Solent Radio Control Model Boat Club

News Archive 2015

News stories will be moved here from the Home Page as more news becomes available.

December

Scale Section Xmas Lunch was
Much Enjoyed!

Elmers Court Hotel in Lymington was chosen as a new venue for the Xmas Lunch on 12th December 2015. Sixty-four Members and Wives/Partners enjoyed a fantastic meal in very seasonal and traditional surroundings. A Big Thank You to the Hotel management; the meal was first class, the service was truly excellent and the staff most attentive.

The Scale Section Captain, David McNair-Taylor gave a speech highlighting the club year and thanking the Committee and Members for their support. He presented the Richard Graham Steering Competition Trophy to Andy Davis, a box of chocolates to Sue Nixon to thank her for making cakes and for running the refreshments at the Milford Show, and passed on thanks to Paul Nixon for arranging the Wightlink sponsorship. The Treasurer, Lorna Soffe, was presented with a bouquet as a gesture of thanks for her hard work throughout the year including organising the Xmas Lunch. Peter Taylor was thanked for his good work in maintaining the website and producing the excellent newsletters.

Click for Photos
more to come!

John Cooper's speech thanking David for everything he has done for the Club over the year as Scale Section Captain was much endorsed by the Club Members.

Thanks from the Committee to members who one again came up trumps by contributing raffle prizes and for purchasing tickets which raised £180 for local charities "SCARF" and "New Forest Disability", and Thank You also to the ladies who volunteered to sell the tickets.

October/November

Autumn 2015 Newsletter Published

The Scale Section Autumn Newsletter for 2015 is now available from the Newsletters page. The featured article is about the Jersey Model Boat Club and the S.S.Vega. N.B. the Christmas lunch is at Elmers Court Hotel, Lymington, on the 12th December... not as stated in the Newsletter!

"Thank You" letter from Air Ambulance

We have received a letter from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance thanking the Club for their share of the exhibition takings from the Milford Show. The major part of the takings were donated to the RNLI because this year it is the turn of the Air Ambulance to receive the £500 donated by HSBC.

News of sponsored Guide Dog "Zeb"

Here is the latest news letter about Zeb, the guide dog being sponsored by the Club. Click on images to view each page.

2015 Milford Exhibition best yet

It's taken a little while to finalise the amount raised from sponsorship etc. after the show but it has been worth the wait! About £322 was collected in the buckets (some £150 in notes!). Adding the proceeds from the Wightlink Raffle, teas, tombola, etc. brings the total to £544.27 plus a generous donation of £500 from HSBC Lymington giving a total of over £1000. In addition the RNLI stall took nearly £400, some £140 more than last year; a record show indeed. The photo (left) was taken by David Hardy; you can view more of David's photos of the show.

In Memoriam - Mel Crocker

With great sadness we have to report that Mel Crocker passed away on 4th November 2015. His family were at the bed side. Although in recent times poor health had kept him away from Setley Pond, Mel was one of the club's most accomplished scale modellers. Scratch built in timber, his models were authentic in every detail. The funeral will be held at Christchurch Cemetery Chapel (near Christchurch Hospital) on Friday 20th November at 2.30pm. Our thoughts are with his family.

Scale Section Christmas Lunch - Book Now!

The Christmas Lunch this year is at Elmers Court Hotel, Lymington. Members: please contact Lorna (email: membership@srcmbc.org.uk or phone: 01425 615305) to book your place, family and friends are all welcome. Click on image to view the menu or download a PDF version.

September

2016 Club Calendar On Sale Now

Desk calendars on sale now at only £4.00, available to members and non members alike... please contact Lorna Soffe (email: membership@srcmbc.org.uk or phone: 01425 615305. Last year they quickly sold out - don't miss out this year!

NB THE STEERING COMPETITION FOR SUNDAY 13th SEPTEMBER IS POSTPONEDThis is due to access to the pond being difficult from some directions due to the New Forest Marathon on that day.

2015 Milford Exhibition a Great Success

Following the show on Saturday (5th September) , Scale Captain David McNair-Taylor said: "a big thank you to all who exhibited and supported our Annual Charity Exhibition yesterday, what a fantastic show! We had some 106 models on display and had many compliments from the visiting public. We took more money on Refreshments, and the RNLI on their stall took more than last year, and I feel sure attendance was up on last year". The total amount raised for the Air Ambulance and the RNLI will be announced in due course. Thanks to Club member Jim Forrester we have a photo record of the Exhibition: [Entrance, Small Room, and Visitors] [Main Hall Left Side] [Main Hall Right Side]

Model Boat Exhibition

The Club will be holding it's annual Charity Exhibition at All Saint's Church Hall, Milford-on-Sea (SO41 0SQ) on Saturday 5th September from 10am to 4pm. Models, videos, WightLink Raffle, Refreshments, and more! Proceeds to the RNLI and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. Sponsored by HSBC (Lymington) and WightLink. [poster as PDF file, 980kb]

July/August 2015:

Vulcan Over Setley Pond

On Saturday 15th August the Vulcan bomber flew over Setley pond. We thought it might have been flying to Bournemouth to prepare for the Air Festival at the end of next week but apparently it was off to two different air festivals on that day! Club member Oliver Chapman captured a Video o f the Event.

The Sun Shines on Navy Day 2015

Following a very successful Navy Day, Scale Section Captain David McNair-Taylor said "thanks to everyone who supporte d Navy Day today (the best one yet), great weather, great models and great company. Hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. A special thank you to all those of you who helped set up and take down at the end." Held on the 2nd August, the event had been postponed from the previous Sunday due to rain and gales![photos from the event]

Postcard from "Zeb"

Following a proposal at the Club's 2015 AGM, which received enthusiastic endorsement by members, the SRCMBC is now spons oring a Guide Dog puppy "Zeb". Zeb has sent us a postcard! ...click on it to see a larger version.

"Action Stations" Model Boat Weekend

Club members Dave Reith and David McNair-Taylor took part in the Portsmouth Display Team convoy battle d uring the "Action Stations" Model Boat weekend (11/12th July 2015) at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Andrea Reith made a video of the action. The two Davids and John Edwards had models on display on the Surface Warships Assoc iation stand. [photos from the event] [more photos on Flickr]

May/June 2015:

In Memoriam: David Gollin

It is with great sadness we have to report that Club Member David Gollin passed away on Monday 29th June 2015 at Countess Mountbatten Hospice with Dianne Gollin and his Son Matthew at his side. He bore his illness (Aggressive Systemic Mastocytosis) with great courage. His Cremation took place at 12.15 p.m. on Tuesday 14 July 2015 at the Wessex Vale Crematorium, Budds Lane, West End, Southampton. A Memorial Service was held on Wednesday 29 July 2015 at St Anne's Church, Cooks Lane, Calmore, SO40 2RH.

Buy a Square Rigger!

Amongst other beautiful models, Mel Crocker is offering his finely detailed, scratch built model of the Brig "Mercury for sale, see the members adverts page. Meanwhile, club member John Wills offers detailed fittings and photo-etched parts for Scale Warships, more details on our newly revised Commercial Links page.

SRCMBC is Sponsoring "Zeb"!

The SRCMBC is now sponsoring a Guide Dog "Zeb". This follows a proposal at the Club's 2015 AGM which received enthusiastic endorsement by members. Zeb is pictured left and shown right is the certificate from the Guide Dogs Charity.

Andy Davis wins Richard Graham Memorial Trophy
	The Steering Competition for the Richard Graham Trophy was held on the 10th May 2015 and won by Andy Davis piloting his Harbour Defence Motor Launch. Chris Durham came second, and John Andrews third, both using Tugs. Scale Captain David McNair-Taylor presented the Trophy and prizes.

Shelducks: Little and Large!

First Shelduck models increased in number, now they are getting larger! The full size Shelduck (left) is owned by Edwin Metcalfe and a consortium of members. Edwin has provided more photos of a Shelduck gathering at Setley Pond on 22nd March 2015. Peter Taylor had previously photographed "Shelducks behaving badly" on 4th January.

Meanwhile... Buy your own real Shelduck! Edwin has been in touch with Clare Winter who has a real Shelduck called Nimrod for sale (see right, click to enlarge). This is a day sailer version rather than one with a cabin and could be yours for around £3000 [click for more details].

March/April 2015:

History, Charity, and Photos!

Ken Dyer has unearthed this 1982 Steering Competition shield dating from the Club's early days - Ken is presently advertising a model of Smit Rotterdam at a bargain price! - see the Members Adverts.

More recently, a charity supported by the Christmas Lunch raffle was the New Forest children's charity SCARF; a thank you letter is shown right (click to enlarge). Finally, John Edwards has provided some comments to accompany the new photographs of his "HMS Amethyst" - a reminder I am always happy to receive comments about your models!

Highcliffe Exhibition very successful!

Despite a very cold morning for March, the Highcliffe Exhibition proved a real success and raised £830-07 for the RNLI. Scale captain David McNair-Taylor said "A big thank you to all who helped , exhibited and attended yesterdays Exhibition"

Photos: [ by David McNair-Taylor] [ by Peter Taylor]

A new challenge for Don Scott?...

Even while she was still docking in Southampton, SRCMBC brings you images of P&O's new cruise ship "Brittania" - thanks to Reg Radley for the photos!

Highcliffe Exhibition and other Events...

The 2015 Events programme cam be viewed on our Diary page. There are still spaces available for members to display there models at our annual Highcliffe Exhibition on 15th March, please contact David. The Event poster is available... [Download poster (PDF)].

We have also been asked to publicise the WW II weekend at "Action Stations" a £16m visitor attraction in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard which aims to complete the Dockyard story by bringing visitors within reach of today's modern high-tech Royal Navy. The weekend commemorates bomb damage to the Boathouse NO. 6 (which houses the attraction) during the 2nd blitz of Portsmouth.

January/February 2015:

Marauding Shelducks at Setley Pond!

On 4th January the pond was visited by a fleet of Shelducks. Although individually the models can be pleasant, they sometimes resort to bullying when going around as a gang.

There were several incidents of Shelducks ganging up on unfortunate victims (see photos)! However it is not thought that the Shelducks were responsible for the burnt out vehicle seen at the pond on Sunday 11th January...

Please remove your Car Transporter...

Will the member who left their model of the Hoegh Osaka on the Bramble Bank please remove it as it is on the cricket pitch! (Photos taken from Calshot by Reg Radley on 4th Jan 2015).