This was our first time at this show so we weren’t quite sure what to expect – and the layout was certainly very interesting! Instead of the usual ‘islands’ of display tables, they were set out in row, so people walked behind us as well as past the front of the display.  It allowed them to get a lot of display tables in a relatively small area.

John Annegarn picked me up at the unearthly time of 06.30 and we managed to squeeze a couple of boxes of my models into the little Micra alongside all the ‘Allsorts’ display equipment and Johns own models.  With the benefit of Sat-Nav we had a straightforward run down and arrived a little after 08.00, when we met new member Dave Powell already there. We unloaded the car and quickly set up the table, unpacked the ‘Allsorts’ bases and got the banner up. We only had a single depth 12ft display here, so not so many bases needed (a ‘Bassetts Light’ display, as John called it) and we were soon putting out the models.  Paul Sayer arrived with Matthew a little while later, the last of the ‘model-shuffling’ was completed and we settled down for a nice relaxing day – after tracking down the teas and bacon butties and sussing out what the traders had to offer. The rest of the day was spent chatting amongst ourselves, answering questions about the display and the occasional foraging trip.  The advantages of going to Poole included seeing some traders we hadn’t seen before, and John and I nipped out to Plastic Pastimes (about 9 minutes away by car) to have a look and see what they had – which proved very fruitful for me!

The competition was held ‘in-situ’ as the stage was being used for a ‘make and take’ workshop, so we had the judges coming around in the middle of the day looking at the class entries – all identified by pink entry slips.  In the afternoon, after they had finished judging, they came round and put little stickers on the labels indicating what prizes they had won. On our table, Matthew got Bronze for his two German Marder SPGs, Paul got Bronze for his Ferrari 250GT and his Ferrari Enzo, and Dave got a silver for his Panther tank and Best in Class for his 1/32(?) scale WW1 Albatross.

Fred, Steve and Mike were there as well – first time at this for them, too! – with their own tables, but in a different room, and they had a share of the competition success, with Steve’s Meerkat ‘Simples Regiment’ getting gold in its class and Fred getting a Silver for his 1/400 scale ‘Charles de Gaulle’ French aircraft carrier, complete with 1/400 flight deck crew figures!

Later in the afternoon I noticed a slip of paper tucked into ‘Oaty’s’ hatband which said we were the best Club Display winners.  As Chairman (and the one wearing the very fetching ‘Allsorts’ jumper), it was left to me to collect the Trophy from the stage at the end.

We had a lot of interest in our display, as usual, and a few people helped themselves to some Allsorts, so, all-in-all, we had a good day.

I sent an email to Sue Meadowcroft, the organiser, and thanked her for the invite and an enjoyable show and she replied apologising for the cramped conditions – apparently they could not use the extension to the building, as they had planned to do, hence the unusual (and ingenious) use of the space.  I think we’ll get an invite again for next year.

Another new show, another award!

Poole Vikings really wanted us at their show this year after seeing our 'Allsorts' display at Telford. We'd not been before, but we applied for space and got the last two tables, and Paul & Matthew Sayer, John Annegarn, new member Dave Powell and myself went down and represented North Somerset. Fred & Steve Booth and Mike Watkins were there as well with on their own two tables.

When it came to the prize-giving, surprise, surprise, North Somerset collected Best Club Display award. But not only that, from our tables, Matthew got two Bronze for his 'Marder' German SPGs, Paul got a Bronze each for his Ferrari 250 GT & Ferrari Enzo, and Dave got a Silver for his Panther Tank and Gold 'Best in Class' for his WWI Albatross!

Other on the other tables, Steve got Gold with his Meerkat figures and Fred got a Silver with his 1/400 Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier - complete with 1/400 scale flight deck crew!

Last Updated:                1/07/11
           by Maddie