Feedback following our second Open Day has been extremely complimentary.
Traders, Demonstrators and Exhibitors found the day very enjoyable and rewarding.
We had 218 paying visitors plus over 200 children allowed in free. This is nearly 50% more than last year.
Both Cancer Research UK and The Alzheimer’s Society will receive charity donations from the money raised on the day.
Congratulations to Jon Beale and his Dean Forest MRC layout ‘Gorsty Knoll’ in receiving the most votes for the ‘Jimmy Wilkes Award for Best Layout in Show’ and to Phil Harries voted as ‘Best Demonstration Stand in Show’. The awards were voted most enjoyable by the late Jimmy Wilke’s family.
There are photos of the event on flickr. Here’s links for your information.
We’d be delighted to see you at our 50th Anniversary Year exhibition on Saturday 14th March 2026. This special event will be held at the Bristol Aerospace Trust Museum in the Concord Hangar. Plans are already under way with an estimate of over 35 layouts, 20 traders and many societies to see.
On behalf of the Members of the Sodbury Vale MRC
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On Sunday 5th October 2025 at Lyde Green Community Centre (Willowherb Road, Lyde Green nr. Emerson Green, Bristol. BS16 7GW) we’re delivering our next Open Day.
Following on from the success of both our exhibition earlier this year and our Open Day last October, we’re already receiving an appetite from local clubs, societies and modellers, traders and demonstrators to delivering a second event. We’ve already secured a comprehensive and exciting display of layouts, traders and demonstrator. Full details will be advertised in due course.
The aims are:
1) an opportunity for as many local model railway clubs and societies to display and showcase what they do and to inspire and enthuse both existing and new modellers in the hobby. If it generates new members to these clubs then that is another plus.
2) to deliver a comprehensive and diverse range of layouts, modelling displays, societies and local trades to help visitors ‘See how it’s done’, to ‘ask how?’ and to ‘find out how to do it’ and to ‘Inspire the hobby’.
This is an opportunity for modellers and enthusiasts, societies and local traders to advertise and enthuse the hobby. Proceeds raised on the day will be shared amongst and donated to the local community, numerous charities and the Sodbury Vale Model Railway Club.
