| SDRM weekly communication 23rd September 2025
Dear All,
Just one more sleep before we set up our exhibition at the NYMR’s Pickering Station for the Steam Gala. I will ensure that the clubrooms are open from 10.00am, so if you have volunteered to transport layouts or equipment you can come along then. We'll then meet at the venue at 11.00am. As a result, the clubrooms will not (not) be open for the usual Wednesday afternoon session and there will be no evening session.
As regards the evening sessions, the Committee met on 17th September and agreed that in future the Club would be open from 14.00hrs until 20.00hrs. The idea is to try and accommodate those members who are not available in the afternoon and to keep the club open as long as there are still members in attendance to warrant doing so. If you are intending to come along later in the evening it would still be worthwhile sending a text message or an email to a Committee member to ensure that the Club is still open! Obviously, if there are only a couple of members present then it is likely that the club will close earlier than 20.00hrs.
Can I also remind you that the annual subscription (which has been kept at £52) becomes due on 1st October. Please do not pay the subscription before that date, as it might become part of our current year’s tax liability! Many thanks. I will circulate the bank sort code and account number next week.
See some of you tomorrow! Jim
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SDRM weekly communication 16th September 2025
Dear All,
It’s nice to be back after a week away. I am sure that everything went well while I was away as things normally do! Weather does seem to have changed somewhat but at least the rain will be welcome on the moors to help dampen down that fire. The NYMR will be pleased too if it makes it safer to run the steam trains for the Steam Gala. Which reminds me to say “thank you” for volunteering to help 'man' our exhibition over the five day period; the more we are able to share out the tasks, the better. There is still time, however, to add your name to the list if you haven’t yet done so.
The Club will be open as usual from 14.00 hours tomorrow. The Committee will be meeting at 11.00 but will have finished before 14.00. Can I remind people that the club will not (NOT) be opening for a normal session next week, as we will be loading up layouts for the NYMR Steam Gala exhibition.
See you all tomorrow! Jim
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SDRM Weekly Update 9th September 2025
There was a good Club representation at the Bridlington Show this last weekend, where Napier Rd was exhibiting. I counted 14 members when I was there. This coming weekend sees Low Fell at the International N Gauge Show in Leamington Spa. Probably won’t see 14 of you there, though.
Just a reminder about the NYMR Steam Gala, where we’ve been invited to put on a mini exhibition.
Why are we doing this?
- Have some fun while playing trains, practicing our skills, learning more about the prototype etc. There’ll be 5 of our own layouts to operate/practice on, with a variety of operating systems and gauges - O, OO, TT120 and N
Analogue (DC)
Digital (DCC)
- Napier Rd - Digitrax,
- Possil Halt - Lenz,
- Camelot - HM with Bluetooth,
- Low Fell - Digitrax.
Bring your own locos if you wish (check with the designated Layout Coordinator on the day),
- Help maintain our partnership arrangements with the NYMR,
- See all the NYMR (and guest) locos pass right by our door,
- Put some money in the bank, (helping convince the Treasurer to keep our 2026 subs low).
If you can help over the 5 days (not necessarily all of them), have a word with me or Jim.
As Jim has mentioned last week, there’ll be a committee meeting on the 17th. If you have anything you want discussing on the agenda, please email, text or phone Jim to let him know. Keep your eyes open for the minutes which will be posted here very soon afterwards: https://sdrmweb.co.uk/Committee_meetings_2025.php
All that’s left for me to add is that the Clubrooms will be open tomorrow from 2pm. If you want to attend in the evening, please let me know.
Roland
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SDRM weekly communication 2nd September 2025
Dear All,
Many thanks to those of you who have volunteered to assist at the forthcoming exhibition in the Exhibition Room on Platform 2 at Pickering Station during the forthcoming Steam Gala. Setting up will take place on Wednesday, 24th September with the exhibition itself taking place over four days from 25th to 28th of September. On the last day of the exhibition the various layouts will, of course, need to be dismantled and returned to the club rooms. It is therefore very important that we have enough help on hand to set up, run and return the layouts. Thank you again to those who have volunteered. If you have not yet asked to add your name to the list but are able to spare some time to help then please do so either this week or next week.
I should note that I will be available tomorrow but happily I will be on holiday from 4th September until the 14th. I am sure that Roland would be happy to receive requests for the list in my absence. Once again, having a large number of volunteers to call on lessens the load for the whole team. Many thanks in advance.
The Committee intends to hold a meeting at 11.00 on Wednesday, 17th September in the club rooms with the intention of finishing by 13.00 or so at the latest. The club will then be open as usual. If you have any items which you feel should be discussed please let me know as soon as possible so that I can consider whether to include them on the Agenda. Many thanks.
Meanwhile the club will be open as usual from 14.00 tomorrow until about 18.00. See you there. Jim
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SDRM weekly communication 24th August 2025
Dear All,
As you may all be aware we have been invited once again by NYMR to mount a small exhibition in the room on Platform 2 at Pickering Station during the forthcoming Steam Gala. The Gala itself is from Thursday 25th September until Sunday 28th September. Set up will take place on Wednesday 24th September making the whole Gala a five day event for us. Arrangements are under way to identify suitable layouts to take to the Station but more important is the need to draw up a list of those members who are available to help. It is not expected that members commit themselves for the full five days but if you are able to lend a hand for any of the particular days then it would be really helpful if you could let me know, either at the Club or in an email. We will then try to draw up a rota to share out the tasks over the five days. I have already committed myself to being available for all five days which seems only appropriate as I am one of those members who lives close to Pickering.
Please have a think about it and let me know if you are available. Even if it is only for a morning or afternoon then every little helps ease the load on each of us. Thanks in advance as I know we always rise to a challenge!
Meanwhile the Club will be open as usual tomorrow at 14.00 hours and remain open until 18.00 or so depending on attendance. Once again if you think you might turn up late in the afternoon you would be wise to contact me on 07909 626619 to make sure that the Club is still open! Regards Jim
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Chairman’s Communication 20 August 2025
Congratulations everyone! We did it! Not me, not you, not him, not her. The whole Club together with our visiting layouts and our demonstrators put on such a show that a number of visitors complemented us on a show worth visiting.
Every club member who was able to attend deserves a pat on the back but particularly those who took on some of the more demanding roles. I’m thinking, for example, of that incomparable team on the front door, Linda and Madge with their motto “Thou shalt not pass without paying”.
There’s also Roy with an equally memorable motto “you won’t win it, if you’re not in it”! Thanks to him and his little helpers. Some positions carry more danger than others and it was an impressive effort from all those who put their lives at risk to “person” the Thomas layout which also saw Mike Paige make an admirable effort. Nerves of steel were needed for Thomas, believe me, I witnessed it from the kiosk. Napier Road received some admiring comments so thanks to the team there.
Helping to keep visitors hydrated was the wonderful Sue as she unstintingly gave out teas, coffees, water and lunches for all the crew at the show. Of course we cannot forget that there is a lot of work goes on before the show with the organising of the show guide, getting advertising etc. and the harvesting of raffle prizes etc., etc. You couldn’t approach Pickering without meeting one of our signs.
Many thanks to Roland, the mastermind behind all of this. We couldn’t have done it without you. Many thanks are also due to those who came along to help set up and more importantly to take everything down at the end of the show and return things to the clubrooms. Many thanks to you all. Even if spouses were not in attendance at the show there is still a big ‘thank you’ needed to them for letting their spouses out with pink slips for the duration of the show.
Another aspect of the show which is worth commenting on is the generosity of some of our friends who provided layouts. All of our friends on the 1st floor declined to accept any expenses whatsoever while our friend from Hull on the 3rd floor declined to take the full amount to which he was entitled. Friendship like that needs to be reciprocated in due course.
Finally, it is intended to have a de-briefing session on Wednesday afternoon so come along if you are available and hear how it went. Needless to say your views and suggestions to improve things are also welcome.
It was great to see John Yard after his recent travails and hopefully he will be in a position to attend the club in the near future. It was also a pleasure to see the return of Paul and gosh has he lost some weight! Congratulations Paul and we hope the new knees come soon, you deserve it. John Bayes was also able to make an appearance; hope you recover completely soon, John.
The Club will be open as usual from 14.00 tomorrow. Jim
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Message from the Chairman 17 August 2025
Hi All,
A big thank you to everyone who attended and helped with the show. The show went very well as far as we can tell and the credit for that is down to you the members, visiting layouts together with the traders and demonstrators. We intend to let everyone know the outcome of our efforts on Wednesday but initial indications are that we have done very well within our planned targets. Monetary targets however are not as important as the good feeling we have created for our club and the community that we serve. I have witnessed numerous lovely events from the tea kiosk, with the Thomas layout immediately in front of us. If my instinct is correct then I think we might be looking at a number of future club members ... even if we are not alive to see them in the club!
It is your efforts, and the time you give up, which makes the show a success, so pat yourselves on the back! We will aim to give a resume of how we have done on Wednesday afternoon - probably around 3.00 o'clock or so - and you are welcome to attend if you are free. Fuller details will be available later.
It goes without saying that you might have seen things which could be better and we really need you to speak out and tell us - the Club - not just the Committee - how that could be done!. Speak up or forever hold your peace!
Great work Club and well done. Jim
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Chairman's Weekly Communication 12th August 2025
Dear all,
just a few days now to our big event of the year! There are still some tasks to be accomplished before Friday so your help in the club tomorrow would be appreciated.
The club will be open as usual from 14.00hrs tomorrow so I hope to see you there. Jim
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Chairman's Weekly Communication 5th August 2025
Dear All,
I hope the good weather has reached you and the high winds of yesterday have not done any damage.
It is now only a week and a half to our Pickering Show and there is only one major job which requires to be done before next week and that is to distribute as many fliers as possible! If you are at the club tomorrow then please load up with fliers.
I have been escorting family visitors around all weekend and it turned into quite a game spotting our posters advertising the show. My visitors were well and truly amazed that you couldn't drive around this area without running into a sign somewhere! Let's hope they do their job and bring in lots of visitors next week.
The club will be open tomorrow from 2.00 as normal. I am afraid I won't be available as it is the Thornton le Dale Annual Gala and both Imelda and I are stewarding judges around the various sections. After 35 years in the Ministry of Agriculture it is as close as I want to ever get to farming again! Jim
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Chairman’s Weekly Communication 29th July 2025
Dear All.
Just a short communication this week to remind you that there will be a briefing on our forthcoming Pickering show tomorrow at the Club rooms. The meeting will be taken by Roland as both Ian and I will not be available. Any last minute details or instructions can be dealt with at the meeting.
Coming home from Sunderland yesterday after a few days away I was struck by the number of road signs there were advertising our show. They were impossible to miss!
The Club will be open from 2.00 o'clock as usual tomorrow. Jim
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Chairman’s Weekly Communication 22nd July 2025
Dear All.
Our Pickering Show is now only 31/2 weeks away according to my reckoning. It is planned to have a final pre-show meeting on Wednesday 30th July at about 2.00. Your attendance would be appreciated as any last minute instructions will be given. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend as I will be at the funeral of a friend in Lincoln on that day.
Preparations for the show are well in hand and I know that Roland (and others) have been busy with prizes and with repairing signs! Many thanks to those who have put signs out; it is impossible to approach Pickering without seeing a sign, particularly if you travel up the A169 from the Malton by-pass!
The Club will be open as usual from 2.00 tomorrow until approximately 18.00 hours or so depending on attendance. Jim
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Chairman’s Weekly Communication 15th July 2025
Dear All,
apologies for my rather short communication last week; gremlins in the computer!
I would have thanks people last week for taking two of our layouts to the Spa in honour of the cliff lift which was being celebrated for its 150th birthday. A useful outing which raised the profile of the club in Scarborough. I am also grateful to those members of the club who came along to the exhibition in the Spa which helped to swell the numbers of those attending.
Napier Road was out last weekend and no doubt we can find out how it went tomorrow when the club is open. Meanwhile various teams have been busy putting out road signs. It is impossible to journey around our area now without meeting a road sign! Many thanks to the teams who have been out installing the signs and even been back to repair damaged or missing ones.
As usual the club will be open as usual from 14.00 hours tomorrow. See you there! Jim
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9th July
Dear all,
With apologies for the delay, I am now able to send a quick message as my internet has been restored.
The Club will be open from 14.00 hours as normal today, Wednesday 9th July.
See you there if you are able. Jim
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Chairman’s Weekly Communication 1st July 2025
Afternoon All,
Hope you are enjoying the tennis and the weather! Imelda and I are literally just back from a car weekend in Wales. Unfortunately our sports car is still at the mender's following its misbehaving on a TR Club to Robin Hood's Bay when it had to be brought home on a low loader!. Being in our normal car wasn't so bad though 'cos we at least had air conditioning and, when we got stuck behind the farmers' moving sheep up the narrow lanes, we were able to close the windows while those in the open top cars had to endure the masses of flies off the sheep!
The club will be open as usual tomorrow at 14.00 and stay open until about 18.00 or so. There are two tasks tomorrow namely to change the dates on our signs and to get the wooden stakes for the signs down from upstairs.
We are still on course to take two layouts to the Spa this weekend for the Cliff Lift celebration. Roland has received some offers to help cover the weekend on Low Fell particularly for Sunday but if anyone is interested in working Possil Halt at any time then let me know. The next outing is for Napier Road the following weekend for which I understand arrangements are well in hand.
See You tomorrow! Jim
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Chairman’s Weekly Communication 24th June 2025
Good Evening All,
I hope the changeable weather is not making life too difficult for you. Too hot one minute, drenched the next!
I hope by now you will have seen the minutes of the Committee meeting which took place last Tuesday. There are a number of issues recorded there which will be the subject of ongoing work for the Committee and a Working Group which will consider appropriate wording to strengthen the role and responsibilities of layout coordinators. We also had an Exhibition Working Party last Wednesday to review progress towards our Pickering Show. I am grateful to Roland Wood for offering to come back onto the Committee as Exhibition Manager in a co-opted position until such time as he can stand to be elected onto the Committee. Roland agreed to do so because the Committee had already agreed to go with just one show next year, namely the Pickering show. Decisions on the number of shows for future years are subject to further discussion.
Our next outing will be to the Spa on the 5th & 6th of July where Scarborough Council are celebrating the Cliff Lift which has been in operation for 150 years. We intend to take Possil Halt and Low Fell for the two days. As I have previously mentioned, if you are interested in manning the layouts at some point please let me or Roland know. This will be followed by the “O” gauge layout Napier Road going to the Deltic Preservation Society on 12th & 13th July.
The Club will be open from 2.00 pm tomorrow as normal and will remain open to around 6.00 or 7.00 depending on attendance. If you are thinking of coming late then it might be useful to let me know on 07909 626619 to check that the club is still open.
Jim
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Acting Chairman/Secretary weekly communication 17 June 2025
Dear All,
The Committee had a very useful meeting today and discussed a number of issues, some of which will be the subject of follow-up action in the near future. The minutes of the meeting will be made available on the website as soon as possible.
With the Pickering Show rapidly approaching it was agreed to kick off the usual Working Group Meetings by have a brief roundup of where matters stand in relation to tasks yet to be undertaken for the Show. It is therefore proposed to have a brief meeting at 14.30 tomorrow, Wednesday, 18th June in the Clubroom. Hope you can make it!
Meanwhile the Club will be open as usual at 14.00 hours and remain open until 18.00 or so depending on attendance. Once again if you think you might turn up late in the afternoon you would be wise to contact me on 07909 626619 to make sure that the Club is still open!
Regards Jim
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Acting Chairman’s weekly communication 10th June 2025
Dear All,
It has been a week since Ian decided to step down as Chairman and the remaining members of the Committee asked me to take over as Acting Chairman until such times as we appoint a successor. The remaining Committee, all three of them, will meet next week on Tuesday, 17th, at my house to look at various issues facing us. If you have any items that you wish to be placed on the agenda then please let me know as soon as possible. In normal circumstances we would encourage members to attend the Committee meetings as observers if they wish, but as we are meeting at my home the space is limited. Future meetings will take place as normal in the clubrooms where we can easily accommodate more members.
Taking over as Chairman is a daunting task but it does give me the opportunity to ask members what they wish for the Club and what you would like to see me do.. How do you think we should be organised and so on? I will happily receive comments in private, if need be, with a promise to consider carefully any suggestions made. Having said that there is now, however, a clear difficulty in that we now have a Committee consisting of only three members who can vote and with three vacant positions. Without additional participation this is going to make it extremely difficult to function. Do you think you might be willing to be co-opted in the first instance with a view to becoming a full Committee member? The future running of the Club is in your hands!
We have been asked by Scarborough Council to participate in the celebrations for the 150th year of the Spa cliff lift. We have been allocated two spaces for layouts if we wish. I am proposing to take Possil Halt as the layout background is a picture of Scarborough, albeit reversed. I understand that Low Fell may also be available but we can discuss this with the layout co-ordinator. I am hoping to arrange a visit to see the venue and if possible discuss our needs with the organisers. The exhibition will be on Saturday 5th July and Sunday 6th in the Ocean Room at the Spa. If you would like to be involved then please let me know as we will need to arrange for delivery of the layouts on Friday 4th and then we will need a team to man the layout over the two days.
The Club will be open as normal from 2.00 tomorrow and stay open until 18.00 or so depending on numbers attending. If you are going to arrive late then it would be helpful to let me know on 07909 626619 otherwise you could find the Club closed.
Jim Howie
Acting Chairman
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Chairman’s weekly message 3rd June 2025
Hello all,
After our recent Scarborough show, our treasurer gave us an in depth breakdown of the finances for the show last Wednesday. On the downside, the attendance at the show was one of the lowest we’ve had. That said, everything else turned out to be really positive. The raffle, thanks to Roy and his team, did really well as seems to be the trend when Roy’s in charge. The visitor admission income was also very good. The costs for attending layouts was also low mainly due to the Cleveland club not wanting any fuel payments once again. We also did well on the catering, and buying in sandwiches seemed to work really well. If you want to know more about our profit and loss figures, I’m sure David will be only to pleased to give you the information you need.
Last weekend Napier Road attended to Hull show, where a good time was had by the team attending. As co-ordinator for the layout, I’d like to thank Karl, George and Ian for all their help in running the layout. We had many positive comments on the layout plus two provisional invites to other shows.
Roland and Chris have been in the clubroom working on Low Fell where some new point motors have been fitted. There is still more work needed to get the layout into tip-top condition in readiness for its next show.
Chris Hobbs contacted me last week to tell me he had got Covid. I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.
Tomorrow, we will open as usual at 2pm. If you are going to attend in the evening, please phone or send me a text before 5-30pm, so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271. If no calls or texts arrive, we will see who is still at the club and close to suit up to around 7-30pm. Many thanks. Ian
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Chairman’s Weekly Message 27th May 2025
Hello all,
I hope you’ve all recovered after what turned out to be a great weekend.
Many thanks to all involved in the organising and running of the show. It was excellent to see so many members helping in all aspects of the show.
On Friday the transportation up to the hall and the setting up went very smoothly, as did the dismantling of the layouts and their contents, together with the club's equipment being returned to the clubroom. Signs were taken down by members on their home journeys. So, a big thanks to those involved.
It was good to see wives and partners helping with the running of the show, selling tickets, conducting a survey and manning the kiosk and kitchen.
Comments were made by visitors about the friendliness of all those involved and gave positive views on the actual show.
Our treasurer will be giving us a breakdown of the costs involved and the finances of the show on Wednesday afternoon.
Whilst we were enjoying the show, I need to point out that some of our members were unable to attend due to health problems. John B is now at home recovering from a serious operation on both his feet. Mike P has been attending hospital having tests. Ken was unable to come due to health reasons. George, who helped on Friday, had to travel to the midlands to look after grandchildren whilst his daughter was in hospital. I am sure you will join me in wishing them a speedy recovery.
Tomorrow, help will be needed to put the signs back into the loft and club equipment needs to be sorted and returned to their appropriate storage.
Napier Road needs to be brought down to the lower workshop in readiness for the weekend show in Hull, so any help here will be appreciated.
Tomorrow, we will open as usual at 2pm. If you are going to attend in the evening, please phone or send me a text before 5-30pm, so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271
If no calls or texts arrive, we will see who is still at the club and close to suit up to around 7-30pm. Many thanks, Ian
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Chairman’s weekly report 13th May 2025
Just over a week now to one of our clubs big weekends - The Scarborough Show.
Tomorrow, at the club with your help, we’ll start to get things together that we need for the show. We can put everything we need in the lower clubroom, which will make it easier for loading into our cars on the Friday of the show.
If you are able to help with the transportation on the Friday of the show, it will be greatly appreciated. There’s nothing too big that needs to go but the more of us moving it, the easier it will be.
I’ve put a thread on the RMweb website so if you have access to this please put a comment on there as it will bring it back to the top of the page.
We’ve now got all our signs out around the Boro so let’s hope they work in getting people to the show. If you do Facebook, or any of the other information platforms, please put a comment on it. Every little helps.
Chris B was helping me last week in trying to sort an electrical problem on ‘Napier Road’. So tomorrow, I’ll be bringing a loco to the club to see if he’s sorted it. Fingers crossed on that one.
Tomorrow, we will open as usual at 2pm. If you are going to attend in the evening, please phone or send me a text before 6pm, so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271
If no calls or texts arrive, we will see who is still at the club and close to suit up to around 7-30pm.
Many thanks Ian
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Chairman’s Weekly Message 6th May 2025
Hello all,
After a successful open day on the 26th April, work has been ongoing on the ‘Grosmont’ layout. Adrian has fitted the crossing gates and operating motors. However, the position of them has resulted in us having to move the support legs around. Fortunately, when the baseboards were constructed, sockets for the legs were placed at both ends resulting in an easy remedy.
Roland has repacked the Low Fell layout until after our Scarborough show, when it will be reassembled in order to fit some new point motors. The currently fitted ones have not proved to be reliable, so will be removed and replaced with some Cobalts.
We will be starting to pack our Napier Road layout shortly in readiness for its outing to the Hull show, which takes place over the weekend of 31st May/1st June. We have a team in place to run the layout over the weekend. However, if any of you want to come through to Hull, you’ll be most welcome to have a go at running the locos with us.
As you know Roland, Roy, Dave P and George have spent much time and mileage travelling round the Scarborough area putting up roadside signs. Roland and Roy have also visited many caravan sites handing out our posters and fliers.
Bit of bad news, Roland reported that one sign has disappeared from the Falsgrave Road traffic lights junction. We also noticed that the big sign opposite the Flask Inn on the Whitby Road had blown down. Roland and Roy have now repositioned it as well as putting one up in the Newby & Scalby Hall grounds. They have also been busy repairing the big iron gate outside the clubroom where we go down the passageway.
Tomorrow, we will open as usual at 2pm. If you are going to attend in the evening, please phone or send me a text before 6pm, so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271
If no calls or texts arrive, we will see who is still at the club and close to suit up to around 7-30pm.
Many thanks Ian
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Chairman’s Weekly message 29th April 2025
Hello all,
What a great day we had last Saturday. Well done to all who helped make the day a really successful one. All our layout’s performed well and many positive comments were received from our invited guests. I’m pleased to say one of our guests has passed on to me a £5 donation for the club!
Prior to the day, we spent much time cleaning and polishing the clubrooms! Thanks to Mike J and Roland for the superb job on the outside alley and toilet and Linda and Madge for finishing off the clubrooms with a good old floor clean.
Scarborough Show. As you read this message, Roland and Roy will have been out and about round the town putting up signs for our show, and Dave P and George will have been putting up our bigger signs around the Scarborough area.
Could I also remind you that we have lots of smaller fliers that need to be taken and given out to anybody you know as well as caravan parks, pubs, shops and anywhere else that will give them out for us. Please take some if you can help.
Napier Road is still up and running at the club and I still have stock on it. If any members would like to have a go at running the locos, please have a word with me and I’ll be pleased to guide you around the workings of the layout.
Discount offers. Club member Andy Rhodes is still offering free postage on orders over £20 when purchasing from his Modelmarket shop. Details here on the website
This from Hull show organisers: I'm sure you're aware of when our show is, but I'm enclosing the flyer just in case - what it doesn't tell you is that one of our advertisers, Switch Electronics, have given us a Discount Code for "Your first online order'. The Code, HULL 10 will get you 10% discount on a first order (Note the on-line) so if you, your members, associates etc. want to take advantage of it, it is live as of now but expires in late June - useful if you want any bulk/large items. Regards, Graham
Tomorrow, we will open as usual at 2pm. If you are going to attend in the evening, please phone or send me a text before 6pm, so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271
If no calls or texts arrive, we will see who is still at the club and close to suit up to around 7-30pm.
Many thanks, Ian
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Chairman’s Weekly Message 22nd April 2025
Hello all.
Many thanks to our treasurer Dave for doing the weekly report last week, while I was away for a few days.
A big well done to Roland and his team at the York Show, who represented our club to a high standard with his ‘Yorkshire Pennines’ layout. I think we had more advertising around his layout for our show than the York show had for theirs!!!
After we suffered one or two cancellations for our Pickering show, it's now looking much better. Roland spoke to other exhibitors at York, and I think we now have the extra layouts needed for the show.
Some members have been at the club today clearing up and checking our layouts in readiness for Saturday's Open Day.
Tomorrow we just need a final push with the cleaning and we’ll be all ready. Linda and Madge have volunteered to look after the catering and I’ll speak with you all tomorrow about staffing the layouts.
We need to assemble ‘Low Fell’ in the upper workshop and ‘Possil Halt’ in the lower workshop. ‘Durham Street’ and ‘Napier Road’ are already up and running and I’m just waiting to see if Jim needs any help with his Marklin layout.
‘Grosmont’ will need to be moved back a little giving us more space for our visitors.
Whilst we’ll be opening officially at 11am on Saturday, we’ll be at the club from 9-30am in order to get things up and running for the arrival of our guests.
I’ve had a call from Mike Page who at the moment isn’t feeling to good, so he won’t be with us for the rest of this week. Hopefully, it won’t be long before he’s back. I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing him a speedy recovery.
Opening tomorrow will be along the lines of previous meetings.
Many thanks Ian
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Weekly update (14th April 2025)
Dear members
In Ian’s absence, I have been asked to write this week's communication.
Your committee held a meeting in the clubroom last Wednesday, The committee were pleased to welcome Mike Jones and David Hurd who both accepted the open invitation, sent to all members to attend.
The draft committee meeting minutes are now on the website. (click here)
Some important dates for your diaries-
Wednesday 23rd April - there will be a meeting beginning at 3pm to discuss our forthcoming May exhibition.
On the same day we will also need to prepare the clubroom for it's open day on Saturday 26th April. This will involve a general clean and setting up of layouts. So, the more of us who can attend the easier it will be.
We also need as many members as possible to attend the open day to help run layouts, greet visitors and organise refreshments.
Week commencing the 28th April begins the tasks of putting out roadside signs and delivering flyers and posters in and around Scarborough, its shops, outlying villages, caravan parks, tourist attractions etc to promote our exhibition.
I cannot emphasise enough the importance of these tasks, although roadside signs are carefully managed for safety reasons, all of us can go out and deliver the flyers/posters.
It is this marketing campaign that brings in the paying public which in turn delivers a healthy surplus for the clubs survival.
Further dates for you to consider are the 5/6th July, as the club has received an invitation from the Scarborough Spa to take part in its celebration of the Cliff Railways 150th anniversary. More information to follow...
Also, subject to confirmation, we have been invited to exhibit at the NYMR steam gala. It’s a five day event including setting up, Dates are 24th to the 28th September. Although preparations for this are in their infancy it’s helpful for us to know member's availability.
Usual arrangements around this Wednesday's club opening times apply.
Thank you
David Pywell
SDRM Treasurer
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Chairman’s weekly report and committee report 8th April 2025
Hello all,
This report is my normal weekly report but will also be my report for the committee meeting which takes place tomorrow at 11am at the club. As mentioned previously, club members are welcome to attend the meeting should they wish.
Since our last committee meeting much work has been undertaken at the club especially with our layouts. Napier Road has been out and about at shows where it has been well received. This has resulted in invites to other shows. I think at my last count we now have six invites covering this year and into next. As co-ordinator for the layout, I have pushed forward in getting club members involved with the running of the layout and attending shows. If you would like to help with the running of the layout, please have a word with me and I’ll explain what’s involved.
The new 00 layout ‘Grosmont’ now has track laid, again thanks to members who have volunteered their time in getting the layout to where it is now.
Roland and I have spent much time in organising the 2025 Scarborough and Pickering shows, where at the moment everything’s in place for Scarborough. Pickering on the other hand has been causing us a few problems. Unfortunately we have some of our exhibitors cancel due to various reasons. With this in mind, we have been in contact with previous exhibitors to see if they have other layouts that could attend, and we are currently awaiting further information.
April 26th will see our special open day at the club, where hopefully specially invited guests from other clubs will join us to see what we do and also view our layouts that will be assembled in the clubrooms. We will be putting on refreshments and I would ask that if you are able to help, be it running the layouts, or helping with the catering, it would be greatly appreciated.
My fellow committee members will be putting forward their own reports, so please don’t worry if some things are mentioned more than once!
The York show will be with us in the next couple of weeks and I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing Roland all the best when he’s there with ‘Yorkshire Pennines’.
Jim has had further contact from NYCC regarding the Spa cliff lift 150 year celebrations on the weekend of 5/6th July. He will bring us up to date with the information received on Wednesday.
If you’re attending the committee meeting tomorrow it starts at 11am and will be followed by our normal club day. As we will be at the club from 11am, it will stay open after the committee meeting for those who attend. If you are coming later, the usual start will be 2pm with closing as usual after 6pm.
Many thanks Ian
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An invitation from our Secretary (2nd April 2025)
Dear All,
Just a note to let you know that there will be an SDRM Committee Meeting next Wednesday morning (9th April) at 11.00 in the clubroom. The meeting will cover a number of topics but mainly the forthcoming “Open Day” and the May exhibition in Scarborough. If there are any issues which you consider should be discussed then please let me know as soon as possible so that I can prepare the Agenda.
It has been suggested on a number of occasions that members should be invited to attend Committee meetings in order to view how the Committee operates, and this offer is extended once again to anyone who wishes to attend. The Committee wishes to urge members to do so particularly as there are two vacant positions on the Committee. If you think that you might wish to attend please let me know so that we can arrange sufficient seating!
Jim Howie
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Chairman’s weekly message 1st April 2025
Hello all,
Great to see members working on our ‘Grosmont’ layout last week and it looks as though we’re nearly there with all the track laying. I ordered some more bus wire, as we only had one of the colours we need for wiring all the droppers. I’m pleased to say this has now arrived so we should be able to start work on wiring shortly. I’m looking at ordering some 1.5mm plywood for the platform tops and will be asking our treasurer if we are allowed buy some!
We will need to look at which layouts are going to be in use when we hold our open day on the 26th April. I will have a word with all the co-ordinators to see if we can get all into a good working order within the clubrooms. As well as layouts, we need to finish off clearing and tiding both clubrooms to help make room for them. In other words, we need a spring clean!
Tomorrow, we will open as usual at 2pm. If you are going to attend in the evening, please phone or send me a text before 6pm, so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271If no texts arrive, we will see who is still at the club and close to suit around 7-30pm.
Many thanks Ian
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Chairman’s Weekly Message 25th March 2025
Hello all,
Last weekend saw some of our members out at model railway and railway events. Roland was at Driffield attending the Wolds Railway model railway show with ‘Arncliffe’, his grandson’s ‘00’ layout, and was assisted by Mike Jones and John Yard. Dave Pywell is at Pickering with his trade stand attending the NYMR special event which has A4 loco ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ as special guest for a week or so. Dave is attending for the whole visit.
Roland and I were at the club yesterday going over all the visiting layouts in order to set up insurance for the Scarborough show, which is fast approaching. We have also been at the club today with members who are involved with the building of our new ‘Grosmont’ layout, where we are now close to having all the track in position in readiness for wiring. The additional new dates for the Scarborough Show roadside signs are now in stock, so hopefully tomorrow we should be able to fix them in place.
Tomorrow, we will open as usual at 2pm. If you are going to attend in the evening, please phone or send me a text before 6pm, so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271If no texts arrive, we will see who is still at the club and close to suit around 7-30pm.
Many thanks Ian
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Chairman’s Weekly Message 18th March 2025
Hello all,
Work continues with track laying on the club’s new layout ‘Grosmont’. Could those of you working on the layout please bring a few tools with you this week! We need to finally decide on the fiddle yard/traverser arrangements.
I hope to be working on Napier Road, moving that buffer stop back a bit to enable the double-headed locos to fit in the siding.
Roland will be bringing the new dates for the roadside signs. As some of these will be in use this coming weekend, we need to get the signs updated this Wednesday.
Don’t forget our Open day (26th April). We’ll need to ensure we’ve tidied the Clubrooms before we greet our guests.
Work will soon start on promoting our Spring Show. We’ll need to put out the roadside signs and distribute fliers to holiday parks and tourist attractions. We’ll chat about this on Wednesday. For both of these activities, we’ll need plenty of help…
Tomorrow, we will open as usual at 2pm. If you are going to attend in the evening, please phone or send me a text before 6pm, so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271
If no texts arrive, we will see who is still at the club and close to suit around 7-30pm.
Many thanks Ian
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Chairman’s Weekly Message 11th March 2025
Hello all,
Last week saw a start with track laying on the clubs new layout ‘Grosmont’. It was great to see a good group of members all keen to help with the build. After many years of building layouts, from home ones to show ones, and working with ‘N’ , ‘00’ and ‘0’ gauge, I’m finding this new Bullhead rail the most difficult I’ve worked with. The track is very fine and extremely flexible and as such is very hard to work on. We will be working on the layout tomorrow, where hopefully we’ll be able to move forward after completing the most difficult part of the track, the point and double slip fixing.
We still have a bit of tidying to complete but that shouldn’t take too long.
All the Scarborough show signs are now out of the loft and Roland will, by the time you read this message, have ordered the new dates that need putting on the them.
Our secretary Jim has had an email from North Yorkshire County Council with information about a special event covering 150 years of the Spa cliff lift. We will discuss ideas of how we may be able help with this tomorrow at the club, where your ideas will be most welcome.
Tomorrow, we will open as usual at 2pm. If you are going to attend in the evening, please phone or send me a text before 6pm so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271. If no texts arrive, we will see who is still at the club and close to suit around 7-30pm. Many thanks Ian
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Chairman’s weekly report 4th March 2025
Hello all,
Last week saw both our ‘O’ gauge layouts up and running. With help from members, we connected up all the electrics on Durham Street and switched it on. It’s well over a year since the layout has been in use and amazingly it ran perfectly straight away, we didn’t even have to clean the track!
On Monday, Roland and I were at the club to meet the new firm that’s taken over from Regal Security, who have looked after our fire alarm system. We did need a couple of things updating, which has been sorted with everything now in full working order. Certification to follow in due course...
I’ve been reminded by Roland that we need to get all our Scarborough show signs out of the loft in readiness for changing the dates that we have to do every year. Once we have them down, we can see how many new dates and sizes will be needed. Hopefully we can do this tomorrow and it should only take a few minutes.
We will, in the near future, be arranging a Scarborough Show meeting at the club to go over all our plans for the May weekend. It has been suggested that the meeting takes place in the afternoon instead of the evening. I personally agree with this as most members are in the club during the afternoon. I’ll give you plenty of notice to when we’re having the meeting.
On Wednesday, we will open as usual at 2pm. If you are going to attend in the evening, please phone or send me a text before 6pm so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271. If no texts arrive, we will see who is still at the club and close to suit up to 7-30pm.
Many thanks Ian
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Chairman's weekly update 25th Feb 2025
Hello all,
Thanks to all who helped to sort and move the various bits and pieces in the lower clubroom last week whilst I was away. I think we are gradually getting there with sorting things into some sort of order. We’ve still got a little more to sort and hopefully this will be done in the next couple of weeks.
I was at the club on Friday morning with David Hurd and a friend who is interested in joining the club. While together, the three of us managed to assemble ‘Napier Road’, which is now in useable condition.
On Wednesday I hope to make further progress with assembling ‘Durham Street’ and would welcome help in doing this. It’s just connecting up the wiring and placing the buildings in place after which the layout should be in working order.
The main reason for having ‘Durham Street’ working is so we can put it up for sale. In line with our club rules (see below) the committee are therefore offering it for sale to you the members first.
LAYOUTS
11/8. When a layout, rolling stock, or pieces of equipment, have been deemed by the committee to have outlived its useful life to the Club, they may be offered for sale, in the first instance, to Club members and then to persons outside the Club, at a price agreed by the Committee. If no immediate buyer is found, the items may be sold by auction.
If anyone is interested in purchasing the layout please have a word with me. If it is not sold to a club member we will offer it for sale publicly.
The main reason for arranging an open day in April is it may attract an offer for the layout from another club.
Tomorrow, we will open as usual at 2pm. I understand that some members work and can’t attend in the afternoon so, if you are going to attend in the evening, please phone or send me a text before 6pm so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271
If no texts arrive we will see who is still at the club and close to suit up to 7-30pm
Many thanks Ian
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Chairman's weekly update 18th Feb 2025
Hello all,
As I’ll be away for a few days next week, I won’t be at the club on Wednesday. (OK that’s enough cheering) So, I’m doing my weekly message a bit earlier.
Many thanks to all who helped last week with the club clear up, we seem to be getting there with the club tidy. John and I were in the club on Thursday clearing the cupboard in the lower clubroom. All that was in the cupboard is now near the test track and will need sorting. Anyone with any idea’s on what we do with it all please speak to John. We’ve managed to allocate a cupboard upstairs for all the electrical things we hold and I think quite a few items downstairs could be re-located in this cupboard.
Durham Street has been assembled and Napier Road is now in the upper clubroom and will be assembled when I get back to the club.
Roland, John and I were at the club on Friday morning going over the plans for our Scarborough show. We now have a floor plan for all the layouts and traders attending. We will, in the near future be holding a working party meeting for the show so, if you would like to help, please come along - you’ll be most welcome.
Once we get sorted out with all our layouts, it’s planned we’ll be having an open day in the hope we can find someone who may be interested in purchasing our Durham Street layout. I’m looking at Saturday 26th April for this in the hope we can get members of the ‘O’ gauge and Cleveland Model Railway clubs to visit us.
We will open as usual at 2pm. I understand that some members work and can’t attend in the afternoon so if you are going to attend in the evening, please could you call or send a text before 6pm so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. As John will be in charge of closing the club this week please let him know if you’re going to attend his phone number is 07802 557751
If no calls or texts arrive we will see who is still at the club and close to suit up to 7-30pm. Many thanks Ian
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Chairman's weekly update 11th Feb 2025
Hello all,
Good time had by all at Doncaster last weekend. Very busy on Saturday, with Sunday being a little quieter. Napier Road ran well all weekend with only one slight problem with a dry joint, which we will repair when layout is assembled at the club. We had a good turnout of members, especially Saturday where all that turned up helped with the running of the layout. Many thanks to those and to the team of John, Karl and George who did a sterling job all weekend. The layout was back in the club by 7pm Sunday.
Yesterday our workshop manager, John, and I spent a couple of hours going through one of the loft storage areas. We found quite a lot of stuff which needs to be taken to the tip. We have been down to the club this morning and taken most of it away in John’s van. We have also taken all the reels of wire from in the lower clubroom upstairs with the intention of putting it all in one of the cupboards. There is still much to do so your help would be appreciated.
Tomorrow we will open as usual at 2pm. I understand that some members work and can’t attend in the afternoon, so if you are going to attend in the evening, please could you send me a text before 6pm so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271
If no texts arrive, we will see who is still at the club and close to suit up to 7-30pm Many thanks Ian
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Chairman’s Weekly Message 4th February 2025
Hello all,
Many thanks to Dave for doing a weekly report last week. I’m sure we all found your report on our finances very informative. It’s good that, with the accounts package you’ve set up for the club, you’re able to instantly access most things to do with our finances as and when needed.
We’ve now packed our Napier Road layout in readiness for our trip to Doncaster this weekend with only a couple of things to sort before leaving on Friday. Some help would be appreciated tomorrow in getting the trolley out from above the stairs, as it will be needed for the weekend.
Roland is travelling down for the day on Saturday and still has room for anyone who would like to go to the show. Chris Blackstone is hoping to go on Sunday and has also offered to take anyone who would like to go. Please let us know tomorrow at the club if you’re interested.
It is hoped we can make a start on the top floor tomorrow sorting things out and clearing up in order to assemble our Durham Street layout. Napier Road will also be moved upstairs after the Doncaster show. Chris Hobbs has informed John and I that he will be taking his TT 120 layout to his home tomorrow. At the moment he’s really busy at work and hasn’t the time to complete it. Hopefully once he gets a bit of time it will be completed and we’ll see it at one of our shows.
We will open as usual at 2pm tomorrow. I understand that some members work and can’t attend in the afternoon so if you are going to attend in the evening, please could you send me a text before 6pm so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271
If no texts arrive we will see who is still at the club and close to suit up to 7-30pm. Many thanks Ian
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This week’s communication comes from your Treasurer - 28 Jan 2025
Dear members,
As it’s the beginning of the year, I thought it would be useful to share with all of you the club’s projected income/expenditure for 2025, which was discussed at our recent committee meeting. I won’t publish sensitive figures on here, but I will discuss them with you all on Wednesday.
Our largest outgoings are the costs of running the clubroom and the administration of the club. There are also costs for constructing club layouts to take into consideration, which have been budgeted for.
Our only assured income is from subscriptions (13% of projected income), bank interest, TMC sponsorship and, of course, the surplus made from our two annual shows which is the largest income for the club (80% of projected income), and the reason why it survives, and why subscriptions are only a £1 per week. The possibility of extra income comes only from an invite to attend a NYMR gala or the sale of club assets, a redundant layout for example. Although neither are guaranteed.
We do enjoy a healthy current account balance and a business savings account. That savings account is the club’s safety net, in case our clubroom rent increases or we have to relocate.
It also allows for any unforeseen circumstances, for example having to cancel a show at short notice. This happened to the Kilmarnock model railway show at the weekend. It was cancelled on the Friday morning due to the storm force winds, something that was unforeseen and out of their control, but will have a big impact on their club finances.
Our income/expenditure are pretty much like for like. However, a surplus may be made if we do sell a club asset or are invited to exhibit at a NYMR gala.
See you Wednesday. Thanks. David
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Chairman’s Weekly Message 21st January 2025
Hello all,
Many thanks to the members who helped sort out the two donated layouts last Wednesday. John, our workshop manager, has now disposed of what was left taking the scrap items to the tip. The few remaining bits and pieces have been handed over to Dave Pywell, who has offered to try and sell them for us at some of the train fairs he attends.
It was good to see members having a go at running our ‘0’ gauge layout, Napier Road, last week, getting experience with our Digitrax system. Hopefully, you’ll be able to help run the layout at one of the shows we’ll be attending this year.
We’ve had an invite to attend the Driffield model railway show on Saturday 22nd March. This is a charity event for the Wensleydale Railway so we get no expenses for attending. Roland has agreed to take Arncliffe (his grandson’s ‘00’ layout) and has asked if anyone would like to go with him to run it. I understand that Dave will be there with his trade stand, so it will be good for us as we can advertise our forthcoming home shows. I will speak with you all tomorrow and bring you up to date with this show.
We have an electrician coming in to the club on Monday 27th January to undertake PAT testing of electrical items in the club. If anyone has anything they want testing, please have a word with me tomorrow, and I’ll give you more information.
Tomorrow, we will open as usual at 2pm. I understand that some members work and can’t attend in the afternoon so if you are going to attend in the evening, please could you send me a text before 6pm so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271 If no texts arrive, we will see who is still at the club and close to suit up to 7-30pm.
Many thanks Ian
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Chairman’s Weekly Message 14th January 2025
Hello all,
The committee held their first meeting of the New Year last Wednesday, and the minutes of the meeting will be available for you to read shortly on our website.
Our new workshop manager John Bayes will be asking for help over the next couple of weeks or so. We need to have a good tidy up on both floors of the club so we can work more easily on our club layouts. As you will have seen two layouts have been donated to the club and once checked over anything not required will be taken to the tip. We also need to have a clear-out of the loft areas which are full of things that may or may not be needed anymore.
Tomorrow we’ll be checking over ‘Napier Road’ to see we have everything needed for our trip to Doncaster over the weekend of 8/9th February. Once sorted, the layout will be packed in readiness for the weekend. If anyone is thinking of coming to the show please let me know and I’ll try and get some spare passes for you. Last time we were there, they gave me about half a dozen which will save you the entry cost.
Tomorrow, we will open as usual at 2pm. I understand that some members work and can’t attend in the afternoon, so if you are going to attend in the evening, please could you send me a text before 6pm so arrangements can be made for the clubroom to stay open. My phone number is 07966 230271 If no texts arrive we will see who is still at the club and close to suit up to 7-30pm.
Many thanks Ian
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Chairman’s Weekly Message 6th January 2025
Hello all,
I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year and you got all the presents you wanted from Father Christmas!!!
Wednesday morning we will be holding our first committee meeting of the new committee.
The club will be open as usual from 2pm but due to the weather conditions at the moment we will be closing at 4-30pm to allow members to get home safely.
Our post-Christmas special evening will therefore be cancelled for the time being and once the weather improves we will re-arrange a new date.
Our treasurer has asked me to mention that the York Toy and Train fair will be taking place this Saturday at the Sports Arena, University of York Sports Centre, Heslington, York, YO10 5NA.
February 8/9th will see two of our layouts at the Doncaster model railway exhibition. In the past, we have seen a really good turnout of members for this show. I will be asking if any of you are thinking about travelling down, and if you are, I will try and get extra passes for you, which will save you having to pay to get in.
That’s it for now, hope to see you Wednesday. Ian
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