A change is as good as a rest - Show Day 10th March 2018
For the first time in its history the NRS show left its traditional home at URC Hall for Poringland Community Centre. After much soul searching in 2017 after Peter Willis decided to step down as Show Organiser, Brian Cornwell proposed and took on the new role of Show Manager. He formed a team including stalwarts Mike Fordham and Peter Willis with additional support from Philip Moore, Malcolm Wright and some occasional administrative support from me.
Leaving for pastures new created a number of uncertainties and higher costs. The committee was prepared to underwrite any loss although Brian was determined that should not happen. In the event, with extensive advertising particularly in the local area, a railway orientated display in the library adjacent to the community centre and a more commercial approach to the sale of refreshments, I’m pleased to be able to report that the show broke even. When final figures are published it may even have made a small surplus.
Visitor numbers were better than in previous years with good support from the local community. We counted some 230 paying visitors, including families and young children, in addition to the many NRS members and exhibitors who attended.
They say an army marches on its stomach and this is no less true of railway shows. An innovation this year was Brian Cornwell’s breakfast offer of bacon butties to exhibitors. And, yes, he was up at some ungodly hour cooking the bacon!
Once again though we were very fortunate to have the support of our gallant and long-suffering catering team who provided food, drinks and snacks throughout the day. We are very grateful to Ann, Jenni, Julie, Jane, Maureen, Janet, Frances and Sandy for their time, energy and good humour.
The layout of Poringland Community Centre is entirely different to URC Hall and this presented some challenges in calculating how many layouts and stands could safely be fitted in to the space. Although there were one or two teething problems during set-up the team were quickly able to resolve them.
The main hub of activity was inside the main hall which housed the working layouts and larger stands. Outside this on three sides were spaces for smaller static exhibits and stands and also the kitchen and cafe area where people were able to sit and enjoy refreshments and watch railway videos provided by Robert Scarfe.
Money raised from the raffle and charges for refreshments at our indoor meetings was donated to the Wroxham Heritage Signal Box. An initial donation of £200 was subsequently raised to £450.
Despite some anxieties about running the show at a new location it all went well. The question now is will the team stay together and deliver another show in 2019?
Leaving for pastures new created a number of uncertainties and higher costs. The committee was prepared to underwrite any loss although Brian was determined that should not happen. In the event, with extensive advertising particularly in the local area, a railway orientated display in the library adjacent to the community centre and a more commercial approach to the sale of refreshments, I’m pleased to be able to report that the show broke even. When final figures are published it may even have made a small surplus.
Visitor numbers were better than in previous years with good support from the local community. We counted some 230 paying visitors, including families and young children, in addition to the many NRS members and exhibitors who attended.
They say an army marches on its stomach and this is no less true of railway shows. An innovation this year was Brian Cornwell’s breakfast offer of bacon butties to exhibitors. And, yes, he was up at some ungodly hour cooking the bacon!
Once again though we were very fortunate to have the support of our gallant and long-suffering catering team who provided food, drinks and snacks throughout the day. We are very grateful to Ann, Jenni, Julie, Jane, Maureen, Janet, Frances and Sandy for their time, energy and good humour.
The layout of Poringland Community Centre is entirely different to URC Hall and this presented some challenges in calculating how many layouts and stands could safely be fitted in to the space. Although there were one or two teething problems during set-up the team were quickly able to resolve them.
The main hub of activity was inside the main hall which housed the working layouts and larger stands. Outside this on three sides were spaces for smaller static exhibits and stands and also the kitchen and cafe area where people were able to sit and enjoy refreshments and watch railway videos provided by Robert Scarfe.
Money raised from the raffle and charges for refreshments at our indoor meetings was donated to the Wroxham Heritage Signal Box. An initial donation of £200 was subsequently raised to £450.
Despite some anxieties about running the show at a new location it all went well. The question now is will the team stay together and deliver another show in 2019?