Action this day, or next week at any rate
Wednesday 25 August 2010
Unheard of activity at
t'club last night. Just as members were settling down
for a quiet snooze in front of the (unlit) fire, the
Chairman summoned selected personnel to a high-level
meeting, upstairs in the back room. There he revealed
another element of his Master Plan. A new modelling
front is to be opened, namely the re-birth of the
Talisker Glen layout. Like the beverage that the model
is named after, this layout has been maturing quietly
in a darkened room until judged ready for release to an
expectant public. The Chairman decreed that this moment
has now arrived, and we are required to proceed to the
next stage, which is to get our collective fingers out
and actually build the thing.
So it was said, and so it will be done. New boards, a new track plan and a new(ish) team will hit the deck running, or at least jogging gently, from next week. Watch this space.
So it was said, and so it will be done. New boards, a new track plan and a new(ish) team will hit the deck running, or at least jogging gently, from next week. Watch this space.
Running at night
Saturday 14 August 2010

He wishes. However the running nights will take place, on dates specified in the calendar, and we will encourage members to not only show off their hardware but also explain why they spent their hard-earned cash on particular models, and what tweaks they have made, or would make if they felt brave enough.
Ealing Films flash to the fore
Thursday 12 August 2010
Last night saw the second
of the current season of SMRS film nights. This time a
select audience enjoyed Titfield Thunderbolt
as the main feature, with
video of a recent run by Duke of Gloucester
around the west coast of
the Lakes as the supporting film. The latter included
shots of the deputy chairman wielding a shovel on the
footplate, and looking for all the world as if he knew
what to do with it.
As is traditional in cinemas, a considerable amount of snacking on popcorn, crisps and peanuts was undertaken, supplemented by ice creams sponsored by a member of the audience. Regrettably the latter items were dispensed not from a tray borne by a buxom young usherette but from a plain plastic bag wielded by a chairman fast approaching middle age, and not necessarily looking any the better for it. Real ale was also consumed in moderation.
The evening was enlivened by an introduction to the film by a member of sufficient vintage to have actually been present during some of the shooting, albeit as an interested passer-by rather than as a paid extra.
As is traditional in cinemas, a considerable amount of snacking on popcorn, crisps and peanuts was undertaken, supplemented by ice creams sponsored by a member of the audience. Regrettably the latter items were dispensed not from a tray borne by a buxom young usherette but from a plain plastic bag wielded by a chairman fast approaching middle age, and not necessarily looking any the better for it. Real ale was also consumed in moderation.
The evening was enlivened by an introduction to the film by a member of sufficient vintage to have actually been present during some of the shooting, albeit as an interested passer-by rather than as a paid extra.
Woodvale time again
Sunday 08 August 2010


The mission statement was adhered to with reasonably accuracy and success, as the weather steadily improved during the weekend and the crowds flowed through the model railway tent. The deputy chairman's selection of a near-door position (to maximise the breeze potential) turned out to be a prescient one. Numerous exhibition leaflets were scooped up by the visitors, and both layouts behaved themselves. The fact that one was advertising the Corris railway as much as, or even slightly more than the SMRS-branded product, was either not noticed or politely ignored.
A modeller's trilogy
Friday 02 July 2010



The chairman peaks at last
Thursday 01 July 2010

The official title was the 2010 Three Peaks by Rail Challenge, to which Our Leader rose in triumph, to subside again rather quickly once it was all over. Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, in that order, in case you were wondering.
AGM, and RIP
Sunday 16 May 2010
Strange, it seems barely
twelve months since the last AGM, and here it is again.
Fairly routine business, apart from the minute's
silence at the start of proceedings in memory of fellow
member Colin James, who passed away suddenly last week,
at an age which nowadays would be regarded as far too
young. Colin, as was said at the meeting, was more in
the background of the society rather than in the
vanguard of developments, but had wide-ranging
interests that included the railways of North Wales and
the Rotary. The latter included not only District
Governership but also involvement in a number of
overseas charities. One measure of the man was an
acknowledgement that we will have to be early at the
funeral on Wednesday to get seats.
The Dockers' Umbrella
Thursday 13 May 2010

His main interest apparently was using maps and clever software to link the moving images directly to the buildings and other structures along the line. Not the most exciting research one might think, but what might have turned out to be a rather dry presentation was enlivened by the presenter's obvious enthusiasm for the subject and his desire to preserve the archive for the good of his adopted city. The actual showing of the film was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it experience, the four clips lasting less than five minutes in total. Something to do with the amount of film that hand-cranked cameras of the period could carry, and no doubt the amount of cranking that could be undertaken before repetitive strain injury set in.
The finale was a repeat of one clip 'improved' to show how it might look from a vantage point inside the carriage, complete with images of wooden doors and windows and a dum-de-dum sound track. The Liverpool museum trying just a little too hard perhaps.
Who needs friends?
Monday 26 April 2010

The Eagle has landed
Saturday 17 April 2010

Another pensioner
Friday 12 March 2010

Another brush with the law
Wednesday 03 February 2010
Not airbrushing this
time, but the local Transport Police are developing a
model railway layout to use as a teaching aid on the
perils of misusing the permanent way. They have asked
us if we can help with any spare modelling items and
some general technical input. As a more-or-less
responsible member of the local community SMRS is happy
to assist our neighbourhood enforcement colleagues, and
not just because it might do us some good if we ever
find ourselves on a Merseyrail train with no visible
ticketing.
A respray offer
Wednesday 03 February 2010
A small postscript from
last Tuesday's visit, Railway Models 4U have kindly
offered to revisit for a full day, the better to show
us more airbrush and weathering techniques, in a more
leisured environment perhaps. Dare we mention the
clubhouse window frames badly need a touch-up?
SMRS has a paint job
Tuesday 26 January 2010

Infamy at last
Saturday 23 January 2010
An unexpected email has
arrived, from a researcher for Eggheads (a BBC TV quiz
show). We are invited to send a team to an audition in
Liverpool, presumably with the incentive to take part
in the show. The Chairman seems quite keen, possibly
because as a scouser he feels he has a point to prove.
Personally I don't need to prove anything....
Yet more parties
Tuesday 29 December 2009

Party time
Saturday 12 December 2009

Peter's trains
Wednesday 02 December 2009

A few more photos are here.
Lanky, Lanky Lancashire
Tuesday 01 December 2009

A few photos are here.
Slideshow
Tuesday 17 November 2009

Peter used a strange but wonderful mechanical contraption called a 'slide projector' to light up the wall with coloured images. This modern technology will never catch on...
Scholastic modules
Friday 16 October 2009

Junior chemistry kit
Friday 12 June 2009

Monsal Dale advances, taking no prisoners
Thursday 11 June 2009

Here we are again
Thursday 16 April 2009
For reasons which are not
entirely clear to me, three months have flashed past
since the last post. One of these could be explained by
my absence on essential railway research in the
Antipodes (unfortunately not funded by the taxpayer,
unlike some of our honourable elected members of
parliament), but where the other two have gone is a
mystery.
To recap, Monsal Dale is under way, mainly due to the energy of its principal sponsor, and recently some real modelling was seen happening upstairs, in the long-overdue application of ballast to the fixed dual-gauge layout. Where this burst of activity continues remains to be seen, but betting large sums of money on it would probably be unwise. Also we have been offered first refusal on an N-gauge layout by the son of its former owner. A Prompt Decision will be required, which is not something our Society is known for.
To recap, Monsal Dale is under way, mainly due to the energy of its principal sponsor, and recently some real modelling was seen happening upstairs, in the long-overdue application of ballast to the fixed dual-gauge layout. Where this burst of activity continues remains to be seen, but betting large sums of money on it would probably be unwise. Also we have been offered first refusal on an N-gauge layout by the son of its former owner. A Prompt Decision will be required, which is not something our Society is known for.
New Beginnings
Saturday 10 January 2009
The first Meeting of
2009, with a Capital M. So important, in fact, that the
Deputy Chairman was empowered to take the chair and lay
out The Vision for the Future. The Chairman was safely
hidden away in Cumbria, on urgent domestic business.
Apart from reinvigorated effort on the existing
layouts, there would be a brand new N-gauge layout,
based on Monsal Head Viaduct, near Matlock. There was a
Cunning Plan to allow it to operate effectively both in
the restricted space in the clubrooms and in the full
glory of an unrestricted exhibition. It would fold
magically in on itself, to protect its sensitive
scenery from the harsh realities of doorways and walls.
And it would only take three years to build, give or
take a decade. Dazed by the breadth of scope of what we
were to achieve (and there would be no thought of
failure) we stumbled out into the clear cold air of a
globally-cooled night, inspired and ready for the Task
Ahead. Until next Tuesday, at least.
Eat-in take-away
Thursday 18 December 2008



A new experience for SMRS, an Indian take-away taken in to the clubrooms for consumption by selected members.
Last and final call
Friday 17 October 2008
No more on the
exhibition, promise. Except to briefly record the
debrief, which occupied two intensive hours of
discussion this evening, with only a brief pause for
tea and shortbread at half-time. Even Pebble
contributed, by ensuring that any tea left to go cold
in members’ cups during the heat of the debate, did not
go to waste.
The hon. exhibition manager
taking the ten minutes of relaxation permitted
between completion of the current year’s
exhibition and the start of next year’s. Only he
had already started next year’s ten months ago.
Sometimes I worry if we push him to hard. But only
sometimes.
The short list of topics for discussion was uncomfortably long, almost three dozen, so a strict discipline of no more than two members talking at any one time was applied. The overall impression was of a resounding success, with the gamble of moving to new premises having paid off handsomely. A few learning points, but nothing too drastic, and we are in good shape for the coming year. And if that doesn’t tempt fate, nothing will.

The short list of topics for discussion was uncomfortably long, almost three dozen, so a strict discipline of no more than two members talking at any one time was applied. The overall impression was of a resounding success, with the gamble of moving to new premises having paid off handsomely. A few learning points, but nothing too drastic, and we are in good shape for the coming year. And if that doesn’t tempt fate, nothing will.
The Bolton Wanderers
Friday 03 October 2008
Tidying up after an
exhibition can be a bit of a chore, with the adrenalin
all gone and a whole year yawning ahead in which to
finish the model promised for the next one. However
three days ago we combined business with pleasure, to
return the barriers to our friends at
Bolton MRC. Their clubrooms are in Gilnow
Mill, an impressive renovated cotton mill in
Halliwell. Also impressive was its security system,
which was clearly designed to deter potential
thieves, vandals and Southern Railway enthusiasts
alike. And when I agreed to help unload, no-one told
me there would be steps... Fortunately not only
additional manpower appeared to lend assistance, but
manual handling equipment, in the form of supersized
DIY-store trolleys, materialised to help negotiate
the barrier sections through a long corridor
stretching back into the bowels of the building.
The barriers were soon skilfully stacked in a complex and no-doubt secret pattern, with only a muffled complaint that perhaps they had bred additional of their number whilst enjoying their brief seaside holiday. Tea and biscuits were produced and a guided tour of the premises and their layouts provided, showing evidence of both industry and innovation. SMRS usually only manages either one or the other. The beginnings of a deal to enhance next year’s Southport exhibition with at least one more layout started to coalesce. Mindful of our exhibition manager’s ability to continue such discussions more-or-less indefinitely, I made our excuses and we departed, grateful both for Bolton’s contribution to our cause and for at least a temporary respite in the autumnal rains while we drove back. Next month several of our number will return the compliment by pretending to be stewards at Bolton’s exhibition. And so the wheels go round...
The barriers were soon skilfully stacked in a complex and no-doubt secret pattern, with only a muffled complaint that perhaps they had bred additional of their number whilst enjoying their brief seaside holiday. Tea and biscuits were produced and a guided tour of the premises and their layouts provided, showing evidence of both industry and innovation. SMRS usually only manages either one or the other. The beginnings of a deal to enhance next year’s Southport exhibition with at least one more layout started to coalesce. Mindful of our exhibition manager’s ability to continue such discussions more-or-less indefinitely, I made our excuses and we departed, grateful both for Bolton’s contribution to our cause and for at least a temporary respite in the autumnal rains while we drove back. Next month several of our number will return the compliment by pretending to be stewards at Bolton’s exhibition. And so the wheels go round...
Re-entry & splashdown
Monday 29 September 2008

Half-time, and just ahead on points
Saturday 27 September 2008

A few minor problems, like well-hidden toilets and cafe queues lengthened by the abolition of self-service refreshments for traders and exhibitors. Nothing a well-honed exhibition team couldn’t handle. One unexpected plea for help came via phone from a group of exhibitors whose hire car had had its radiator modified by a van reversing across a canal bridge at Halsall. A rescue car was despatched to recover one of their number to run their layout, whilst the others remained at the scene to negotiate a replacement vehicle, fill in a lot of forms and no doubt examine the small print of their insurance with more than usual interest.
The Saturday evening party at Jim & Fiona’s also went to form, with live steam in the garden preceding curry and cake, washed down with beverages served from a subterranean drinking den with a maritime motif. Guides were available to lead guests further into the extensive cellars, to discover not one but two Italian layouts. Also one which looked suspiciously Southern, located at the very end of the ball of string leading back to the safety of the beer cooler. Interesting to note that, in the interests of the environment, a beer-can crusher has been installed immediately above the green recycling bin. Apparently as the evening wears on the attempts to use it become increasingly inept.
So far, so pretty good
Friday 26 September 2008

We are go for launch
Tuesday 23 September 2008
Four days to go, and
counting. Our new, bigger and (almost certainly) better
exhibition is about to be unleashed on an unsuspecting
and probably undeserving public. New road signs have
been made, a bigger and better van has been hired,
extension leads counted and measured, and posters
posted in all Arriva’s buses. And the website’s hits
have reached the dizzy heights of fifty a day. Visitors
from London are the most frequent, for reasons not
immediately apparent.
A deal has been done with Bolton MRC to borrow their barriers, as ours were not suitable for the new venue and have been quietly disposed of to a recyclist of impeccable, if not particularly well-publicised, credentials. All-in-all a bit of a gamble, with extra expense needing to be recouped by a good flow of visitors, hopefully turning up at the new school rather than the old one. But we are quietly confident.
The exhibition manager is coping remarkably well with the extra stress of the new venue, due in no small measure to the careful ministrations of Pebble, his highly-trained and long-suffering therapy dog. One who is struggling to cope at the moment is our fellow-member Bill, in hospital after a stroke last week and rather poorly. We trust news of a triumphant and profitable exhibition will be just the thing to speed his recovery. And of course the odd miniature of quality malt smuggled in amongst the chocs and flowers.
A deal has been done with Bolton MRC to borrow their barriers, as ours were not suitable for the new venue and have been quietly disposed of to a recyclist of impeccable, if not particularly well-publicised, credentials. All-in-all a bit of a gamble, with extra expense needing to be recouped by a good flow of visitors, hopefully turning up at the new school rather than the old one. But we are quietly confident.
The exhibition manager is coping remarkably well with the extra stress of the new venue, due in no small measure to the careful ministrations of Pebble, his highly-trained and long-suffering therapy dog. One who is struggling to cope at the moment is our fellow-member Bill, in hospital after a stroke last week and rather poorly. We trust news of a triumphant and profitable exhibition will be just the thing to speed his recovery. And of course the odd miniature of quality malt smuggled in amongst the chocs and flowers.
Another old steamer
Saturday 16 August 2008
A touching ceremony at the clubhouse yesterday, as another member was inducted into the Sixties Hall of Fame, reserved for those who have completed six decades of life and are confidently looking forward to at least several more. The event was marked with a presentation, of sorts, of a few small souvenirs of his recent gala event at Hesketh Bank.
Rallying round at Woodvale
Monday 04 August 2008

Some photos are here. Sharp observers will notice two or three examples of the modular layouts currently under construction, in conditions of considerable secrecy by SMRS members, ready for a triumphant unveiling at the exhibition in October. If they ever get finished, that is.
A detached des.res.
Tuesday 29 July 2008
Interesting little
episode at the clubrooms tonight. Apparently a lady
phoned the deputy chairman recently to say she occupied
an identical house to ours in Duke St., the next road
along the tracks towards Birkdale. A little further
back from the permanent way (enough room even for a
trampoline in the garden) but the same basic design.
Perhaps a few years later in build. Tonight her
daughter arrived to take some photos and be shown round
the premises, which the d.c. did with his well-honed
diplomacy skills turned up full. Best experienced from
a distance.
Peace, harmony & Hesketh Bank
Saturday 19 July 2008
Just once in a
while, it’s good to get away from all the frantic
modelling and hectic exhibitioning, and just play
trains. And so a select group of six members booked
themselves in to the West Lancashire Light Railway, to
pamper themselves with the railway equivalent of a
health spa. I say six, but the chairman, showing a
woeful lack of leadership now that the committee
elections are safely out of the way, backed out before
even any steam was raised. Apparently an allegedly
better offer had been received regarding corporate
hospitality at the Open Golf, taking place barely a
twelve-iron from the clubrooms. The fact that it was
his spouse making the offer apparently made it
non-refusable. All the more trains for us to play with,
and he did pay the appropriate cancellation fee,
restocking expenses and refreshment charge. Not to
mention loss of deposit, and VAT.
The concept was delightfully simple, West Lancs provided the train complete with driver, fireman and guard. We watched and learned whilst steam was raised, and then pootled up and down their short length of track until our cup of pleasure overflowed. And there was no nonsense about healthy diets either; lunch was hotpot and apple pie, served with the unexpected luxury of separate plates.
Although the railway was closed to the public, to allow members to soak up the relaxing ambience without interruption from the busy world outside, inevitably one or two rolled in to the car park to see what we were up to. One such turned out to be an ex-member of the Society, in a time-span well before even our longest-serving members. He was promptly awarded day membership and permitted to join us for a ride.
By late afternoon we could take no more and reluctantly took our leave, grateful for a revitalising experience and for the fact that it wouldn’t be us who had to grovel under the loco to empty the ash-pan, or reach into a hot, dirty smokebox to clean out the tubes. Good company, too.
Some photos are here.
The concept was delightfully simple, West Lancs provided the train complete with driver, fireman and guard. We watched and learned whilst steam was raised, and then pootled up and down their short length of track until our cup of pleasure overflowed. And there was no nonsense about healthy diets either; lunch was hotpot and apple pie, served with the unexpected luxury of separate plates.
Although the railway was closed to the public, to allow members to soak up the relaxing ambience without interruption from the busy world outside, inevitably one or two rolled in to the car park to see what we were up to. One such turned out to be an ex-member of the Society, in a time-span well before even our longest-serving members. He was promptly awarded day membership and permitted to join us for a ride.
By late afternoon we could take no more and reluctantly took our leave, grateful for a revitalising experience and for the fact that it wouldn’t be us who had to grovel under the loco to empty the ash-pan, or reach into a hot, dirty smokebox to clean out the tubes. Good company, too.
Some photos are here.
Care in the community
Monday 07 July 2008


And... we won a trophy! Best display out of all those at the various stations betwixt Southport and Wigan. Would have preferred ready cash, but never mind.
The AGM - in the open at last
Saturday 31 May 2008

At last the day of reckoning arrives, as we all knew it would. The committee throw one last, desperate strategem by holding the meeting in the garden, hoping that the combination of noise from the adjacent Merseyrail operation and the evening chill would curtail the free and frank discussion that everyone was ready for. However democracy was not to be outdone, and the meeting was one of the longer AGMs in recent years.

A worried committee considering last-minute ploys to save face and keep their careers intact.
Teddy Bears R Us
Sunday 11 May 2008


More photos are here.
Binning it at Liverpool show
Saturday 03 May 2008
Just
returned from a day assisting with the deployment of
Eastbank MRC's Binns
at
the Liverpool MRS exhibition. And yes the toothache has
abated a little, thank you for asking.
Binns has a somewhat colourful history, having been built in the early 60's as a shop demonstrator for Gamages of Leeds, and ending up (via a short stay in an industrial skip) in the tender care of the Eastbank club. After restoration it has made an exhibit of itself at the Southport show and at the Frank Hornby Experience at Maghull parish hall and again at Liverpool cathedral (only the best venues for Binns).
And what has this to do with Southport MRS I hear you ask? Only that our member Alan is the driving force behind the Binns rescue, that's all.
A description and photos of the layout are here and some photos of it in action at Liverpool are here.
Binns has a somewhat colourful history, having been built in the early 60's as a shop demonstrator for Gamages of Leeds, and ending up (via a short stay in an industrial skip) in the tender care of the Eastbank club. After restoration it has made an exhibit of itself at the Southport show and at the Frank Hornby Experience at Maghull parish hall and again at Liverpool cathedral (only the best venues for Binns).
And what has this to do with Southport MRS I hear you ask? Only that our member Alan is the driving force behind the Binns rescue, that's all.
A description and photos of the layout are here and some photos of it in action at Liverpool are here.
Working days are here again
Sunday 27 April 2008
One
of the harbingers of spring is Our Chairman exhorting
his followers to Get Stuck In to some much-needed
clubhouse maintenance. Last Saturday was the first of
what are threatened to be many this year, weeding the
garden, refitting the doors, adding new lights, etc.,
etc. One more unusual job was the renovation of an old
brick outhouse, probably a coal store in past lives,
hoarding fuel perhaps ill-gotten from the supply
intended for the motive power of the time. Over the
years it has acquired a false floor two or three feet
deep, composed of assorted rubbish and vegetation in
various states of decay. Much of this was energetically
consigned to the spare land over the back fence, for
the better growth of the weeds that annually try to
swamp us from the rear.
The resultant clearance revealed a cosy nook that any self-respecting monk would seize on as a perfect hermit habitation. The enthusiastic way the Chairman handled spade and fork to gain access suggested he had other ideas; a punishment cell perhaps, for the better correction of members guilty of insubordination or otherwise speaking out of turn.
The resultant clearance revealed a cosy nook that any self-respecting monk would seize on as a perfect hermit habitation. The enthusiastic way the Chairman handled spade and fork to gain access suggested he had other ideas; a punishment cell perhaps, for the better correction of members guilty of insubordination or otherwise speaking out of turn.
Not the Annual General Meeting
Friday 25 April 2008
Shock, scandal
and horror - the AGM, that eagerly-awaited opportunity
to tell t'committee exactly what we think of them,
before voting them all back in again, has been
postponed. With only days to go, with all bribes,
backhanders and favours collected and counted, the
chairman and his deputy call it off. Some unconvincing
pretext is offered about urgent unforeseen appointments
elsewhere, but the membership is not fooled. Running
scared they are, of a crushing defeat by the
electorate, and desperately in need of more time to rig
the results back in their favour.
Whether this unimaginative ploy will succeed only time will tell. In the meantime, an emergency chairman has been appointed to carry the club through the precarious interregnum before the AGM Mark II is held at the end of May. The choice of Pebble (the deputy chairman's dog) was both unanimous and popular, on the basis that being non-human he is not only incorruptible but also impartial - he is prepared to love anyone who will feed and/or stroke him.
Whether this unimaginative ploy will succeed only time will tell. In the meantime, an emergency chairman has been appointed to carry the club through the precarious interregnum before the AGM Mark II is held at the end of May. The choice of Pebble (the deputy chairman's dog) was both unanimous and popular, on the basis that being non-human he is not only incorruptible but also impartial - he is prepared to love anyone who will feed and/or stroke him.
New, improved website
Thursday 17 April 2008
Well
different, anyway. The idea for a spring makeover was
precipitated by the webmaster acquiring, at modest
expense, the rights to use Rapidweaver web software on
his whizzy, supercool Mac. Playing around with the
templates was a temptation not to be resisted, and SMRS
had just the website to try them out on. Much to his
surprise it works, more or less. The manual is still
being studied, so expect even more whizziness in the
future.
All change for the exhibition
Friday 21 March 2008
To
start off, a shock to match the best that
Eastenders
can
manage. Well perhaps not quite, as we've not had a
murder on our patch lately. A summons from Our Leader
to an Extraordinary General Meeting, at a mere ten
minutes notice. No time for speculation, perhaps
deliberately so, although the facilities manager did
manage to launch a rumour that the deputy chairman was
about to announce his departure to the Congo, to fight
for the rebels. Against whom, and in support of what,
was not revealed.
The truth was almost as surprising. After more than twenty years of patronage, our use of Meols Cop school as our exhibition venue has come to an end. The departure was by mutual agreement, as all the best football clubs say nowadays. We had outgrown the facilities, and like a hermit crab with a cramped shell, we needed something bigger.
In conditions of great secrecy, our committee had scouted round for alternatives, inspecting other schools that claimed to satisfy our stringent specification. Headmasters in plain clothes were interviewed at anonymous locations. Sports halls were measured with an industrial-strength tape measure. Catering facilities were examined with a long-handled spoon. Tender documents were scrutinised in triplicate. Finally a winner was announced, Birkdale Secondary, in the rather oddly-named Windy Harbour Road. Its main advantage was space, for more exhibits, more traders and more parking.
My immediate concern was - would our exhibition match up to the new upmarket location? Birkdale is allegedly the domicile of several Liverpool footballers - would we live in fear of rogue Everton supporters hurling abuse at our modest efforts? Time will tell, but for now we need to be bold, follow the brave advance of Our Leader and Embrace Change Enthusiastically.
The truth was almost as surprising. After more than twenty years of patronage, our use of Meols Cop school as our exhibition venue has come to an end. The departure was by mutual agreement, as all the best football clubs say nowadays. We had outgrown the facilities, and like a hermit crab with a cramped shell, we needed something bigger.
In conditions of great secrecy, our committee had scouted round for alternatives, inspecting other schools that claimed to satisfy our stringent specification. Headmasters in plain clothes were interviewed at anonymous locations. Sports halls were measured with an industrial-strength tape measure. Catering facilities were examined with a long-handled spoon. Tender documents were scrutinised in triplicate. Finally a winner was announced, Birkdale Secondary, in the rather oddly-named Windy Harbour Road. Its main advantage was space, for more exhibits, more traders and more parking.
My immediate concern was - would our exhibition match up to the new upmarket location? Birkdale is allegedly the domicile of several Liverpool footballers - would we live in fear of rogue Everton supporters hurling abuse at our modest efforts? Time will tell, but for now we need to be bold, follow the brave advance of Our Leader and Embrace Change Enthusiastically.
SMRS blogs, you see if it doesn't
Monday 17 March 2008
Why
create one blog when you can create five? Such was the
logic of starting this one, after sleepertripper,
2008
sleepertrip,
project 2010
and
tranquillity
baseboard. An everyday
story of modelling folk, perhaps. The rest of the
website describes the activities of the SMRS, wisely
not going into much detail. This is the unwise
bit.



