Midlands show is happening –so let’s make it a good one
Welcome to the August EIM and I write these words not long after returning from the funeral of our founder Chris Deith, whose passing was reported in the July issue. I suppose it’s inevitable that I learnt at the funeral of rumours circulating suggesting the return in October of the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition, also founded by Chris and the jewel among a number of shows he organised, would not happen due to his passing. Well I’m pleased, and frankly not in the least surprised, to be able to dismiss such rumours as completely untrue – the show team, led by Chris’s daughter Avril, are working very hard to prepare for the event and have even more reason to ensure that this year’s show, the first since 2019, is a success as a tribute to Chris. A few days before I penned these words a list of the latest suppliers to sign up for the event was released and it’s looking just like the Midlands shows we enjoyed pre-pandemic – more details are on our news pages.
It is very important that the Midlands exhibition is a success, and while to honour Chris is a very valid reason it is by no means the only one. It’s pretty clear that this will be the only major model engineering show this year, and we haven’t had one since London in January 2020, getting on for three years ago. I don’t know about you, but the opportunity to get out to a show is very important to me and something I have greatly missed – not only to take advantage of a host of suppliers being all in one place at the same time, and to see the various projects underway on the club stands, but crucially to get to meet up with fellow model engineers, find out what’s going on in the hobby and yes, put the world to rights! We need the Midlands show to return in style to ensure the future of London, of Doncaster... a future without shows would be a poorer one for all of us.
A reader made me very happy recently when he commented that he enjoys EIM because he learns something from every issue – that means we are doing something right! The learning point from this issue’s cover feature could well be – don’t ever consider a part is scrap! Rich Wightman’s beam engine made almost entirely of car engine components, and built some time ago when he was in the motor industry, is a lesson in multiple areas – budget model engineering, recycling, innovation... Brilliant stuff, of the type I’m proud to incude in our pages. And a reminder again that if you have something you think would look appropriate in EIM, you know where we are...