Moderators Popular Post AY Mod Posted May 5, 2023 Moderators Popular Post Share Posted May 5, 2023 Simon will be retiring at the end of May. We wish him well and hope he gets time to spend on his retirement projects. See https://www.world-of-railways.co.uk/News/simon-kohler-to-leave-hornby?postId=66690a13-f84e-4eaa-b900-d15afe4aff7d 5 8 1 5 1 28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Hroth Posted May 5, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted May 5, 2023 He's done well, keeping Hornby in the public eye. Hope he has a pleasant retirement! 2 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post The Stationmaster Posted May 5, 2023 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted May 5, 2023 Hope he has a long and happy retirement after many years of being a very good 'front man' for Hornby and who has probably spent more hours on his feet at model railway shows than many of us put together. 9 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSpencer Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Indeed a very happy retirement to such a wonderful career. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr chapman Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Fair play! Hope he has a good retirement and can relax. Always seemed a nice guy 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted May 5, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 5, 2023 He’s certainly been the face of Hornby for a long time - mid eighties? Wishing him all the best on retirement . 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Agreed, has worked hard for the company and deserves his retirement. A bit of an act for someone to follow though. Stu 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fireline Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 17 minutes ago, lapford34102 said: Agreed, has worked hard for the company and deserves his retirement. A bit of an act for someone to follow though. Stu The first problem for the new person will be the continual chorus of "Simon wouldn't have done that" from various forums. I would suggest we give whoever takes over full licence to go their own way. 1 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RedgateModels Posted May 5, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 5, 2023 Bit of a step up for Montana, got for it girl! 9 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great Waterton Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 A long and happy retirement for Mr. Kohler. 👍 Let us hope that his successor is equally passionate about the hobby and that they share the enthusiasm for TT:120. 5 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Hammond Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Wishing Simon a long and happy retirement. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted May 5, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 5, 2023 I just logged on and saw the bunting and this was the first topic ….. just for a second I thought ‘he’s not that bad surely’ 😂 Have a happy retirement, I’m told it’s harder than working as you’ve no time. 6 2 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold adb968008 Posted May 5, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 5, 2023 (edited) Simons done well at Hornby, and whether you agree with him or not, theres no doubting his life long commitment to Hornby and the impact he’s had on the hobby. de-ja-vue, 9 years since he first retired. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jun/27/horby-close-warehouse-kent Whilst it will be hard to fill his shoes, it is an oppourtunity for a strong person to make an impact.. I think that was the void left last time. i somehow doubt he will “dissapear” from view. Edited May 5, 2023 by adb968008 4 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 97406 Posted May 5, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 5, 2023 All the best to him. I trust he will still be enjoying the products. It will be interesting to see how Hornby develops going forward with his successor. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold BMacdermott Posted May 5, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 5, 2023 Hello everyone May I join everyone in wishing Simon all the best for a well-earned retirement? I have known Simon for more years than I can recall and have had many happy 'chatting sessions' with him at shows. I know it is now fairly commonplace for model companies to actually speak face-to-face to customers but - as far as I am aware - Simon may well have been 'the prototype'. I have often stood close to him waiting to speak while he had someone 'rabbiting on' about some obscure loco that Hornby ought to make. Always polite to the end! And how did he manage to remember so many names in a sea of faces? Well done Simon! All the very best! Brian 10 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Hayter Posted May 5, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 5, 2023 Very best wishes to Simon on his retirement. He has done much to ensure Hornby has remained the "name" when model railways are mentioned. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pmorgancym Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 The last time he left, wasn't it a bit disastrous? Design clever, going all in on Olympic tat etc.. 1 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Legend Posted May 5, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 5, 2023 2 minutes ago, Pmorgancym said: The last time he left, wasn't it a bit disastrous? Design clever, going all in on Olympic tat etc.. That was before he left . From memory SK announced "Design Clever" which I still think wasn't a bad concept had it been applied appropriately and consistently . I think Design Clever was in some Southern emus for instance , which seemed to go down well 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators AY Mod Posted May 5, 2023 Author Moderators Share Posted May 5, 2023 3 minutes ago, Pmorgancym said: Design clever, going all in on Olympic tat etc.. No, that was before he left in 2013. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted May 5, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 5, 2023 1 minute ago, Legend said: That was before he left . From memory SK announced "Design Clever" which I still think wasn't a bad concept had it been applied appropriately and consistently . I think Design Clever was in some Southern emus for instance , which seemed to go down well Agreed, tbe only problem I had with it was the name, on parts like coach door handles I'd rather have consistent well moulded parts than separate parts prone to falling off / being applied a bit wonky. 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Black Hat Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 3 minutes ago, Pmorgancym said: The last time he left, wasn't it a bit disastrous? Design clever, going all in on Olympic tat etc.. I wish Simon a enjoyable retirement. He did well at being to help and was able to grab some low hanging fruit to help Hornby. But big green express engines only get you so far and I can't help but think that the creativity of things like Q6 and Duke need to be followed up with other inspiring choices - rather than Hornby defaulting to Simons Southern or express favourites. BR transition that Hornby keep aiming for is slowly loosing out to privitisation and with the diesels in the range poached by others Hornby need some serious effort to keep on track and defend their range. Simon has been great to help revise fortunes but new ideas and a fresh perspective might be what Hornby actually needs most. 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted May 5, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 5, 2023 I add that in jest, if you read this all the best and enjoy your retirement 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted May 5, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 5, 2023 He deserves an award for service to British model railways, a gold loco? TV series shows Hornby has some ace younger design talent as well as experienced hands. Dava 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Kazmierczak Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Presumably his retirement gift will be a TT model of A3 60112 "St Simon" and a rake of Pullman cars... Enjoy your retirement Simon, and best wishes for the future. 4 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted May 5, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 5, 2023 Best wishes Simon for a long, happy and healthy retirement. PS if you do come back to Hornby, then when you next retire please re-read this post. 😁😁 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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