Another good year for TME has all but gone by and we can look back on one more successful exhibition, thanks to Bruce and his team. We are now very much ‘part of the calendar’ for our regular visitors and traders who continue to support us so well. Planning is well advanced for 2009 with Gerry Willis leading the team but they do need your help, not the least with return of the forms that were included with the last ‘Oily Rag’ on which to list your available exhibits. To offer a balanced but varied display each year needs careful consideration of what is available beforehand.

On the practical side we have the ‘go-ahead’ from Taunton Deane to extend the raised track by about 400ft. and the initial works are in progress to site a container for our equipment storage and run a power supply to it. Once commissioned we shall start to stock pile materials preparatory to construction in time for the 2009 season. Thanks to Maurice Hartnell, the manufacture of the concrete legs is well in hand and he will order the timber for the side rails. Mark Hartnell is busy cutting up the extra sleepers needed to supplement those we had in stock. You will see from the pictures in this issue just what is being achieved with the earth works at Creech thanks to Maurice Hartnell, Allen Miller, Tony Gosling, John Selby and John Ross who attend regularly.

Both tracks have run regularly this year in spite of the weather. Unfortunately the Vivary Park results in 2008 are down on previous years, but Creech is now starting to make a contribution although we can always do with more customers. Our thanks are due to the respective teams who turn out whatever the weather, even if on occasion they finish up under cover drinking tea and nattering!

Following the appeal in the last issue, no one has come forward to take on the operation of the portable track, so long a feature of our operations. We shall therefore have to make a decision at the next AGM as to what to do with it as we are unlikely to be able to keep it in the temporary storage currently enjoyed in Taunton, and provision of secure storage at Creech (where we have space) is not really justified unless it is to be used.

On a happier note you will see that we have been able to produce a varied and interesting programme of meetings for the first part of 2009 but we still need more ideas, and/or volunteers to come forward prepared to make presentations on topics of interest.

It is that time of year when subscriptions are due, and Gerry hovers at each meeting now ready and happy to accept them. Please help him by making sure they are paid in good time.

Finally may I wish you all a very happy Christmas coupled with the hope that the current financial problems do not impact too much on our enjoyment of TME activities in the New Year. My compliments of the season to one and all.

Mike.