HISTORY OF WARLEY MRC-CIO

The club was formed in 1966 almost by chance. A gentleman named Mr W.D. ‘Dennis’ King mentioned to a work colleague that he was visiting a local model railway shop during his lunch hour. The ensuing conversations showed that he wasn’t alone in having an interest in model railways – and they were joined by four friends. Messrs. R. Gumery, R. McMurray, M. Mewis and Ray Overfield. They began meeting in a local pub, The Wonder Inn and became founder members of the Warley Model Railway Circle.

They held their first AGM on 1st March 1967 with Bob Gumery elected as chairman. That same month they formed a Junior Section, which is also still going strong today, known now as the Student Section. That first year they held a members’ exhibition of their model railways at the Bridgnorth Model Railway Exhibition. This inspired them to hold their own exhibition. So, in October that year they held their Warley show at a local school, with three working layouts presented by Warley, Stourbridge and Lucas clubs.

The club moved to various premises over the early years including the Harry Mitchell Centre, Smethwick and sharing a Nissen hut type building with a local slot car club. They went from strength to strength, with numbers growing. Larger premises became available and their annual show, held at the Centre, became known as The Warley Show and then the Midland Model Rail Fair. In October 1993, they moved their exhibition to the NEC Birmingham – wondering how on earth they would fill that vast space. They have since moved into an even larger hall! The success of the show enabled them, in June 2005, to purchase a factory unit which they have transformed into their thriving club house.