Winter 2025 Newsletter
Winter 2025 Newsletter
Issue 193
This was one of our informal quarterly meetings where our members showed off their latest Meccano creations.
At around 2:00pm we had a short committee meeting, followed by the Model Tour in which members were invited to give a short talk about their models — in particular their entries for the Secretary’s Challenge!
Report written by Tim Surtell
Our 2024 Meccano Show took place on 2nd November, a change from its traditional October timing. The move into the half-term holiday period appeared to impact attendance, with just 65 adults and 39 children visiting.
The show featured a full complement of impressive displays from our members and guests, with Stan Alton and Paul Leech contributing notably to the exhibition’s success with their outstanding model presentations. Stan displayed a wide variety of detailed model vehicles, while Paul showcased his model of a Royal National Lifeboat Institution Shannon-class lifeboat along with its launch and recovery system.
The view of the main hall from the stage
Just some of Stan Alton’s varied array of vehicles
Paul Leech’s RNLI Shannon-class lifeboat
Model railways emerged as a prominent theme throughout the show. The main hall hosted two railway layouts by John Gay and Gareth Jones, while the nursery area showcased three additional displays from guest exhibitors. These were Waledale, an N gauge layout set in the western region of British Rail after the nationalisation of Great Western Railway in 1948–9; Relham, another N gauge layout featuring a small town during the steam-to-diesel transition period, complete with hidden features for visitors to discover; and a charming table-top Hornby Tinplate clockwork model railway layout presented by Croydon Model Railway Society.
John Gay and Cathy Claydon with their model railway layout
Edward and Nick Sermon with ‘Waledale’
Gareth Jones’s Meccano railway
‘Relham’
The Electronics Club’s John Hewes returned to operate the Circuits Workshop in the conservatory. This popular hands-on activity allowed visitors to construct working circuits, including traffic lights, using real electronic components and microchips. Building on last year’s success, Hewes introduced several new circuit designs to engage returning participants.
Central to the main hall was the Make It With Meccano Workshop, alongside the Meccano Creative Challenge.
The Make It With Meccano workshop
Chairman Brian Leach and Founder Chris Warrell selected three young winners for the Creative Challenge: six-year-old Finlay Boodhna, seven-year-old Austin Hawes, and nine-year-old Elizabeth Biscoe.
Finlay Boodhna (right)
Austin Hawes
Elizabeth Biscoe
Finlay Boodhna’s model
Austin Hawes’ model
Elizabeth Biscoe’s model
You can see all the Meccano Creative Challenge photos in our Facebook album.
The success of our shows relies on the dedicated efforts of several key individuals and the commitment of our members in staffing the various rotas, ensuring the smooth running of the event.
Special thanks go to Chris Warrell for managing publicity, accounts, and coordinating the Eltham Centre display. Brian Leach’s contribution to transport logistics was invaluable, while Cathy Claydon ensured visitors and exhibitors were well-refreshed throughout the day.
Despite the timing change and reduced attendance, the show maintained its high standards of interactive engagement and model displays, continuing to showcase the enduring appeal of Meccano construction and model engineering.