50th Anniversary at Statfold Barn

[Julian Evison]

Now Statfold has been and gone, I am very glad to say that it seems to have been the success for which we had hoped.

To all the members who made great efforts to come from near and far and who passed on such appreciative comments, thank you.

To all the exhibitors, traders and preservation society representatives, thank you, because without you there we would not have had a show.

Finally, we should acknowledge the part played behind the scenes by the staff at Statfold for making everything work.

I hope people will now look back on this event with fondness for a weekend well spent with fellow enthusiasts enjoying all that is best about our corner of the hobby.

Julian

[Michael Bolton]

Having never been to a purely 009 exhibition or Statfold Barn before it was a fantastic event in a wonderful setting ideally suited to it. I would like to thank everyone who took part or organised the event  as it was frankly brilliant and fitting in everything in one day was difficult but in a very good way. Both my wife and myself thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, invigorated with new ideas and enthusiasm we look forward to our next outing to a 009 event.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Hear! hear! The only other time I've been at a narrow gauge only show was the last one 10 years ago. It was a fantastic weekend and the exhibition and the Statfold facilities were superb. A very big thank you to all the organizers and contributors.

Also all the people I've met before or know only via Zoom or through the magazine or online. And thank you and apologies to all who did a much better job of recognizing and remembering me than I did of them!

I lost track of the number of times I walked round the hall over two days in goodness knows how many different directions and every time I noticed something new and interesting.

I've read many positive comments by others, but one I'm not sure has been mentioned was the age range represented by the modellers. In particular it was very encouraging to see younger modellers and trade representation.

[B.Meldon]

Due to a prior commitment helping to run an open day at local church I was unable to attend on the Saturday, and I have other family and church commitments on Sundays.
I also missed the previous anniversary event 10 years ago!
Perhaps I will be able to make it to the next one in 2033?

[Alan Feldon]

Having just returned from 19 years in Greece and working shifts before that  , it was my first time in about 25 years to be able to attend a model railway exhibition and what a show it was .
The setting was absolutely great , the choice of layouts was superb and to a very high standard , and the organisation was great .
It was fantastic to meet old friends whom I had not seen for years  , and put faces to people who I had only corresponded with on forums .
For me it was a very enjoyable and memorable day and I would like to give thanks to all of the organisers & exhibitors for the very hard work they must have put in . My thanks to Andy also from the Beds and Bucks group for very kindly chauffering me to and fro from my home .
Alan Feldon member number 9/009/0009 depending upon the membership numbers we have !

[JulienW]

Still tidying up after the show and posting this on behalf of The Statfold organising committee.

Found:

(1) - a purchase from the sales stand on Saturday and left in a carriage on the train.
(2) - a pair of glasses left on a table at the Saturday night meal.

We would like to reunite these with their owners so please contact Julien Webb so that we may do this.

My email is heritage@009society.com

[MickT]

Is it known which table the glasses were left on? I have a copy of the seating plan if there isn't another available, which would narrow the owner of the glasses down to one of 9 or 10 depending on which table it was and as they would have all been members or their partners, emails could be sent to all?

Mick

[JulienW]

I haven't benn told which table they were on Mick, sorry.  Do you know Julian?

[Julian Evison]

On Sunday we had Lawrie of the You Tube Channel Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels paying us a visit. Here is the result. I get the impression he definitely liked what he saw!

https://youtu.be/X0g21GA0gng

Julian

[Graeme Dunbar]

I guess so - "the best 009 Model Railway Show ever"  :)

[Alan Pollock]

That was a good video one comment I did pick up on though was his comment about how few traiders they where and more high quality layouts that should be a credit to everyone involved now could you please have a show that I could attend please and thanks

Thanks
Alan

[Stan Williams]

In fairness, there are not that many traders around these days, unless you mean box shifters and I doubt many of them, if any, would have accepted an invitation,    not really their market.
The last bit needs an explanation,  a show I could go too ??   Do you mean on your doorstep ?

Stan.

[Alan Pollock]

In fairness, there are not that many traders around these days, unless you mean box shifters and I doubt many of them, if any, would have accepted an invitation,    not really their market.
The last bit needs an explanation,  a show I could go too ??   Do you mean on your doorstep ?

Stan.

Hi Stan

You got it one sadly I was unable to attend the 50th anniversary due to being 2 far so was expecting the usual complaints full of traiders and lack layouts and yes one on the doorstep would be great and would mean i could attend but as I always say you can't please everyone

Thanks
Alan

[Stan Williams]

Alan,
It was the 50th Anniversary of the society, a one off event, I have been a member of the society since 1977 and I am 78 years of age.
With the help of Alan from our group, we transported a 16 ft layout to Tamworth operated it for two days, spent a couple of days away from home and drove 220 mile round trip.
I have to admit, the concrete floor did my legs no favours and still feeling the effects till yesterday.
I doubt I will make the 60th anniversary, but it really is down to the individual and motivation.

Stan.

[Graeme Dunbar]

In fairness, there are not that many traders around these days, unless you mean box shifters and I doubt many of them, if any, would have accepted an invitation,    not really their market.
The last bit needs an explanation,  a show I could go too ??   Do you mean on your doorstep ?

Stan.

I thought the traders were pertinent to the event and of about the right number - Dundas, N-drive, Worsley Works (many thanks for the tutorial on soldering!) and CM3 were ones I spent quite some time at - and of course Peco/Kato (with Kato san too!) and Bachmann. I bought some stuff from one of the more general supplies traders but with so much on offer I wasn't really paying attention.

If I was to come up with my 'fantasy football' trader list, perhaps it would have been nice to see other small kit and 3D print producers. However I fully appreciate that for many it is not their day job and would be major undertaking (as no doubt it was for those there).

Edit: I understand neither Peco nor Bachmann were actually trading. Yes, great publicity for them but also quite magnanimous of them too with respect to other traders as I'm sure many attendees could have emptied their wallets on the two stands.