16mm Association AGM 2025

 I've been a member of the 16mm association for many, many years, well over forty. But I've never been one for the social side of society, which revolves around garden meet-ups. I do enjoy the AGM exhibition, though. I don't go as religiously as I once did.

I'm glad it has moved back to Stoneleigh from Peterborough. My memories of the NAC go back to the glory days of The Royal Show. The catering is also better than it was at Peterborough.

Despite being on a Voyager the trip there and back wasn't bad. I did go First Class, but booking well in advance and using my Senior Railcard meant it was worth it. The usual Coventry traffic jams, in combination with HS2-associated road closures, meant my transfer to the "vintage" bus service was not as much of a mad dash as I feared.

Incidentally, this was a paid service, in contrast to the free one at the much smaller Macclesfield show.

I was a bit shocked to be greeted at the door as "The famous Mr Finister." Beyond that I did run into a few people for brief chats, possibly fewer than in previous years. I also didn't stay that long, because I never do at this show. Why? It isn't because it is a bad show. There is a lot to see and plenty of action on layouts. I certainly took a lot of photos. I think my shift to 7/8ths scale comes into it. There was also quite a long break in the bus service I wanted to avoid. Another factor might be that I didn't have money burning in my pocket. With the exception of  a few small projects I now own all the garden railway locos and stock I need. Anything else would need amove of house to be justified.