The M5-M50 group is going strong but finding a new scribe to take over the writing of these reports is still a work in progress. We continue to meet every month and the last meeting of 2018 took place in November, attended by 25 people who enjoyed mince pies, sausage rolls, cocktail sausages and other festive fare. Sadly we received a report of the recent death of one of our long standing members, Richard Stranks, and the money paid by people attending that meeting will be donated to a charity nominated by his widow.
Several group members had attended the show at Warley held over the previous two days and indeed a couple of members had been exhibiting their layouts, Nicolas Wheatley with ‘Journey’s End’ (009) and Matt Wathen with ‘Allerdale Farm’ (09). The 009 Society stand was provided and looked after at the show by several members from the West Midlands 009 Group who also attend our meetings.
On the test track Dave Churchill was running two coaches from the Darjeeling Himalaya Railway (DHR), made from Worsley Works kits, beautifully painted in that railway’s blue livery and properly lined. They were being hauled by a DHR ‘B class’ 0-4-0 loco, made from a Backwoods Miniatures kit, which was not quite finished after many years of construction. Dave had been busy finalising his book on the DHR ‘B class’ locos, ‘A history and continuing story’, now published by DHR and a must-buy for any devotee of that railway (Santa please take note!).
We meet on the last Monday of every month except December, Bank Holidays included. You are assured of a warm welcome at our meetings, which start at 19.30 hours, with cake and coffee or tea, in the company of like-minded narrow-gauge enthusiasts.
We meet at Twyning village hall near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 6DF.
Next meeting: Monday 28 January 2019.