members meeting april 2010

The sun was being kind to those who travelled to Crick near Rubgy for the Associations first members meeting on April 17th.

While officially the association didn’t need an AGM yet it was felt that we, the committee, would like to have a meeting for our members before the steaming season started. Both to get to know you and hear what you would like from your association.

The theme of the day was one of socialising and laughs. Never have I ever attended a members meeting where there were so many laughs and such joviality!! If only all other clubs’ meetings could be like this.

Starting as we meant to go on there were displays and information laid out for the members to peruse. Club regalia was on sale with the new added items of scarfs and woolly hats (not needed as yet this spring, I am sure however that come the summer they will be essential attire!!) There was a display on the work being undertaken with the Light Steam Power archives, and information on the many upcoming events throughout the year. There was also a suppliers information table. We hope this will be a regular and expanding feature of the meeting. We are very aware that not all members have internet access or are fortunate to get to those larger rallies such as the Great Dorset where picking up information from suppliers is easy. Therefore we had information, samples and leaflets from those such as Cast Iron welding services, Walker Midgley Insurance, John Goold Restoration , Heritage Steam Supplies and  Morris Oils.

A buffet lunch was provided courtesy of the committee and various lady members. A special thanks must go to Anne Stoneman for organising this and to all those who provided sandwiches, sausage rolls, biscuits and home made cakes – yummy!!

Once fed and watered with numerous cups of tea we sat down for the short formal part of the meeting. (see Gareth’s Notes / minutes)

After the meeting a raffle was held in aid of club funds. Then with the urn back on and more tea the room was rearranged for the photographic presentations by John Kenward and Malcolm Ranieri. John gave a presentation of his photographs from the last couple of steam car tours. The Welsh Marshes Tour last year and the Blue Stone Tour from 2008. Both John and Malcolm had gone to huge effort to dig out a broad selection of snaps – some how managing to find one of everyone. Kindly they stuck to those perfect pictures of cars effortlessly gliding along the road rather than those of disaster, mishap or embarrassment. We thank them for this – but I am sure these will probably surface at some point in the future. Amazingly throughout they gave detailsof the dates and location of each shot, many times recognising cars on the screen before their owners in the audience had tuned into it being themselves on the screen. Many calls of ‘Is that me’ could be heard along with of course ‘ Who’s that’ from the rear rows. To finish off John allowed us to see some of his other work which takes him to more industrial locations and many a railway track. He had even found out a shot of our Chairman one his old Steam Roller taken in 1956. Some quite amazing and atmospheric shots of rolling stock and such places as steel works closed the first session.

Malcolm then took the floor to present photos from the Tiverton tour of 2007, the Welsh tour of 2004 and the Coventry tour of 2005. Again places and dates were provided – I wish I was as thorough with my archiving as these gents obviously are.

The final session finished with again stunning shots of Steam Trains from around the country. To describe them is difficult but needless to say it is clear that these gents are true professionals in their craft, for those not in attendance we are not talking amateur shots of a train passing under a convenient railway bridge we are talking time consuming set up of shots and dedication to the last. Hours sitting in location waiting for the train or clouds to pass, arranging for vehicles and people to be moved – staggering. The framing, light and composition of these shots were breathtaking. Malcolm gave us some insight into the effort it takes to get these shots and the pitfalls.

To both we must extend our thanks not only for their time on the day but the effort and time they gave search there extensive collections to select the shots and in preparing such beautiful presentations.

Finally after a last cup of tea we had a group photo for those that could be torn away from the cake table to the garden outside.

Special thanks must go to all those members that made the effort to attend. Some came for part of the day and some made it through to the end – either way we were glad to see you all.

The aim of the day was for you to meet you committee, and also met a few more members that you didn’t know before and we really do hope that is what you did and that you enjoyed your day. Maybe we might have even persuaded you to join us at an upcoming event. If so please don’t forget, don’t be a stranger do come up and say hello.