The Eagle has landed

Saturday 17 April 2010
Dan Dare
Not many people know that Southport was the home of the Eagle comic and its best-known character Dan Dare. Most SMRS members didn't but we were reminded recently when the organiser of the Eagle Society's celebrations of 60 years of the magazine contacted us to ask if they could visit the clubrooms. Apparently the comic ran occasional articles on model railways, so there was a link, albeit tenuous. So as part of a three-day tour of the town's connections with the Eagle, a couple of dozen members of the Eagle Society (collective noun comedians?) had a tour of our premises, hosted by the deputy chairman in his well-practised role as club diplomat and chief ambassador. The Visiter local paper carried an article on the anniversary, and generously included a seven-word mention of SMRS's contribution. Better than a blast from the Mekon's ray gun, anyway.