Club Meeting Dates - 2009
I am still working on bringing our start time forward to 11am, but in the meantime we will have to continue with an 11.30am, start the breakdown at 4.30 to be clear of the Hall by 5.00pm.
The remaining dates for this year’s meetings are as follows, note Prayle Grove will not be at the Club Meetings marked with *:
31 May *
5 July
6 September *
4 October
8 November
20 December
As yet we have not managed to fix a date for Steam in Beds 2009, we are hoping to be able to fix it for a Saturday in October/November/December. We may have to consider looking for an alternative venue for this year. We will keep you updated on developments via the Smokebox and our Web Site.
Exhibitions – 2009
The following exhibition dates have been confirmed for Ridgmont to attend:
Soar Valley Exhibition - 26/27 September
Kew Steam Show - 14/15 November
Make sure you book these dates in your diary.
We have also been invited to take Ridgmont to the Wickham Show on the 31 October; Wickham is about 5 miles north of Fareham in Hampshire. The organisers saw Ridgmont at the G-Scale show in April and are very keen to have us attend their show, I can’t see any reason not to attend but please let me have your views.
Forthcoming Exhibitions and Shows
Sunday 26 July 2009 - Fawley Railway Experience. Fawley Hill, Fawley, Oxfordshire.
Sir William McAlpine is opening his private museum and railway at Fawley Green which is located between Henley and Marlow. Tickets £10.00, children £5.00 includes Steam Train Ride and entry to the Wildlife Park. Cream teas will also be available or take a picnic. Proceeds to go to the Iain Rennie Nurses, tickets available from Christine Nisbet on 01494:812458
Other Railway Exhibitions
26/27 September - Soar Valley Exhibition, Ridgmont will be attending
14/15 November - Kew Steam Show, Ridgmont will be attending
31 October - Wickham Show, Ridgmont has been invited
Prayle Grove will also be attending the following shows:
6/7 June - Hollycombe, Hunslet Weekend
18/19 July - GMES Rally, Contact Roger Haywood
24 October - Brandon
Any members interested in running at any of the above please contact Carol on 07800 798509
Model Engineering Shows
6/7 June - 19th Welsh National Locomotive Rally. Contact: Don Norman 01656 784530
13/14 June 29/31 August - Harrow & Wembley Model Engineering Open Days. Contact: Brian Tilbury 020 8248 0442
11 July - Chiltern Model Railway Association Interactive Modelling Event, Westfield Community College, West Watford
Wags Wharf
Is on permanent display at the Pitstone & Ivinghoe Museum, do please come along to see Wags and the other displays including 3 other model railways.
The open days scheduled for this year are as follows:
14 June - Sunday
12 July - Sunday
9 August - Sunday
31 August - Summer Bank Holiday
13 September - Sunday
Please pick up a leaflet for the Museum’s 2009 season.
Obituary
You will all have learnt the sad news of the death of Martin Lay on Friday 15 May. The funeral will be at 12.45pm, Wednesday 3 June at St Mary Magdalene, Church Road, Brampton, PE28 4PQ. This will be followed at 2.30pm by a short service at Bedford Crematorium, Norse Road, Bedford, MK41 0RL.
Our condolences go to Martins Widow Susan; there will be a card of condolence at the club on Sunday if you wish to sign it, there will also be a collection box, Susan has asked that all monies collected should go to the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.
Chris Pretty - Club Secretary
Sue and John Friendship, who were long term friends of Martin and Susan, prepared the following Obituary.
Martin Lay
Martin grew up in London and he served his apprenticeship to be a Mechanic with British Railways. He moved to Cambridge to work on Government Official Cars, maintaining them. He was a good golfer and became Head Green Keeper which he did for many years, of late he was Groundsman for the Council and looked after all the parks football and cricket pitches in the area.
Martin’s interest was Narrow Gauge Railways and he was also a member of Cambridge Model Railway Club where he was helping to rebuild the 16mm railway in the grounds, he also worked on the Bala Lake Railway in Wales and spent a week every year working and repairing wagons. His ambition was to build a 16mm Lynton and Barnstable Railway in his garden but this sadly will now not be fulfilled.
Martin was a very caring and friendly person, liked by all who knew him and he will be sadly missed by club members and his many friends alike. Our thoughts go out to his wife Susan at this very sad time.