News release: 03 October 2011
The Deputy Mayor Cllr Geoff Harrison at the controls
The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Geoff Harrison visited the Model Show organised by St Albans and District Model Engineering Society, held for the eleventh time at Francis Bacon School. This year there were 1,200 adult visitors and over 300 children over 2 days. The Society has organised over 50 exhibitions of its work since it began in 1947.
The model show supports the Amersham based charity Workaid* and this year in memory of one of their members, Tom Kelleher, there were collections for Macmillan Nurses. The RNLI were also in attendance. The show raised £137 pounds for charity.
Left to right front central: The Deputy Mayor Cllr Geoff Harrison, Roy Verden Honorable Secretary and Dr Michael Dyer Chair of the St Albans and District Model Engineering Society
Following a conducted tour, during which he spoke to many of the exhibitors, the Deputy Mayor was given a chance to sit at the controls of a live steam locomotive. The free train rides were very busy and there was a working steam engine on a ‘rolling road’.
Other exhibits included working Meccano models; model sailing; steam and electric boats; working steam plants; railway engines and demonstrations of modelling techniques. The Gymnasium contained a model of an underground railway and electric ‘O’ guage trains. Outside there were radio controlled model trucks and vehicles in operation plus a model boat pool with ‘have a go’ boats for children to try out. There were also flying displays.
The St Albans and District Model Engineering Society has its own model competition with cups and certificates for numerous categories. There are approximately 100 members, but the club is always looking for new enthusiasts to join them. If you are interested visit the website for details on how to join: www.stalbansmes.com.
The show will be returning to Francis Bacon School next year on the 29 and 30 September 2012, so make a note in your diaries now.
Cllr Geoff Harrison, Deputy Mayor of St Albans City & District.
Contact for the Mayor’s office:
Alison Orde, the Mayor’s Civic Officer
Tel: 01727 819544 E-mail: Alison.orde@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the press:
Davina Mansell, Information and Communication Officer
Tel: 01727 819316. E-mail: davina.mansell@stalbans.gov.uk
St Albans City and District Council
www.stalbans.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StAlbansCouncil
Notes:
Workaid.
For further information visit their website: http://www.workaid.org/.