Saturday 8th June 2019 - 7mm NGA 40th Anniversary Exhibition - Burton-on-Trent

A week before the exhibition, Stephen contracted an inner ear infection causing severe dizziness. A few days in bed reduced the problem, but Geoff and Laurence started formulating plans B & C. Stephen was soon able to move around, but driving was not advised. However, Stephen's wife Christine offered to drive instead, which settled the issue.

The four met at Staines Friday lunchtime and loaded the two cars. Google maps predicted 2:15 hrs. Midlands traffic and rain turned it into 4:30 hrs. We went straight to the Town Hall to review the unloading area and then investigated local car parking as little was available on-site. We then booked into our hotel and had a lovely evening meal.

As forecast, the rain was heavy as we unloaded; an old shower curtain serving its new protection purpose admirably. The AGM and Competitions had been held at Littlehampton three weeks earlier to make more room for this show. The three full halls of layouts and trade stands made it a super show. Setting up in one of the side-halls went to plan and we settled down to 6 hours of operating.


Christine was soon co-opted into the fiddleyard and entered into the spirit completely. She almost seemed to be enjoying herself at times. Geoff and Laurence finally persuaded her to take over operating centre-stage and she again rose to challenge.


We had retained Chris Holmes' stock from the Littlehampton show, and a lot was displayed in the fiddleyard case which generated a lot of discussion. We had the same variety stock to choose from, but this time, we made sure that the fiddleyard was not overloaded, which worked well.


New additions - Geoff had designed, laser-cut, fabricated, fitted and painted two new van shells for his two track cleaning vehicles. Stephen had made some racking and a variety of items for the recently re-designated storeroom - central room of the main building. (Photo's to follow).

Born out of the need for something simple, compact, quick to build and assemble, the lighting rig seemed to be a popular item for discussion. Again, we only needed one strip of bright white LED's with the warm whites.


Being the 40th Anniversary, many of the founding members were present. Don Mason and Geoff made up for lost time and reminisced about their first meeting over the 'Cottesmore Light Railway' when it appeared at the MRC show in April 1979 at Central Hall, Westminster - the meeting that triggered the formation of the Association.

The show went well and very soon it was time to pack up. The "You've got one hour!" announcement was a bit of a surprise, but most did it in good time. The journey home was almost entirely in sunshine and on sparsely populated roads. A final evening snack at a Starbucks went down very well and allowed us to review the successful day. We unpacked at Staines and went off to our respective homes.


Details of the show will appear on the Association website in due course:-