the other by Steve Follows (No known connection) that has raised @ £2000

 

As these have been linked via comments from my original facebook post, I am in the process of contacting them and asking to merge their funds.

I'm not suggesting these are anything but well meaning, but fundraising ought to be under the control of the club.

 

If anyone is aware of any others, please can you PM me with a link?

 

thanks

 

Steve Follows has posted in many groups on Facebook today that he is forwarding the money raised to the club.

[kevinlms]

It's fantastic the support given to Market Deeping MRC, but it is sad to read at the foot of the page, about other railway clubs and societies. They have had similar issues, yet they have received only token gestures to their own appeals.

 

No idea of what the answer to this problem is, but I suspect that is why Market Deeping MRC, originally set a low target. I guess they were a little lucky in getting the right sort of publicity. My club's exhibition once got on TV, at the end of Saturday night news & Sunday we had people streaming in all day. Probably 15 years ago.

 

Have we ever been able to reproduce this - absolutely NOT.

 

Edit to add.

 

If the view is that this post is inappropriate, I'll delete it.

Edited May 21, 2019 by kevinlms

[cromptonnut]

Just randomly scrolling through Facebook and come across a post by "MyGoldMusic" (an 'oldies' radio station) where they refer to the incident and the Rod Stewart angle.  

[Trains4U]

(Removed - as out of context)

Edited May 21, 2019 by Trains4U

[Steamport Southport]

19 minutes ago, kevinlms said:

It's fantastic the support given to Market Deeping MRC, but it is sad to read at the foot of the page, about other railway clubs and societies. They have had similar issues, yet they have received only token gestures to their own appeals.

 

No idea of what the answer to this problem is, but I suspect that is why Market Deeping MRC, originally set a low target. I guess they were a little lucky in getting the right sort of publicity. My club's exhibition once got on TV, at the end of Saturday night news & Sunday we had people streaming in all day. Probably 15 years ago.

 

Have we ever been able to reproduce this - absolutely NOT.

 

Edit to add.

 

If the view is that this post is inappropriate, I'll delete it.

 

Ignore the one about the KESR Pullman coach restoration. That was another "unofficial" one. ISTR the official one was quite successful.

 

 

Jason

[polybear]

1 hour ago, Trains4U said:

 

Are you trying to make me cry?  It will do nothing for my image you know...   

 

 

Nah....he's just after a discount..... 

[RedgateModels]

1 hour ago, Trains4U said:

 

Are you trying to make me cry?  It will do nothing for my image you know...   

 

You can't really deny it though

[phil-b259]

1 hour ago, kevinlms said:

It's fantastic the support given to Market Deeping MRC, but it is sad to read at the foot of the page, about other railway clubs and societies. They have had similar issues, yet they have received only token gestures to their own appeals.

 

No idea of what the answer to this problem is, but I suspect that is why Market Deeping MRC, originally set a low target. I guess they were a little lucky in getting the right sort of publicity. My club's exhibition once got on TV, at the end of Saturday night news & Sunday we had people streaming in all day. Probably 15 years ago.

 

Have we ever been able to reproduce this - absolutely NOT.

 

Edit to add.

 

If the view is that this post is inappropriate, I'll delete it.

 

This phenomenon has been seen in many other situations from appeals for medical treatment through to archaeology or repairing fire damage. It all rather depends on what else is clamouring for the media attention at the time and how much of a 'pull' factor there is for the wider public.

 

Themes like the trashing of a school, a person suffering from a terminal illness, destruction for the sake of destruction (rather than destruction to facilitate theft), a local show for local people, it happening in a 'nice' area, etc all pull at the heart strings so to speak and will have had more of an impact compared to say damage to clubrooms.

 

The Market Deeping MRC appeal has benefited from it being a relatively slack time for news (and thus the big guns in the media more receptive to covering it), it happening in an area where crime is relatively low (and thus all the more newsworthy when it happens) and from having a number of celebrity / closet modellers in positions of influence who can help.

 

Put it this way, had it happened back in March when the mainstream media were doing nothing but going on about B****t / the Government tearing itself apart + looming deadlines then there would have been much less exposure outside the specialist media.