Alresford 2006

Sunny Day at Alresford

Nearly one thousand visitors enjoyed probably the best Alresford Show yet. The sun shone all day and the courtyard was full throughout with punters enjoying the BBQ, ice cream and real ale as well as outside traders and exhibits.

The outside exhibits included a Tri-ang Minic Narrow Gauge Railway locomotive displayed by Mike Slatter and his partner Becky. In remarkably good condition, Mike met many who remember riding behind one on holiday and some who actually had owned them.

Peter Stenning displayed his engaging Timpo set complete with several skirmishes between Britain’s Union and Confederate soldiers including a wrecked train.

Richard Precious, who runs Iron Horse videos, operated LGB Bachmann on the ground and had several engines digitally controlled so two or three were running on the same circuit.

David Lord once again had his 4 lane Scalextric race track which is used for corporate events. He raised money for his daughter’s Brownie group by charging a small fee for the public to race.

George Voller was also selling items on behalf of the Talyllnyn Railway.

The Assembly hall was full with smaller gauge layouts.

Ron MaCuskie and Derek Smith plus a host of helpers were operating Ron’s excellent Dublo 2 rail layout. As befits the location the theme was southern and especially for yours truly a twelve car EMU was running.

Next door John and Sue Ablett had Wrenn and Hornby Dublo 2 rail with a whole host of accessories including very rare minix/miniville cars. The local reporter was given a good story as Bodmin was in steam on the nearby Watercress Line and here also was a Wrenn Bodmin on the layout.

Les Martin and Neil Bowsher with help from Paul Rees set up a superb Tri-ang Super 4 layout. Particularly innovative was Les’s High Level Station which the Diesel Railcar terminated in on the high level shuttle. This was Les’s first exhibition and despite the quote ‘never again’ at the end I’m sure we will see it again. The layout was populated with Stations and Model Land buildings supplied by myself.

Peter Berry was running his trains of the 50’s with Formo and Scale Master engines running during the day.

Dave Coxon had set up a Jouef layout with an original Eggerbahn/Playcraft preformed layout running well all day in the middle of the Jouef.

Paul and Jennifer Brookes were exhibiting a substantial collection of Tin signs by various makers both on and off their buildings. They were also selling from their vast collection of Master Models and related items.

Ashley Barton was again showing his enchanting Kitmaster Airfix layout . My wife Fiona and friend Julie thought this was the best exhibit due to the numerous working accessories Ashley has managed to fit in.

David Holmes with able assistance from Brian Arnold and their partners put on a lovely Bakelite track Trix layout which again seemed to have a bit of a Southern theme.

James Day was promoting the TCS plus selling his excellent spares as well as assisting Tony Penn who had set up a 4 track Battlespace layout.

Although mainly Tri-ang Hornby there was a Bachmann Missile Train and the Lima Leopold Gun set.

Also noted were the Lionel HO Helicopter car and exploding wagon which Tri-ang copied (with consent) so successfully.

Alongside, Bob Boekhout who came over from the Netherlands to display his exquisite Tri-ang Standard gauge set complete with Rubber buildings and Minic cars and trucks.

Dave Lyon had his superb Tri-ang Minic Motorway layout and railways . With operating roundabouts and crossovers the public were amazed to see the cars stop for each other.

On the stage Martin Doubleday made a welcome return with his excellent Lone star layout as well as super display of push along models.

Along the back wall Eric Large, who has displayed at every show, was running his exceptional Tri-ang TT layout, sadly for Eric his French Pacific decided to leap off the high level.

Clive Gehle displayed his ever expanding collection of Linda and Blue box toys. The Airport always brings a smile to my face as the figures with the set are taller than the planes!

Clive was also looking after my Lego town display which this year included a shop display model of the Empire State Building.

The Brio set was well used by the very young. A small Hornby layout with items donated over the years by Hornby Hobbies allowed youngsters to operate trains during the day.

The ever youthful enthusiastic Nick Gillman had transformed his layout to British Trains of Tomorrow c1960s, among those running was a six car Kitmaster Blue Pullman set with two kitchen cars.

By the entrance Greg Foxon was displaying and selling his recent railway related artwork.

Moving onto the sports hall we had eight superb displays.

Adrian Moitre, Owen Roberts and fellow members of The Bowman Circle were leading the way with a great show of steam operation. The meths smell lingered most of the day but what a fine sight seeing trains from the 1920’s still operating.

Mike Clark with assistance from Miles Rowland who was also fronting the Tri-ang Society had a very neat Tri-ang Big Big layout which every time I passed was running beautifully.

Bryan Pentland once again excelled, this time with his ‘ Mostly Marx’(made in the USA) tinplate collection. I loved the monorail and the litho buildings which are so colourful.

The Draycott family were down on mass and had set up their wonderful Dublo 3 rail layout. It certainly makes the public gasp and I can’t think of a bigger Dublo layout on the circuit-where else would you find 13 girder bridges!

Adam Heeley and friends were running a fantastique collection of French Hornby O gauge . I particularly liked the late 1960’s Plastic Gare du Nord.

John Ovenden, Mike Allen, Alan Brown, Peter Laws, Martin Wright and several other members of the Wessex HRCA had set up a superb three track layout. Running Hornby, Bassett Lowke and ACE trains they themed the day. However when I turned up it I was pleased to see a remotored John Glynas Battle of Britain loco Kenley on one track, ACE A4 and Hornby LI on the other tracks.

Colin Davies was displaying his excellent Meccano models which included a huge Sydney Bridge and a Concorde.

Clive Parker was in amongst the traders with his neat Trix layout.

Speaking of traders, there were over 90 tables selling old and new trains. The general consensus was that the punters came to buy and a good day was had by most.

Thanks to everyone who contributed towards the show and to all those that made the effort to come.

Approximately £1000 will be donated to local groups including the Alresford Branch of the Save The Children Fund (for manning the doors) The St John Ambulance for selling raffle tickets, the Elizabeth Foundation for Children and various School projects including the Under 15’s Rugby team who arranged the car parking.