SWAG 2017 - Lineup, Details, Catering - all you need to know

[Phil Copleston]

Oh, and can we drop all this nonsense about moving elsewhere. The clue is in the name, it's a SWAG do, all invited. The venue and location are perfect.

 

Jerry and Kim

 

Hear, hear! 

 

[Donw]

As well as the monies, can I ask, do we know how many attended?

 

Do we know who attended?

 

Can I also appeal to those that did attend, to feel free to post their observations of Helstonish on my topic. Since its the first time in public for both the layout and myself, and I want it to continue to develop and improve, feedback would be appreciated.

 

All the best

 

TONY

 

Tony 

It is a nice layout and I think a very simple backscene mainly sky with perhaps some distant hills not too prominent would really lift in. At Staplegrove there was a rail just above which didn't help. 

Don

[phil-b259]

Ugh!

 

Well given that was my reaction to a cake with courgettes* in them, yet apparently it tasted delicious according to others - so maybe a Sprout cake could work...

 

(my mum used to like growing said things - but after a family Holiday she found out they had grown so well they had become marrows in our absence. Us kids christened them "Snozzcumbers" from Mr Dahl's BFG story which probably gives a good idea of what we thought of the taste.......) 

Edited May 3, 2017 by phil-b259

[Liam]

Oh, and can we drop all this nonsense about moving elsewhere. The clue is in the name, it's a SWAG do, all invited. The venue and location are perfect.

Jerry and Kim

Sorry, I guess that was my fault! Oh well, I hear there are lots of pubs and cider orchards in the area to be discovered!

[Arthur]

 

Well given that was my reaction to a cake with courgettes* in them, yet apparently it tasted delicious according to others -

 

It most certainly did. Think carrot cake; light, moist, the lime giving just a hit of 'sharp' to the sweetness. Drool.

 

I'll be judging on the GB Bake Off next....

 

.

[Gwiwer]

It speaks volumes for this quite modest event, the level of interest shown and the camaraderie among seemingly all who have had any involvement that this topic continues to generate high posting rates and very favourable reviews.

 

I missed a good one this year. I plan to be back next year. If I can bring a layout from Australia in my travel bag and persuade it to (mostly) work in Taunton once then I am very sure I can do something similar a second time.

 

On the subject of which I have finally today received word that my application to have "Boghouses" journey considered a world record for farthest-travelled model railway has been declined by Guinness. Not because any other layout gas travelled farther (we still believe none has) but because it fails their criteria tests.

 

Unless anyone can show me a working layout which has travelled farther from home to exhibition and back I shall continue to consider the record mine by default.

[10800]

I didn't know I was demonstrating until a few days before when John said he was bringing a card table (what? - bridge, poker, snap?) but it was very worthwhile experimenting with various options for making 1,250 3rd rail chairs/insulators for the viaduct. A number of visitors dropped by to ask questions, pass judgement on my sanity, and best of all make some very helpful suggestions.

 

Revelation of the day was finding out you could fit the Peco chairs with the Peco Code 60 rail upside down, i.e. with the flat bottom on the top and thereby showing the same head width as the Scalefour Society conductor rail - otherwise the former looks decidedly thin in comparison. Result. We can cope with the compromise in areas where the third rail won't be scrutinised too closely.

 

I'd missed the last 2 years, so it was good to get back. Well done to Stu and the team. 

 

Should've bought Andy's sound-fitted Deltic at that price, even if it was blue ...

[BG John]

All this model railway activity in the area makes me want to move back even more . Anyone want to swap a house to do up and a few acres in West Wales, for something nice that doesn't need any work done to it in or around Minehead?

[peter220950]

Will there be pasties at Gnosall ?

Probably more likely to be Oat cakes, Fidget pie and pork scratchings.

 

Peter

[NHY 581]

It most certainly did. Think carrot cake; light, moist, the lime giving just a hit of 'sharp' to the sweetness. Drool.

I'll be judging on the GB Bake Off next....

.

 

I shall pass on your comments to the Memsahib whose work it was. It is her speciality and bizarre but true I didn't manage to grab a slice.....but it is cowing lush as we Welsh say.

 

In fact I shall have a word tonight and perhaps she will make another...She also does them as muffins......Perhaps for next year.....

 

 

Rob.

[Not Jeremy]

I believe that that is, in fact, the Andy York Summer 2017 pinny collection exclusive to Matalan.

 

Negotiations are under way with Captain Kernow to reprise his role as a Matalan supermodel just for these.

 

Ah, the Kernow quondam days.....

 

Herewith the good Captain engaged in practical testing of Matalan's revolutionary range of lineside high visibility clothing that strangely failed to gain popularity within the railway industry.....

 

Edited May 4, 2017 by Not Jeremy

[Stubby47]

Does this help ?

 

Edited May 4, 2017 by Stubby47

[Andy Y]

I cannot unsee the Captain in a gimp suit now.

[Not Jeremy]

Ah, speaking of dark secrets, here we see the good Captain outside one of his emporiums "somewhere in Wales". No wonder he didn't build many train sets, what with this and Network Rail to organise....

 

[bgman]

Ah, speaking of dark secrets, here we see the good Captain outside one of his emporiums "somewhere in Wales". No wonder he didn't build many train sets, what with this and Network Rail to organise....

 

Wales07 197.jpg

Would that be the "Private Members Only" shop I've heard talk about ?

 

A.Summers

[Godfrey Glyn]

Now safely back from Devon I would just like to say a big thank you to everybody who worked to put together last Sunday's fantastic event. I have been to four so far and rate it as the most enjoyable modelling event of the year. Without the challenge of producing a module I would still be faffing about, planning but never really producing something.

 

If you haven't considered building a module, now is the time to start, a module is after all the new Cameo - but joined up and so much more fun. Mike has produced a super set of fiddle yards to go at each end and Arthur is taking care of them for future use. It was great for us to be in the larger room this year and I am sure I speak for all of us moduleleers that we felt much more part of the event with the new arrangements.

I want to change something I said to Tim early on Sunday morning  - This event is Captain Kernow's Prodigal Son - so thanks Tim for all the labour pains you went through to give it birth!

 

I am posting this photo here, Chris allowed me to borrow his beautiful new Bulleid Diesel and run it along the modular layout - really impressed both with the looks and the running over what was at the time some pretty un-fettled track.

 

looking forward to next year already!

 

all the very best to all who were there.

 

Godfrey

 

[Phil Copleston]

Dear fellow SWAGonians...

 

We did it! Andy Y and I are very pleased to announce that we both made online donations today on your behalf to Macmillan Nurses charity as a result of the monies raised at our SWAG meeting in Taunton last Sunday. https://www.macmillan.org.uk/donate

 

The final figures are now in: The big news is that catering made £130.00 (£200.00 with Gift Aid) and the Bring & Buy made £629.00 (£748.75 with Gift Aid). £30.00 for a loco sale was later transfered to the catering total as they paid Andy directly. Thus, with added Gift Aid this makes a staggering grand total of £948.75 we’ve been able to donate to a very worthy cause. So, well done - I think we can all be proud of this magnificent benevolent achievement! 

 

In summary, on the Bring & Buy stall we had a total of 208 items donated including second-hand books (and a few MRJ magazines), kits and finished models, tools and a goodly number of ready-to-run items. All of which got thoroughly picked over and a lot were sold. The dozen reduced-price brand new ‘Cameo Layouts’ books (Wild Swan) sold out like the proverbial ‘hot cakes’ - all were gone by early afternoon! As a result, I believe Simon was handed some Cameo Layout Competition entry forms before he escaped to grice trains on the West Somerset Railway after lunch. Organisationally, the lack of ready cash for big ticket items was an issue for some people. But we hope to address that for next time (option to pay by machine). Naturally, your suggestions for improving the Bring & Buy for next year are most welcome.

 

Especial thanks go to Simon Castens (Not Jeremy) and Tim Maddocks (Captain Kernow) who personally made particularly generous donations to the Bring & Buy stall, while several others kindly gave more or all of their 10% commission donation or rounded it up in our favour. My personal thanks also to Kim Clifford (“Mrs Queensquare” - but please don't call her that!) who helped me set out the Bring & Buy tables, calmed down this particular headless chicken, kept good records, and who did a lot of the taking of your hard earned cash... 

 

Our heartfelt thanks also go to all of you who generously volunteered your help on the day and behind the scenes, brought along super layouts and modules, our resident traders Kernow Models and The Model Shop, Exeter, bought cakes and pasties and a cuppa, donated or bought stuff from the Bring & Buy, and who simply managed to make it to Taunton to partake in a weekend of railway and modelling-related fun and good craic.  

 

I think we all had a brilliant day out (and the day before, for those who attended). As a gathering of RMweb friends and a place to show each other our modelling achievements, this is surely what SWAG is all about. I know I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

 

Finally, you will no doubt be pleased to hear we are already planning next year’s event! New layouts, more attractions, yummy catering temptations and an expanded (and better organised!) Bring & Buy stall. And to put your minds at rest, yes definitely at the same venue and at the end of April 2018!

 

Thank you one and all. Onwards and upwards to next year’s SWAG extravaganza! 

 

All the best till next time round...

Edited May 4, 2017 by Phil Copleston

[bgman]

Absolutely brilliant !

[Andy Y]

The big news is that catering made £130.00

 

Crediting the prudent guidance of HRH Kernow in procurement quantities ensured that there was a high efficiency level to the quantity of pies and pasties enabling exhibitors to be fed from the budget covered by non-exhibitor pastie purchasing. Undoubtedly the generous gifts of cake from exhibitors and visitors and obvious purchase and consumption delivered a positive fiscal outcome from the event's eatery so a thank you to all who chipped in with cake.

 

Whilst I know that B&B trading produced a very good result it's also recognised, anonymously, that there were some significant personal acts of kindness in that.

 

Well done to everyone.

[71H]

Goodness me, £948.75, that is truly remarkable.

 

Thank you for that update Phil.

 

Well done everyone.

 

andy

[Phil Copleston]

Goodness me, £948.75, that is truly remarkable.

 

Thank you for that update Phil.

 

Well done everyone.

 

andy

 

Thanks Andy. With any luck, we might make it a thousand next year!  

[Phil Copleston]

Folks,

 

As a tail-end follow up: I've just had a very nice lady from Macmillan Nurses, Plymouth local office, call me to thank us for the huge donation we made last month. As I uploaded the money in my name (to qualify for Gift Aid) she of course had no idea that this came from a group charity event. So I enlightened her... I think she thought it rather marvellous that a bunch of railway modellers could raise so much cash during a one-day event! 

 

I also mentioned that a colleague (Andy Y) had also seperately uploaded a donation to Macmillan from Stafford. But that will be acknowleged from their branch office in that part of the country.  

 

She is sending me her email address so that next year (if we wish) she can provide us with info leaflets or other promotional material for our Taunton "do". I said that probably just some Macmillan leaflets would be sufficient.

 

She also offered to send us a thank-you letter and donation certificate, but I politely declined, suggesting we'd rather that Macmillan save the money for their cause. Which she agreed to do.

 

Just thought you'd all like to know.

 

Edit to add this: I've just had this email from Macmillan, so pass it on to you all:

 

Hi Phil

Good to speak to you just now and thanks again for supporting Macmillan through the Model Railway event. We rely on donations to support the growing number of people affected by cancer.

Our aim is to support them from diagnosis and through treatment for as long as they need us.

We would be very grateful if you would consider supporting Macmillan again through your event and please do let me know when you need supporting literature.

 

I can also order merchandise such as Pin Badges, Collecting Buckets, Balloons and Bunting – should you wish to have any of this?

 

Thanks again for your support

Kind regards

 

Sian Ward-Edwards

Macmillan Cancer Support

Fundraising Manager - Plymouth, North Devon & Tamar Valley 

Edited May 22, 2017 by Phil Copleston

[Penlan]

Well done to 'One & All', and I think the £950 raised (as good as) for the MacMillan Nurses is terrific from a bunch of modellers on a quiet one day event.   In total, because of Andy agreeing to Gift Aid it, = £1,140.oo

 

I'm a Poppy Appeal Officer for a Village in West Cornwall, we would be over the moon to raise that amount in a week, so I appreciate just how great (£'s) the funds raised are.

 

Sandy Croall, Mousehole RBL Poppy Appeal Officer.

Edited May 22, 2017 by Penlan

[Phil Copleston]

Well done to 'One & All', and I think the £950 raised (as good as) for the MacMillan Nurses is terrific from a bunch of modellers on a quiet one day event.   In total, because of Andy agreeing to Gift Aid it, = £1,140.oo

 

I'm a Poppy Appeal Officer for a Village in West Cornwall, we would be over the moon to raise that amount in a week, so I appreciate just how great (£'s) the funds raised are.

 

Sandy Croall, Mousehole RBL Poppy Appeal Officer.

 

Thank you, Sandy! Yes, I think we did rather well for a low-key, one-day event. Although actually, the £948.75 donated included the 25% Gift Aid. (see post #317 for breakdown) Next year perhaps we ought to aim for a thousand smackers for a good cause. 

[Penlan]

Next year perhaps we ought to aim for a thousand smackers for a good cause. 

One of the problems I encounter on a number of Fund Raising scenarios is that the last, and normally high figure attained, becomes the bench mark, which if not reached, there's then the negative comments like ".... we didn't do as well as last year...." etc.,

There is an organsation in our Village which has just been low key bucket collections, Council donations etc., which has pulled in around £10k a year for approx., 40 years, we now have newbies in on the act for the last 3 - 4 years and anything less that £25k and it's a thumb screw event - though why we need these sums is beyond some of us.

Those of us 'Oldies' who liked the 'community' spirit of the last 50 years, are not happy, but when retired(?) Bankers, Accountants etc., join, the focus changes - I just wish they knew how to change a light bulb - Latest idea, hire a theatre in PZ and have an Auction of donated Art work, where the group receive 15% of the takings, as some of the ( 100+) paintings etc., are estimated at £ 8 - 10k, you can see they have moved on from shaking a bucket.

Sorry about that moan, but rising bench marks are not my scene, what will be, is what it is.

 

Oh, sorry, OK, it's £950 with Gift Aid, I still think that's terrific though.

Might be more with a Peripatetic Card reader next year......  

 

Edited May 22, 2017 by Penlan