Wright writes.....

[Tony Wright]

Some more of Bytham's 4Fs........................

 

 

Here's a museum piece indeed. Mainly the work of Rob Kinsey, it's an old Wills body on scratch-built frames, towing a K's MR tender.

 

I weathered it and I've latterly replaced the drive with a can motor and gearbox (it originally had an open-framed 'grinder'). 

 

Please forgive the lack of brakes, and, as for those coaches, they're long gone! 

 

 

And another museum piece. Mainly the work of the late John Horton (he of S7 fame), it's an Airfix body on top of scratch-built frames with a Gibson high-sided tender by Rob Kinsey. It was all painted by Rob (the apparent daft bit of track in the foreground is a wooden walkway alongside the nearer rail). 

 

Both the above pieces of antiquity were once 'Locomotives of Leighford'. 

 

 

My preference is always to build locos from kits if I can. Here's one of my SE Finecast 4Fs........

 

 

And seen going the other way, waiting for a modified Bachmann 4F to clear the single track section from Saxby. 

 

I have to say, the Bachmann 4Fs are remarkably good models at source; I have two, and all I've done is to detail/renumber/weather them. 

 

 

Here's the other, on a typical working (though the real things hauled many excursions in the summer).

 

Occasionally double-headed!

 

The double headers are my two SE Finecast 4Fs, and the one waiting is one of my Airfix mods. 

 

 

And a closer view of my second SEF 4F, this one with a Stanier chimney and coal rail tender. 

 

And my oldest 4F? At least in terms of the age of the kit.........................

 

 

The ancient Acro one I built a couple of years ago (the kit dates from 70 years ago!). 

 

 

As a 'layout loco' in a 'layout setting', good enough, I think......................

 

There might be even more 4Fs hiding up top. I'll go and have a look.............................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 15, 2021 by Tony Wright
to add something

[Tony Wright]

18 hours ago, Jol Wilkinson said:

"Small Suppliers" often produce unique products and also have a different relationship with their customers than retailers' selling commonly available RTR items. A physical presence at relevant shows important for keeping that relationship with existing customers and meeting new/potential customers. For retailers a comprehensive website, competitive pricing and availability are probably more important. So I expect the Small Suppliers will be keen to attend shows again.

 

It may be that fewer shows will appear on the calendar though. I think that the Society shows will continue as before but some of the more general and local shows may not start up again for some time. I know one exhibition organiser of a very good one day show which has about fifty percentage attendance by families is unsure whether they will still attend.  The latest news on the Indian strain of the Coronavirus may also impact on how we view attending events, especially if/when other variants appear.

I think you're right with regard to 'small' traders, Jol.

 

Though many had started dropping out of some of the larger shows because the stand rates were too high. 

 

How many will return as shows return, I don't know, but speaking to one recently he's not going to shows in the future. Along with others, he's probably had his best year ever (it's an ill wind' and so on). Quite rightly, why should his like fork out on stand rents, fuel and accommodation when he can earn more, and spend next to nothing, by staying at home over a weekend?

 

Which rather begs the question, how viable might some shows be in future? Without varied trade (and the trend towards more and more box-shifters was growing prior to Covid - the last time I visited Ally Pally, I couldn't buy a motor, gears or wheels!) shows will lose their appeal to many (one of the reasons I attended shows, other than as a demonstrator, was because of the trade). Without trade support, entrance fees would increase without any benefits for the punter - in my case, I just stride by the heaps of blue, red and blue/red boxes. 

 

I've been invited to the (small) Bingham Show in my role as demonstrator.loco-doctor, later this year. I hope it goes ahead; it could set a trend towards smaller shows. 

 

Who knows what the future holds for shows?

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[MJI]

Anyone noticed that the online retailers are short of pinpoint bearings?

 

Managed to order 3 packs from Dart, should have bought 50 or so from Gibson with my wheel order.

 

Scared to look at the invoice as it was.

 

Enough wheels for a 3 car DMU

Enough wheels for 2 wagons

Enough wheels for 3 GWR carriages

Enough wheels for a MR 2P

[Clem]

46 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

I've been invited to the (small) Bingham Show in my role as demonstrator.loco-doctor, later this year. I hope it goes ahead; it could set a trend towards smaller shows. 

 

Who knows what the future holds for shows?

Hi Tony, Bingham is just down the road from us (about 7 miles). Let me know when it is, and I'll make sure I go and come over for a chat.

 

 

[cctransuk]

2 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Which rather begs the question, how viable might some shows be in future? Without varied trade (and the trend towards more and more box-shifters was growing prior to Covid - the last time I visited Ally Pally, I couldn't buy a motor, gears or wheels!) shows will lose their appeal to many (one of the reasons I attended shows, other than as a demonstrator, was because of the trade).

 

I'm afraid that I've long-since given up on model railway exhibitions.

 

Once, years ago at the Warley / NEC scrum was enough for me, but I did support the EMGS show at Bletchley - until they moved it! (There was always a good small trader presence at Bletchley). I did go to the MRJ one-off, but that managed to out-do even Warley as an unpleasant customer experience.

 

I attended one local show when we moved to Cornwall - a rather lack-lustre, poorly attended event that convinced me to obtain all my future modelling requirements via mail order, and forget exhibitions.

 

It's a shame

[Leander]

2 hours ago, cctransuk said:

...but I did support the EMGS show at Bletchley - until they moved it! (There was always a good small trader presence at Bletchley). I did go to the MRJ one-off, but that managed to out-do even Warley as an unpleasant customer experience.

Well that was a long time ago! And the MRJ show at Westminster Hall was in 1990 or thereabouts.

 

Expos and  Scaleforums offer just what you appear to be on the look-out for, namely plenty of specialist small traders. Railex isn't half bad either.

 

I wouldn't throw in the towel just yet.

[cctransuk]

4 minutes ago, Leander said:

Expos and  Scaleforums offer just what you appear to be on the look-out for, namely plenty of specialist small traders. Railex isn't half bad either.

 

I wouldn't throw in the towel just yet.

 

As I now live in Cornwall, all such opportunities involve much travelling; (too much)!

 

John Isherwood.

[Chas Levin]

22 hours ago, Barry Ten said:

 

It's just the bog-standard Airfix tender drive which I think Hornby continued using without much modification. I could never get these to run all that satisfactorily on DC but for some reason they respond very nicely on DCC, with just a basic decoder. The back to backs on the loco wheels need adjustment to get it to run smoothly through code 75 (but oddly the chunky tender wheels seem fine) and it remains one of my favorite locos for slow running and shunting. I have a 2P with the same mechanism which is also good, although inevitably a tad noisier at passenger train speeds. In general I would agree with the usual sentiments around here that tender drives aren't up to much but there are still a few hold-outs on my layout where the running seems good enough for my standards, which I accept may not be for everyone.

 

Al

You do get the odd one, don't you? I've hung on to a tender drive Hornby A4 (Silver Link) because it persists in running ridiculously well (ordinary DC), with the slowest, smoothest start you could wish for - quiet , too. I did give it a very thorough clean and service when I first had it, but I really must detail it as it's pretty much as was at the moment. I couldn't quite bring myself to part with it though, as I gradually upgraded other RTR stock, because of the way it runs. The only other tender drive I kept for a long while was a Roco SBB Elephant, but that's another story...

Edited May 15, 2021 by Chas Levin

[Northmoor]

I'm not an economist (if I was, I'd give two opinions anyway) but the near future may see a reversal of "normal" business, where only the only successful business models are low price, high volume or high price, low volume.  I can see that as far as model railway exhibitions are concerned, it might be the middle ground that survives.

 

Most local shows are held in school halls, sports centres etc. (normally local-authority owned) so rental charges are low and only need to contribute to the overheads, everyone there is a volunteer.  If the smallest shows get fewer visitors in future, they may not cover their costs and are not repeated.  The mid-range shows, in larger, easily accessible locations will see the same percentage decline but not enough for them to make a loss.  It is the largest shows (NEC, Alexandra Palace, Warley) held in exhibition halls owned by large corporations, with the best facilities (and associated large overheads), where a significant reduction in footfall will result in a loss for the professional promoter.  If that happens, they won't repeat the show, the numbers get too big to bear.

 

Rob   

[Dunsignalling]

I've greatly enjoyed  those Expo EM events I've attended at Bracknell, it's also a lot easier to get there from the West Country than Bletchley was.

 

Railex at Stoke Mandeville Stadium will probably be my one and only if I'm ever forced make such a choice, and is about as far as I'm willing to drive up and back in a day, 168 (non-motorway) miles each way. Railwells runs it a very close second IMHO. 

 

I decided that Ally Pally and Warley were getting too much like hard work about five years ago, and I've never done any of the big eastern/northern shows. 

 

The others I attend are for social purposes as much as anything, and I go by train for most that are further afield than Bristol (Thornbury), apart from Southampton, which (for me) is just easier by car.

 

Finally, a big plug for the little SWAG do in Taunton, which arguably displays the heart and soul of RMWeb.

 

John

Edited May 15, 2021 by Dunsignalling

[Tony Wright]

I don't think I've disliked any of the shows I've attended regularly over the last few years, with the exception of Warley. This has nothing to do with the Warley Club, just the absolute fag to get in and out (particularly the getting out). I'd dropped Warley because of that.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the Bristol show, but I think I blotted my copybook during my after dinner comments/prize giving quips, so I won't be invited back there (obviously, not all share my sense of humour, though the majority hooted!). 

 

I'm not going to grade the shows because that would not be fair, but three I must mention; two because of their location. Those two are York and Wells. The third to mention is Model Rail Scotland because that's such huge fun (not that all the others aren't fun either). 

 

I no longer go to Ally Pally since my full-time association with BRM ceased. Again, the hassle of getting there is just too much trouble. 

 

I also love the 'little' shows. Biggleswade and Sleaford spring to mind there, as well as Pickering.

 

In 2019, Mo and I did around 23 shows (that's around one a fortnight) ranging from the South Coast to Scotland and East Anglia to the North West, with all points in between. If/when they resume again, I'm afraid some will have their invitations (sadly) declined.  

[Tony Wright]

5 hours ago, Clem said:

Hi Tony, Bingham is just down the road from us (about 7 miles). Let me know when it is, and I'll make sure I go and come over for a chat.

 

 

The dates in the diary Clem,

 

But that's downstairs and I'm rather tired now! I'll let you know tomorrow.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Chas Levin]

7 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

I don't think I've disliked any of the shows I've attended regularly over the last few years, with the exception of Warley. This has nothing to do with the Warley Club, just the absolute fag to get in and out (particularly the getting out). I'd dropped Warley because of that.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the Bristol show, but I think I blotted my copybook during my after dinner comments/prize giving quips, so I won't be invited back there (obviously, not all share my sense of humour, though the majority hooted!). 

 

I'm not going to grade the shows because that would not be fair, but three I must mention; two because of their location. Those two are York and Wells. The third to mention is Model Rail Scotland because that's such huge fun (not that all the others aren't fun either). 

 

I no longer go to Ally Pally since my full-time association with BRM ceased. Again, the hassle of getting there is just too much trouble. 

 

I also love the 'little' shows. Biggleswade and Sleaford spring to mind there, as well as Pickering.

 

In 2019, Mo and I did around 23 shows (that's around one a fortnight) ranging from the South Coast to Scotland and East Anglia to the North West, with all points in between. If/when they resume again, I'm afraid some will have their invitations (sadly) declined.  

Good evening Tony, all very unfortunate: after years of trying, I'd finally convinced my wife that coming to a show could be an enjoyable day out for her too (helped by plenty of coffee and cake stops, some proper thought given to lunch and some kind of non-railway related call on the way there or back) and we went to more shows in the year before the lockdown than in the previous decade, only to have everything grind to a halt.

As you and many others have said, let's hope things recover as best they can and as quickly as they can. Hopefully, she won't have changed her mind...

[PupCam]

4 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Though many had started dropping out of some of the larger shows because the stand rates were too high.

 

Which rather begs the question, how viable might some shows be in future?    Without varied trade (and the trend towards more and more box-shifters was growing prior to Covid - the last time I visited Ally Pally, I couldn't buy a motor, gears or wheels!) shows will lose their appeal to many (one of the reasons I attended shows, other than as a demonstrator, was because of the trade). Without trade support, entrance fees would increase without any benefits for the punter - in my case, I just stride by the heaps of blue, red and blue/red boxes. 

 

And therein lies the rub!

 

I have been heavily involved with a well known, medium to large size and I believe well regarded show since its inception over 30 years ago (no names no pact drill, as the principles apply to all to a lesser or greater extent although Tony and some others know the one to which I am I am referring).   

 

Our show was always intended to be a showcase for the hobby, to promote new interest and encourage participation.    The general ethos behind its planning was always to provide the best possible variety and  range of high quality exhibits (not the cheapest!)  but it was never intended to generate a profit for "Club" funds (I use the term in its broadest sense).    As we aren't a charity it obviously could not persistently make a loss year on year and so on average it needed to operate essentially on a cost neutral basis.   Another key driver behind its organisation was to ensure that those exhibitors and demonstrators whom we invited to support "our show" had a most enjoyable and comfortable time, their property was always protected and most importantly they were not out of pocket by supporting and forming part of our show.  As many exhibits come from far afield this of course entails providing over-night accommodation for quite large numbers of people and the days of finding club members willing to put "George and Fred" up in the spare bedroom for free over the weekend probably finally disappeared in the 70's.  

 

Clearly traders, whilst an essential element of any good and successful show, participate on a different basis to exhibitors and demonstrators.   That isn't of course to suggest that we don't strive to make their attendance as enjoyable and, of course, as profitable as possible.   

 

Whilst I was never directly involved in the detailed financial aspects of the show I was aware of the orders of magnitudes of the costs and I'm fairly certain that the average model railway exhibition attendee will have absolutely no idea of what those costs are (and why the heck should they) and most importantly, if asked, would significantly underestimate them.   As an example, just think about how much it would cost to provide over-night accommodation for two or three nights for over one hundred people - that's one line in the balance sheet ......

 

Now remind yourselves of where the money to cover those costs comes from.    In our case essentially just two sources;  the entrance fee from you the punter and the traders stand fees.   And what is the greatest unknown to the organisers?   The number of punters who will actually walk through the door.     Of course,  after a number of exhibitions you might think you can make a reasonable guess but even with a well established show with a good reputation there is significant variability no doubt caused by a variety of obvious and not obvious factors.

 

Think the entrance fee is too high (for what you consider to be a good show)?   That's OK, we'll reduce the ticket price and either double the number of punters (just exactly how do we do that then?) or put the trade stand fees up.   Oh no! we've now got a whole host of disgruntled traders either withdrawing or at least threatening to withdraw their support.  We don't want that and can't afford that;  the particular mix of exhibitors, demonstrators and traders IS our show.   If all the traders turn in to box shifter clones the show is dead anyway.  What is clear is that there is a very, very fine balance to be struck and maintained.

 

Like many things in life,  a successful model railway exhibition is effectively a very fragile ecosystem and, as we see elsewhere in the world, ecosystems  can easily be upset by slight changes introduced either deliberately, carelessly, accidentally or without choice.    Unfortunately I fear that the "exhibition world", as others have already pointed out, was changing anyway and how long "what was" could carry on as before is a debatable point.   What is certain is that the last fifteen months or so have significantly hastened that change.  

 

What emerges as the "new way" at the end of it is anyone's guess!

 

Alan

 

 

 

[bbishop]

Alan,  I had better agree with you, given my involvement with the same show!  Bill

[PupCam]

10 minutes ago, bbishop said:

Alan,  I had better agree with you, given my involvement with the same show!  Bill

You've blown the cover now Bill!       If I've got it wrong, please say ....

[bbishop]

Alan, I calculate an exhibition space in "badminton courts".  What were we - 14 to 16?  If I were asked to set up a show now, it would be a maximum of 4! 

 

Actually, a brilliant summary.  Bill

[t-b-g]

For several years now, I have thought that the "pool" of available layouts and traders has not been big enough to adequately cater for all the shows we had in the exhibition diary. So I got to the stage where I found myself going to shows and seeing basically the same layouts and traders re-arranged in different combinations.

 

It reached a stage where I changed my approach to exhibitions altogether and started seeing them as a social event and a chance to catch up with people I may not see very often. Sometimes, I would leave having hardly looked at the layouts because I had seen them all several times recently and very few layout stand that sort of repeated viewing unless they are exceptional in terms of the running and the operation. That is rare. Most are quite dull to watch.

 

I will exempt the specialist society shows from my comments. At least they usually get all the small manufacturers and suppliers who don't attend the more general shows and are worth frequenting for that alone.

 

When I first got involved in exhibiting, in the late 1970s, the club show was an opportunity for club members to show off their work. There might be a table from the local model shop as a trader and perhaps one or two visiting layouts. The catering was almost invariable by the families of the club members. The profits were small but would go towards the upkeep or rent of the clubroom and/or layout building costs but the risk of a loss was tint too.

 

Over the intervening years they have grown into events with a huge turnover figure and costs and the chance to lose a lot of money if they fail.

 

I wouldn't want to be organising one now, with all the uncertainty as to whether it may or may not bomb in terms of ticket sales. I don't know if I would want to attend one now either as an exhibitor or a visitor. Being behind a layout or a demo table for two days with many hundreds of people breathing over me often ended up with me feeling poorly for a few days after a show having had some germs passed onto me but the stakes are much higher now.

 

I would want the situation to be very much better than it is now, with pretty much full vaccination and next to no cases of Covid before I will mix with a big crowd again.

 

 

[St Enodoc]

The last few posts on the economic and financial aspects of shows have made interesting reading.

 

I have felt for a long while that many clubs use their annual show as a source of income to keep the club viable. Personally, I think this is wrong. I have (successfully in most cases) persuaded a few clubs with which I have been involved over the years that the basic costs of assuring a club's existence - rent, rates, utilities, insurance, etc. - should be covered by subscriptions. Any income from the annual show then provides the wherewithal to build layouts, go on club trips (do they still happen?) and all the other things we like to do but which if the club did not exist per se would not be possible.

 

Discuss..

[polybear]

10 hours ago, Northmoor said:

Most local shows are held in school halls, sports centres etc. (normally local-authority owned) so rental charges are low and only need to contribute to the overheads, everyone there is a volunteer.  If the smallest shows get fewer visitors in future, they may not cover their costs and are not repeated.  The mid-range shows, in larger, easily accessible locations will see the same percentage decline but not enough for them to make a loss.  It is the largest shows (NEC, Alexandra Palace, Warley) held in exhibition halls owned by large corporations, with the best facilities (and associated large overheads), where a significant reduction in footfall will result in a loss for the professional promoter.  If that happens, they won't repeat the show, the numbers get too big to bear.

 

Rob   

 

Perhaps one option would be for Model Railway Exhibitions to become strictly "advance ticket only" events, sold at a point where, if sufficient sales aren't forthcoming then the organisers can cancel the show with (hopefully) minimal losses.  Far from ideal I know, but better than no show at all.

[Dragonboy]

Being a member of the great unwashed and never exhibited anything in my life I had already got to the point where I was pruning the number of exhibitions which I was going to on the grounds that I was finding so many exhibitions I attended around the Midlands area were offering very little different to the show I attended the previous week. 
 

Too many shows? Possibly but at least if there were then I had the choice of going and was striking a balance by making choices. Most show organisers were very good at publishing lists of attendees be they layouts or traders so I could usually plan well for what I saw or who I bought from and which shows I targeted in my diary.

 

As an N gauge modeller I’ve always found being able to inspect the smaller items before buying invaluable, and this has been of greater importance to me over the last few fees now that I’m retired. Clearly this was only achievable by going to shows.  I dread to think how much tat I bought Mail order over the years dating back to the 70’s by post based on a printed WH catalogue so internet and internet trading has been a godsend over the last year, but I do feel that whilst most charges for post and packaging from most suppliers are reasonable there are one or two suppliers that to me are pure rip offs in this respect and unfortunately I’ve yet to source the required items anywhere else.

 

As for the future? I am likely to be even more selective as to future exhibitions I attend. I’ve only been to Warley once in the last 5 years because of the cost, and crush, and that visit was purely to see Leighton Buzzard again having seen it from a distance at Westminster in the 70’s. Other venues which I had previously culled were a couple of school shows in Milton Keynes were there was so little room to move around comfortably they were usually very unpleasant days out. 
 

I am fortunate that I enjoy good health, and have been fully jabbed, but I suspect I will be reluctant to get up close and personal with crowds for some time yet having assiduously been avoiding people for over a year now - some would say most of my life - and I think a lot of what’s been said already about show costs and organisers needs are very valid but for me it’s going to be safety so a very very cautious re-entry, despite the fact that I’m truly missing the overall show experience.

[D-A-T]

Despite a fatalistic attitude, ie if it’s meant to be it will be, I feel the “old ways” have gone forever now. Unfortunately. That and people insisting on “their rights” but ignoring “their responsibilities” to others.

 

The only way forward in my opinion to anything approaching former normality is a Covid/Vaccine Passport with the prebooking and payment of tickets so the Passport can be checked. A faff and a hassle and it will no doubt affect attendance. And no doubt it will discriminate as it will be more cost effective and viable for a large show as opposed to a small one.

 

Also it will in effect become enthusiasts only as the casual attendance by a family will largely cease to be.

 

As to the shows themselves, pre pandemic I had started to limit the number I attended because, as previously noted, it was a largely a case of same layouts, different venue. The Specialist Society Shows were a must attend as were normally Wakefield and York (I’m in Doncaster). But attending other shows depended on if there was a particular layout I wanted to see. The upshot of all this however was I now found I was prepared to travel longer distances than before.

 

There does seem to be two different “circuits”. The Southern and the Northern and never the twain shall cross. Costs I guess. But if the exhibition scene wants to revive itself then a few “expensive guest” layouts from the other “circuit” maybe a possible way forward. Whether the layout owners/operating team would want to make the trek is another matter entirely. 

Edited May 16, 2021 by D-A-T

[StephenB]

COVID-19 has changed everything and we have to ask whether things will ever be the same again. I agree with the points raised about the bigger shows. On the plus side, they have a greater variety of everything, but travel to and from is a challenge (I prefer not to think of it as a problem). The smaller ones are the very opposite and I look forward to going to my local show in Cheltenham again, but when?

 

Stephen

[Barry O]

Getting motors/wheels/ gears at shows.  Well the rot set in on that one when DJH and Ks supplied kits with motors, wheels and gears as part of the kit. How many people actually want to buy such items at shows nowadays? Traders make very little money from carting them to shows.. generally to cover all ranges and sizes it would need a lot of stock. (and even then someone is bound to ask for something out of the ordinary and then appear on here bleating about not being able to buy X at Show Y. Of course you could try a pre-order to collect at show route from a supplier.  ( at least two traders at our show can supply motors but don't bring them as few people ask about them.)  At the same time how many sources are there now for motors/ gears and wheels who still attend show?

 

People (especially the trade) believe that the trade stands pay for the running of the show. It hasn't been like that at the shows I know about for a good few years. It may help to offset the costs but not cover them. 

 

We aim to try to provide a balance of layouts at our show in Leeds. Yes, in effect there is a "South" Circuit and a "North" Circuit for layouts. Why? Well most shows just cannot afford to pay for a layout which has to travel a long way and may need 3 nights of accommodation rather than one  or two if a layout is local. Accommodation costs for Warley (despite the best efforts of the two people who book it all) is huge. No small club show could handle it.

 

We also try to get a modest "excess of income over expenditure" from our show. The Club rooms may be of reasonable size but do cost money. No Club rooms.. no members.. no show..no society! 

 

While we didn't have an Exhibition last year, thanks to the donations from our members , coupled with the Gift Aid we can collect by being a CIO our income was about the same as the year before when we did have a show. However, without the Clubrooms being open I am not sure of how long that situation will continue.

 

D-A-T said "The only way forward in my opinion to anything approaching former normality is a Covid/Vaccine Passport with the prebooking and payment of tickets so the Passport can be checked. A faff and a hassle and it will no doubt affect attendance. And no doubt it will discriminate as it will be more cost effective and viable for a large show as opposed to a small one."   Currently there are no Government "Passports".. the passport only means you have had a jab or jabs.. it doesn't show that you have had a negative test. Test are (currently) free from the NHS. Should we ask everyone to prove they have had a negative test in the last two day?  In reality Clubs can only follow Government (and local) guidance on this area. It may mean you have to have your temperature checked on entry to the show, it may mean having a proof of negative test, we don't know but we will find out.

 

I do find some of the recent comments very , very negative.  Life has changed so has the hobby!  Kit manufacturers are run off their feet, component manufacturers ditto, and the RTR guys are doing well.. so come on.. think positive!

 

Baz

[APOLLO]

Lots of interesting thoughts re exhibitions. I have missed my local one, Wigan which seemed to me to get better year on year, always interesting layouts, good trade support and Tony (etc) to moider !!!

 

Indeed mother nature, health experts and our leaders will ultimately decide on what is what going forward. I will attend future events etc with my own personal risk assessment taken at the time. Simple as that (for me).

 

Yes there is a huge element of risk, mostly financial for event organisers / participants of these events.

 

A changed world indeed it will be going forward. 

 

Brit15