Page 3 - November December 2007

Tired but cheerful, I have just returned from the convention where a pleasant hotel and staff ensured we were well fed and watered over the weekend.
As usual a very large display of layouts, traders and bring & buy kept me busy for as long as I was able to stay awake (it’s getting harder as the years go by!).
Numerous clinics were held throughout, and the non-rails were also whisked off to Colchester for a Saturday safari to the shops, which apparently were worth the whisk.
Perhaps the only slight disappointment was the ever-diminishing number of entries into the contests. It seems a shame that this side of the Regional activity is presently in decline, because those that do appear are often an inspiration to other members. Perhaps we can put our heads together to see if there is a solution to this. Meanwhile this year the ladies put us gents to shame – Best in Show goes to Kathy Millatt as you will see in our pictorial reports!
The AGM went remarkably smoothly. Some felt that, due to Chris’s recent resignation and the consequent change of officers, things might be a little disjointed, but I think most present felt that the immediate future of BR is in good hands, with numerous plans under consideration. Watch these pages into the new year for the outcome of some interesting possibilities. It is also
particularly good that we already have events booked into 2009.
One remarkable interlude, taking place at the end of the Gala Banquet, was an impromptu auction. In the general scout round for raffle prizes etc, Horizon Hobby Inc had donated a brand new HO Athearn Genesis Big Boy, which was brought to us by Terry Page of LSWR.
This wonderful gift was to be put to the best of uses. Instead of going to the raffle it was decided to auction it off, with proceeds going to the charity “Children in Need”. It raised £300, donated by a certain gentleman ATSF modeller from Luxembourg.
The raffle itself benefited from 100 assorted prizes donated, and as usual John Hey did the business, risking chronic voice strain in calling the numbers.
Perhaps most encouraging of all was the news that even prior to the start of the convention BR had topped 700 members, and as non-members swooped in to view the train show on the Saturday quite a few signed up on the spot. We must be doing something right (or maybe it was the revolver that our “receptionist”, Paul Atkinson, held to their heads!).
Congratulations to the team of organisers – it was a great weekend.
Martin Boyask
CUPOLA
...FROM THE EDITOR
ROUNDHOUSE DECEMBER 2007
CONSIST...
CUPOLA 3 PRESIDENT’S CAR 4 CONTEST RESULTS 4 UNCOUPLED CARS 6 DOWN COPDOCK WAY 7 NON-RAIL REPORT 7 DIVISION DIARY 11 MINUTES OF THE 2007 AGM 12 DEGRAW’S POULTRY MARKET AND
GORDO'S FRIED CHICKEN
Mike Carter 14
N SCALE LOCO REVIEWS
John Spratley 19
CANADIAN THEMED MEET AT CREWE
Terry Wynne 19
ALCO S1 #803 John A Romer 19 KEGWORTH GRAND CENTRAL 2008
BOOKING FORM 21
BOOK REVIEW Tom Watson 22
2007 CONVENTION – A NEW MEMBER’S VIEWPOINT David Chandler 24
NORTHUMBRIA SUBDIVISION THEMED MEET John H Wright 25
WHAT’S ON AND WHERE 26
REGISTRAR NEWS 27
CREWE CANADIAN THEMED MEET
Nobby Clarke 29
To All British Region NMRA Members
As I am sure most of you now know, after much consideration, soul-searching, regret and sadness, I decided in September to step down as President of the NMRA British Region.
There was no one factor that was decisive in that decision, but rather a number that built up over time.
Overall it was the issue of balancing work, home and NMRA time that was the prob- lem. When accepting the Presidency I felt that I could fully manage the situation. However, certain work aspects in particular (some unprecedented) made this situation unsustainable and were likely to get worse in the future, rather than better. I felt that by carrying on I would fall ‘between stools’, which would be no good for anyone. In particular it became clear that I would not be able to attend, as I wanted to, various NMRA events in October and beyond, and even attendance at the Convention pre- sented a problem.
I had no wish to be a ‘stand back, unin- volved President’. The post of President is a very important one. It is the President who leads, and I felt it better to pass the mantle on to someone who was more able at this time to do this.
Therefore from 19 September, Tim Rudge took over as President. I wish Tim every success and thank him for his understand- ing of my situation and being prepared at very short notice to take the job on. Simi- larly I wish to thank Carol, Mike and John, the other members of the BOD, for all their help and support over the last 11 months. Indeed I would like to say how much I have enjoyed working on the BOD for nearly the last four years.
I wish also to thank all members for their support and help, and particularly those who contacted me with such kind words after my resignation was announced.
Chris Hobbs
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december 2007