oldravendale
Western Thunderer
Hmmm. Difficult one, this, particularly as I should/must be seen as biased with my Finney7 hat on. However, a friend of ancient standing (bloody hell, it's sixty years now - well, 59, but you'll excuse an old man some exaggeration, I'm sure), and I found several years ago that to "do" Telford properly took us more than one day - maybe not two full days, but certainly more than one. He felt the same this year. It is the main event, after all, and most manufacturers strive to be there. Friend and I have spent loadsa money at Telford over the years as he did this year. I probably would have done had the Finney7 stand not been so overrun with well wishers and people who wanted to actually spend money with us.
I accept that I'm in a special position as friend and I with wives make Telford an excuse to get together and the ladies can go and do their thing without husbands wondering when we'll actually get to the pub.
Martin - you certainly don't come over "all SNP", but Telford is pretty well in the centre of England. For in the middle of "the Union", what about Doncaster? (we're there too
. I guess if you're in Aberdeen that'd still be a bit of a PIA, though. Are there enough regional exhibitions? But if they fail to live up to Bristol they won't do well.
From a practical perspective (and I hope I'm right, or that's another investment down the drain) any exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to meet people, understand their wishes and gripes and to bring kits for collection in a friendly and helpful environment. Without Telford, who would have seen Mick's wonderful development of the B1 etches, or, indeed the W1? (And the other goodies yet to come). On line it ain't the same! We always ask people to probe and prod stuff on the stand and the number of "oh my goodness, I didn't know about that" comments is wonderful.
So, I wish Telford continuing success. I really liked some of the layouts and could have done without a couple (!) but that's down to individual taste. Along with Kettering, Doncaster, Reading (really bad facilities, but well located) and Bristol (really good facilities, very friendly and reasonably well located for the south and west).
With or without Finney7 I actually like Telford. However, as long as there are meeting places where we can compare notes, discuss various layouts and look at the options available we'll continue to build models, I guess.
Brian
I accept that I'm in a special position as friend and I with wives make Telford an excuse to get together and the ladies can go and do their thing without husbands wondering when we'll actually get to the pub.
Martin - you certainly don't come over "all SNP", but Telford is pretty well in the centre of England. For in the middle of "the Union", what about Doncaster? (we're there too
. I guess if you're in Aberdeen that'd still be a bit of a PIA, though. Are there enough regional exhibitions? But if they fail to live up to Bristol they won't do well.From a practical perspective (and I hope I'm right, or that's another investment down the drain) any exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to meet people, understand their wishes and gripes and to bring kits for collection in a friendly and helpful environment. Without Telford, who would have seen Mick's wonderful development of the B1 etches, or, indeed the W1? (And the other goodies yet to come). On line it ain't the same! We always ask people to probe and prod stuff on the stand and the number of "oh my goodness, I didn't know about that" comments is wonderful.
So, I wish Telford continuing success. I really liked some of the layouts and could have done without a couple (!) but that's down to individual taste. Along with Kettering, Doncaster, Reading (really bad facilities, but well located) and Bristol (really good facilities, very friendly and reasonably well located for the south and west).
With or without Finney7 I actually like Telford. However, as long as there are meeting places where we can compare notes, discuss various layouts and look at the options available we'll continue to build models, I guess.
Brian
