Meccano and Model Railways have long gone together, so when it comes to an exhibition they make for a great pairing. Thus when friends at my church (the Baptist Church in Hill Street, Swadlincote) asked whether I’d like to be part of an exhibition in our church hall I didn’t take much persuading! So my son and I gathering every Meccano model in the house – and there are rather a lot! – and packed them all of to our show in late October.

There they joined various railways models, layouts and memorabilia brought by friends and members of the church. We saw station signs and notices, lengths of railway track, lamps, literature, model layouts, military dioramas, scale rolling stock and much more. Children tried their hand on a Meccano trebuchet and a radio-controlled car and were delighted by such a range of models on show.

Overall verdict – great fun for all the exhibitors who are already talking about another event next year; a treat for the visitors (many of whom talked of joining in themselves with items next time), and the usual combination of nostalgia and entertainment that  goes with such events. Well done to everyone who made it such a fun time!