Page 5 - NMRA Roundhouse September October 2020

Well, we’re still here! Things are lifting
a little but we’re clearly not out of the woods. My division, Calder Northern has begun cautiously to recommence work sessions at the Crewe premises. I went down in early August and had a most constructive chat with our new secretary, Alan Wyatt, and chairman Tony Gath. While I’m on the subject, may I express our enormous gratitude to Terry Wynne, past secretary of CN who has quietly and efficiently run this division for many years, and is still very much a member.
You – We – the Members are the life- blood of the Region, after all, in all our multifarious shapes and sizes, enthusiasms and motivations. It’s too easily forgotten that (for better or worse) we are the face of the NMRA British Region, and that we are its best advertisement – if we take care to be. Unfortunately the opposite can also be true. From time to time we will of course have grumbles, but could I just make a plea to everyone do a couple of things? To be sure of our facts, and
to try to present a positive impression. As the old marketing wisdom goes “If you like what you see, tell your friends;
if not, please tell us.” In this case “Us” being the BoD and the other officers and representatives in the Region who can fix something that needs fixing.
For example – we have among us mem- bers working toward their MMRs in the Achievement Program who are modelling
I first met John in 1997 just before the Cheltenham Convention and had remained good friends ever since.
John was always willing to help and advise on modelling matters. He was a great help to my son Matthew and
I with our layouts.We had many trips to exhibitions and train shows up and down the country both as visitors and exhibitors.
A trip that stands out, was one to Narrow Gauge North where we were exhibiting our layouts, John
said he knew a quicker way around Birmingham. So we left the motorway, then took what can be best described as a grand tour of Birmingham’s lesser known routes and back alleys but we
in non-North American outline. Some- times people have been told that they must model North American.This is not the case, as you can see by reading the AP rules. Also, people have been told
that they have to serve as a volunteer, an officer or on the BoD to qualify for their MMR.This too is not the case: although of course we desire and need members to volunteer for such roles, it is perfectly possible to fulfil the Service to the Hobby requirement by gaining the Author Cer- tificate. I have discussed this with our AP Chair Keith Webb, so everyone do please help to get these messages clear going forward. Mistakes can be costly, discour- aging potential members and spreading misinformation.
IfwearetogrowasaRegionweneedto
Last Run . . . John Spratley (TOAD)
did eventually get back on track to Leeds all thanks to “TOAD NAV”.
I will always treasure our times together as fun, after all that is what model railroading should be. Good- bye old friend you will be missed but never forgotten.
Terry, Janice & Matthew Lee
I first met John many years ago when I was working in Bristol and went to the Antics Model Shop to buy more train stuff and a very friendly shop assistant introduced himself as John and we got talking and he said that
put our most attractive aspects forward –asyouknow,IregardtheAPasoneof our most unique and valuable assets, and I believe we need to throw our doors open to modellers of all outlines to engage in it.
Looking ahead, as you will see in these pages, we have sadly had to cancel our Convention for 2020. Huge thanks to Steve Dennison and Black Diamonds
for keeping the flame alight as long as they did. Like so many organisations we have had to bow to the inevitable at the present time.We will be back! Hopefully stronger than ever, and in the light of that may I remind and encourage you to think about putting together bids for future meets and conventions? The more the merrier, from 2021 onward.
In the meantime, online is the way for- ward. I have been honoured to give my talk on making trees three times now, most recently for the SouthEastRegion (US) online convention. Please think about something you could contribute? I hope to see you at a forthcoming online event, perhaps a Saturday Brew and Nat- ter, or at the time of the convention.
For now - Keep ‘em Rolling!
Jonathan Small
Vice President NMRA British Region
vicepresident@nmrabr.org.uk
he was a member of the NMRA and had I heard of it? Well I joined the NMRA in 1975 when I lived in Canada so right away we had plenty to talk about.
John invited me to his home in Rad- stock and was full of information and help encouraging me to go to the next NMRA BR convention in Bourne- mouth. John introduced me to the Slim Gauge Circle and drove us to Rugby by some back lanes. He also took me along to Derek Frow’s First Wednes- day evening and that’s where I met David McLaughlin.
John was always ready and willing to “share know-how” - thank you John. Peter Bowen
FROM THE HEAD END
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ROUNDHOUSE--Septtemberr//Occttoberr2020--75tthAnniviverrssaarryyIIsssue
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