Simon
Flying Squad
Graham, if you go to the Larkrail thread on RMweb you will see that Phil Copplestone has posted my cunning parking map, which shows the best on street parking locations in and around Larkhall.
Simon
Larkrail
- Thread starter Simon
- Start date
Graham, if you go to the Larkrail thread on RMweb you will see that Phil Copplestone has posted my cunning parking map, which shows the best on street parking locations in and around Larkhall.
Simon
Simon
Flying Squad
Railwaymaniac
Western Thunderer
Simon - As I'm not on RMWeb (
) can you either post a link or post the map, please?Thanx
Ian
Steve Cook
Flying Squad
Additional good news, I've just picked the keys up so we can now get all the exhibits inside the hall
Bonus
I might actually get my posterior in the car and leave in a minute...
Steve
Simon
Flying Squad
Been in the hall this evening, there are enough tables, the medium sized Welsh unpronounceable layout is all set up and looking good (tidy!) The Gas Cupboard and Branchlines emporium are ready for customers, what's left of Finney & Smith are in the corner, Gerry Beale's Maiden Newton and Alan Henham's "Pearley" have arrived and I have cobbled together a natty bus stop sign in cardboard.
The small hall was being used by the "Minuendos" youth choir, in a rather surreal turn of events some of us were invited in to form an audience for the final songs and got conned into joining in the chorus on "what shall we do with a drunken sailor" before we could move our gear into the hall!!
Let's hope there's no more singing tomorrow....
The small hall was being used by the "Minuendos" youth choir, in a rather surreal turn of events some of us were invited in to form an audience for the final songs and got conned into joining in the chorus on "what shall we do with a drunken sailor" before we could move our gear into the hall!!
Let's hope there's no more singing tomorrow....
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
What a delightful venue! A tad warm which was surprising given that the heavens were "open" when we got there.
An interesting time talking to SimonT about DCC via a wifi connection, the Acme solution may have solved the problem of selecting a DCC system for Hartley Hill.
I have lost count of the WTers to whom I spoke... and given that the temperature in the hall was rather high at luch time I think that there is a good chance that I may not have spoken lucidly to all who spoke to me - my apologies if I was "not quite with it".
An interesting time talking to SimonT about DCC via a wifi connection, the Acme solution may have solved the problem of selecting a DCC system for Hartley Hill.
I have lost count of the WTers to whom I spoke... and given that the temperature in the hall was rather high at luch time I think that there is a good chance that I may not have spoken lucidly to all who spoke to me - my apologies if I was "not quite with it".
queensquare
Western Thunderer
As ever, a really brilliant day. Many thanks to all involved in making it happen with a particular mention for Simon and Lesley - and an extra special personal thanks for Mrs CK for sending up a piece of my most favourite Date and Walnut cake - delicious
Jerry
ps. did anyone get a snap of CK's banana selling T shirt - marvelous
Jerry
ps. did anyone get a snap of CK's banana selling T shirt - marvelous
Steve Cook
Flying Squad
They did
Steve
Steve
Bob
Western Thunderer
A truly excellent show and one Gruntfuttock (Rich, who was once a WT'er) and I really enjoyed. Well done Simon and helpers 
. The weather was absolutely horrendous at times but that didn't put the punters off...did I hear figures were up on last year?
Great layouts and chatting to friends old and new, what a fantastic hobby we've got
.
I took a few pics on my mobile as below. Chris Nevard need'nt be worried but they give an idea for those that missed it. I couldn't get shots of every exhibit and some that I took didn't come out too well.
The bus service linking the show with Bath coach station waits for custom outside the pub. Larkhall is a very nice corner of Bath, the proximity of a certain bookshop is a bonus.
This one is payback for a surprise pic taken by Steve earlier in the day. Sorry I couldn't get the chance to pop round for a chat Steve but your table was deservedly popular.
1045 Western Viscount seen on Simon T's micro layout (well, compared to Aberbeeg it's certainly "micro").
I took one board of my new layout "Chipping Compton" along to show progress. A couple more invitations to shows was an unexpected bonus. It's on schedule for it's debut at Swindon in September next year.
Gerry Beale's major project "Maiden Newton" is certainly something very special. I look forward to seeing progress on this.
John Spencer's wonderful signal box (see MRJ). An extremely well-observed model of a prototype most of us wouldn't have given give a second glance if we had passed it on a train. It really looks right on Bernie Baker's "Allt Y Graban Road".
. The weather was absolutely horrendous at times but that didn't put the punters off...did I hear figures were up on last year?Great layouts and chatting to friends old and new, what a fantastic hobby we've got
.I took a few pics on my mobile as below. Chris Nevard need'nt be worried but they give an idea for those that missed it. I couldn't get shots of every exhibit and some that I took didn't come out too well.
The bus service linking the show with Bath coach station waits for custom outside the pub. Larkhall is a very nice corner of Bath, the proximity of a certain bookshop is a bonus.
This one is payback for a surprise pic taken by Steve earlier in the day. Sorry I couldn't get the chance to pop round for a chat Steve but your table was deservedly popular.
1045 Western Viscount seen on Simon T's micro layout (well, compared to Aberbeeg it's certainly "micro").
I took one board of my new layout "Chipping Compton" along to show progress. A couple more invitations to shows was an unexpected bonus. It's on schedule for it's debut at Swindon in September next year.
Gerry Beale's major project "Maiden Newton" is certainly something very special. I look forward to seeing progress on this.John Spencer's wonderful signal box (see MRJ). An extremely well-observed model of a prototype most of us wouldn't have given give a second glance if we had passed it on a train. It really looks right on Bernie Baker's "Allt Y Graban Road".
Simon
Flying Squad
Thank you very much to everyone for their attendance and comments, and thank you too for the photographs taken, the ones I took were all complete rubbish
That said, here's a snap of some very talented people:
Left to right; Laurie Griffin, Barry Norman, Steve Harrod (in doorway), John Greenwood (back to camera), Fred Phipps and Mark Humphries (half in picture)
I had a great day despite the at times desperate weather, attendance was considerably upon last year at just over 200 adult visitors and to our amazement the skies cleared on cue for the pub and later soiree.
If I say so myself the quality of the exhibits was exceptionally good. I am both grateful for and flattered by the quality of all those attending and and also humbled by everyone's generosity. This year's exhibition has raised £250+ plus for Julian House against last year's £160.
The bus was a joy, I moved into this area at the end of 1970 and it was on this type of Lodekka that I used to travel to school. Seeing it parked up in Larkhall Square was something really special
Lots of conversations as ever, hugely enjoyable, lots of really inspiring modelling and thank you again to everyone who came along and made it such a great day.
See you all at the same weekend and same place next year!
Simon
That said, here's a snap of some very talented people:
Left to right; Laurie Griffin, Barry Norman, Steve Harrod (in doorway), John Greenwood (back to camera), Fred Phipps and Mark Humphries (half in picture)
I had a great day despite the at times desperate weather, attendance was considerably upon last year at just over 200 adult visitors and to our amazement the skies cleared on cue for the pub and later soiree.
If I say so myself the quality of the exhibits was exceptionally good. I am both grateful for and flattered by the quality of all those attending and and also humbled by everyone's generosity. This year's exhibition has raised £250+ plus for Julian House against last year's £160.
The bus was a joy, I moved into this area at the end of 1970 and it was on this type of Lodekka that I used to travel to school. Seeing it parked up in Larkhall Square was something really special
Lots of conversations as ever, hugely enjoyable, lots of really inspiring modelling and thank you again to everyone who came along and made it such a great day.
See you all at the same weekend and same place next year!
Simon
Dan Randall
Western Thunderer
Looks like great show Simon and I'm pretty miffed that I couldn't make it.
Lodekkas were a huge part of my childhood too, as living in Slough, my bus journeys were either on green London Country RTs, RMs and RFs (and later, the "Autofare" Swifts/Merlins), or Thames Valley Lodekkas in red livery. Seeing the green Lodekka in the Larkhall photo though, took me straight back to the green Southern Vectis versions from my childhood holidays on the Isle of Wight. I used to love the spiral staircase at the front and the bench seat offset to the right on the top deck. I seem to recall there was also a single seat on the left hand side at the top of the stairs - brilliant stuff!
Hope to make it next year, especially if the Lodekka will be there again!
Regards
Dan
Lodekkas were a huge part of my childhood too, as living in Slough, my bus journeys were either on green London Country RTs, RMs and RFs (and later, the "Autofare" Swifts/Merlins), or Thames Valley Lodekkas in red livery. Seeing the green Lodekka in the Larkhall photo though, took me straight back to the green Southern Vectis versions from my childhood holidays on the Isle of Wight. I used to love the spiral staircase at the front and the bench seat offset to the right on the top deck. I seem to recall there was also a single seat on the left hand side at the top of the stairs - brilliant stuff!
Hope to make it next year, especially if the Lodekka will be there again!
Regards
Dan
Phill Dyson
Western Thunderer
Ahem, this thread is sailing dangerously close to Bus Spotting territory .......
Phill
.......Phill
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
I lived in High Wycombe in the 1960s and I used route no. 28 (HW - Reading) most days. Whilst I recall the Lodekkas in the area that was when the Thames Valley had merged with Aldershot and District so the buses were in green with Alder Valley markings. In earlier times the buses were in red... and had a rear, open, platform with a depressed upper gangway to the RHS of the body - so upstairs the seating was four wide and downstairs the seats on the RHS were not good for tall folk. Anyone able to identify this type of bus? Or can offer a pikkie?
oldravendale
Western Thunderer
Ahem, this thread is sailing dangerously close to Bus Spotting territory
Phill
Yep! And jolly good too!
I have some 1960s-ish Southern Vectis and Maidstone & District (and perhaps a Southdown and LT RHL thrown in) if they are of interest - mine, all mine, again. I'm happy to add the odd one or two in to my pictures thread, when I eventually get round to adding some more but have desisted as I thought - buses? Naaah!
Some positive comments about this and you won't hold me back....... (But since I have only a dozen photos or so I guess that'll set an automatic limit, won't it?)Great to hear that this show was such a success. I guess that Steph and I might have been there but had tickets for the last night of the Monty Python show at the O2.
P'raps we can make it next year?Brian