Saint Luke’s Church Open Day 2016
Report written by Peter Clay for our Christmas 2016 Newsletter
Saturday 5 November 2016
Saint Luke’s Church
Eltham
There could be no doubt from the banners and notices outside what the principal attraction was (at least from our point of view!) In fact this was a short craft fair, running from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm on 5th November 2016, which was part of the month-long Eltham Arts Winter Festival.
Brian Leach’s Wendy House kicks off our display along one side of the church
As well as a Meccano show there were various craft exhibits including lacemaking, paintings, papier-mâché model dinosaurs by local schoolchildren, as well as cakes made by Cathy Warrell and church tours (conducted by Chris Warrell). It was all in the church whose hall used to be our meeting place.
Deansfield Primary School’s papier-mâché dinosaurs — who needs Meccano?
And so to what you all want to know. I didn’t know I was doing this write up so this is from memory, so please forgive me for any omissions or errors.
From right to left as if entering the church:
First was Brian Leach with his Wendy House. This was in the form of a three-storey town house with pitched roof, which used up nearly all Brian’s stock of plates and strips. The entire front could open and lock and there was an electric light inside. (Brian realised later in the day that one of the side panels was upside down, so the windows are too low!) I saw some children go in it.
Take a peek inside Brian Leach’s Wendy House
Next was Tim Surtell with his Lightning Leap, enticing spectators to try their skill and donate to Foal Farm. He also had his Spanish Knight running, plus a representation of ‘1000’ using a worm and three 57-tooth gears, marking the milestone of the London Meccano Club channel reaching one thousand YouTube subscribers!
Then Peter Clay who had his Meccano lacegraph producing designs some taken by children. He also had a tractor with flywheel drive and trailer; army truck; 4-wheel steer car; butcher’s wagon and mini helicopter.
Next along, Adrian Ashford showed some attractive red/green models. His owl flapped its wings at the press of a button. Also with electric motor was a battery-powered windmill pump with moving vanes and pump. An attractive motor launch and a lorry, with № 1 clockwork motor, completed his display.
Left to right: Models from Chris Warrell, Adrian Ashford and Peter Clay
Finally, Chris Warrell had his pontoon crane running. He also had a fire tender, lunar probe, Meccano Magazine spacecraft and a realistic bike. Three Daleks in different colour schemes rounded off a varied and interesting display.
Chris tells me the show was considered a great success and another one is likely next year.
You can see more photos from the exhibition in our Facebook album.