THE Hereford Society of Model Engineers have had a very successful season at Broomy Hill this year with plenty of visitors and events. However, the culmination of all the hard work put in by members was their entry into the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition held over four days in October at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre. This event is one of the biggest of its kind in the UK and the Hereford Society was one of over fifty similar clubs to take part. The exhibition is a showcase for superb model engineering ranging from clocks to steam road vehicles and everything else in between.

The competition for the Best in Show club display is keenly contested, and this year the Hereford Society were delighted to be chosen as the best display in the exhibition. This is an accolade which is not easy to win so the membership was rightly proud of their achievement. The range of models on the stand covered most model engineering disciplines with examples of boiler making, clocks, aircraft, ships, steam powered models and smaller gauge railway models. The models on show were just a small part of what is available at Broomy Hill. Everyone of course is familiar with the Broomy Hill Railway which operates throughout the spring and summer up to the end of October, but perhaps members of the public do not realise just what other facilities are available. Hereford City Council, Hereford in Bloom and a number of local companies have been very supportive of the work that has been done there and this win is a reflection of the standing of the Hereford Club in the model engineering world as well as the surrounding area.

Young people are also encouraged to take part in the activities of operating a miniature railway and to learn the basic skills needed to build and exhibit models. In addition to the clubs success at the exhibition, the Young Engineer Class at the show is for work produced by young people under the age of 20. In this category club member 11 year old Noah Eggar gained first prize and the Stuart Models Sheild for his working model of a Stuart No.10 Horizontal Steam Engine. This is the second time a young member from Hereford has entered this competition and on the first occasion Lewis Mason gained a third prize for his entry, so the club were again delighted for Noah to win the top award. Two of their young engineers who have now left school have also been accepted onto Engineering Apprenticeships with local companies and the Hereford Group Training Association.

New members are always welcome, particularly young people from the age of 11. So why not come to one of the open days or the Tuesday working group or the training days on Saturdays to find out more. Contact John Meaford on johe@phonecoop.coop We look forward to meeting you.