“A superb Taunton exhibition, possibly the best yet!” Such comments were typical of those made by a number of visitors to our latest show. There was a good layout with plenty of room to circulate, a variety of models, traders, demonstrations and visiting Club stands to see, well backed up by our Caterers who again provided a good range of food and drinks to make it an event well worthwhile to which to come. All enjoyed themselves and are looking forward to the next time.

We were pleased to welcome representatives from both Engineering in Miniature and Model Engineer as well as the Somerset County Gazette who published a news item and photographs the following week. They particularly noted the display from Wellsprings School which has led to inquiries from some others - maybe we shall need to devote more space for youngsters in the future. Certainly this is an aspect we have been trying to encourage, and also to make sure that our junior members are seen to have active parts to play in the club and to show visitors that they are just as much part of TME as us ‘old-uns’.

Our concerns that the SW Model Engineering, Model Making & Hobbies Exhibition at Shepton Mallett the following weekend might affect our results proved unfounded. Club finances have benefited by somewhat more than we anticipated. Congratulations and thanks are due to all - our visiting Traders and Clubs, TME members, our Exhibition sub-Committee and Bruce Nottrodt as the Exhibition Manager. Special thanks to Kristina Nottrodt and her two girls for their contributions on the days and the work that they did behind the scenes beforehand. They all said that they enjoyed themselves as well! Thank you to one and all.

Members may recall the suggestion made some time ago that model engineering activities and particularly club railways, should be regulated under the legislation that covers Fairgrounds. This was resisted nationally by the hobby as a whole, thanks to the efforts of the Southern Federation, Northern Association, 7 ¼” Gauge Society, traction engine bodies and others. Fortunately in the UK we have been able to continue our activities on a self-regulated basis. We now hear of a case in New Zealand where the opposite situation has applied. It appears that the Kapiti Club had prepared for a regular running day and had sold tickets for the first train when an Inspector made his presence known and demanded that all activities cease as the Club was not registered under the NZ Fairground Regulations. Not only this but he also stated that the Club could not run for members only, in spite of having watched their preparations before the public arrived. The sad thing is that I have now heard that MEANZ (Model Engineering Association of New Zealand) was already in discussions with the authorities about the needs or otherwise, for regulation and it appears that this Inspector may have jumped the gun. A salutary lesson for us all.

The Annual General Meeting has come and gone, but the Committee faces are the same – this time round. A number of us have indicated we’d like a rest after the current year in office, and it is time for some new faces with new ideas to take over before the rest of us get too stale. The Club is financially healthy but a proposed increase in subscription to £25 per annum was accepted to ensure that it stays that way and is able to continue developing Creech and extending in Vivary Park – when we get the go ahead. Meantime I was pleased to nominate two Club Members of the Year – Mark Davis and Tony Gosling for their superb contributions in developing the TME website and the “Oily Rag” respectively.

Mike.