Chairman – Ian Manderson
Ian moved down from Northumberland to Gloucester in 1984 to study computing at GlosCAT, joining the GMRC around 1986/87. He was quickly involved helping out another member, Kier Hardy, with his exhibition layout Calder Bridge. Ian remained a regular member for a number of years before finding a lack of time and other commitments meant he could no longer attend on such a regular basis. As well as continuing to help Kier at exhibitions, now with Holmeworth, Ian finally built an exhibition layout of his own. Easington Lane hit the circuit in 1998 and still sees occasional outings today. In the mid 2000s Ian was able to return to the club on a more regular basis and volunteered for the Committee. In 2009 Ian was appointed Chairman and now combine this role with helping organise the annual Cotswold Model Rail Show. Ian has seen many changes over the years and looks forward, with the help of his fellow Committee members to ensuring the club remains a vibrant meeting place.
Vice Chair – Harvey Whitmore
Born in Dursley Gloucestershire 1946 but lived in Denmark Road Gloucester until the late eighties. Artistic talents saw him attend art college and eventually employment in the mid 1960s at the renowned company H H Martyn in Cheltenham where he was responsible for several notable artistic achievements including preparation of full sized drawings for the Commando monument at Spean Bridge Scotland and a design variation of the Royal Coat of Arms approved by Richmond Herald in 1967. His signwriting and heraldic skills can be seen on many of the club’s layouts.
In 1968 he recognised that the company he worked for was changing away from the type of work that he was responsible for and eventually left to join Smiths Industries Aerospace at Bishops Cleeve. The work was mundane at first but the salary was excellent! Harvey stayed there until his retirement in 2009. By that time the Smiths Group had sold its aerospace business to the GE conglomerate. Whilst during its Smiths years, Harvey met one or two people who shared an interest in railway modelling, convincing him to join the GMRC.
Harvey thus joined the club in 1975. He soon struck up friendships with other notable club members such as Bertie Hawkins, Alan Butcher Tom Couling and several others. He participated in several club projects and was principally involved with the construction of an N gauge exhibition layout “Fir Coombe” in the 1980s. This particular venture was very successful and was exhibited far and wide. The other principal players in this scale included John Boxall and Kit Spackman and between all three, Fir Coombe amassed over twenty exhibition visits.
With Kit, Harvey assisted in the record breaking build of an American N gauge layout known as “Smalltown” The reference “record breaking” refers to the time taken to build a layout from scratch to full exhibition standards in ONE WEEK!!!!. Kit and Harvey and worked around the clock to complete this project and it went on to win awards at Derby and several other venues.
Harvey is not exclusively an N gauge modeller. Far from it. His father, Stanley was also very keen on railways and persuaded Harvey to build him a 4mm layout. With the assistance of the late Bertie Hawkins, Alan Butcher (also dec.) and Bertie’s son Nigel, a layout was constructed at his fathers home in Gloucester. Harvey built many of the structures seen on the layout as well as many 4mm models for his father to use. The layout of course was called Windrush. Stanley never enjoyed good health, but Windrush managed to be a good distraction from medical problems until his death in 1996. The layout was willed to Harvey who offered it to the club. Whilst never being envisaged as a portable model, Windrush was thus carefully and partially dismantled and transported to the club HQ. It was then extensively rebuilt by Harvey and fellow club member Tom Couling into an exhibition layout. Windrush subsequently went on to win awards at RailEx Taunton, Blackburn and was voted as runner-up to Best In Show at Abingdon. The judges at Abingdon were from Pendon museum!
Windrush has been featured in British Railway Modelling (June 2003) and again in Railway Modeller (Dec 2006/Jan 2007). It has been exhibited all over England and has become one of the most popular branch line terminus layouts in 00 scale in the country. Windrush is due to be de-commissioned in 2013 after 15 years service.
Harvey’s friendship with Tom has led to another 4mm 00 scale project. “Poole In Wharfedale”. Essentially this is a layout owned and primarily constructed by Tom, but with one or two assists from Harvey. “Poole” has been exhibited several times and is a very popular layout with the public.
Harvey is currently working again in N gauge, with his friends John Boxall, John Bond, and Dave Spashett. It is hoped to be exhibited during 2013/2014.
There are also ideas about a follow-on exhibition layout to replace Windrush. It is Harvey’s desire to see a 4mm scale model layout based upon the LMS in Gloucestershire and plans will be prepared in due course.
Harvey also is a serving member of the GMRC committee and currently holds the title of vice chairman. Railways and especially model railways has been in his blood since childhood and he still hasn’t grown up.
Secretary – Nigel Bray
Biog coming soon
Treasurer – Sarah Walburn
Sarah qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2000, and has worked for Hazlewoods LLP since 1998. She specialises in the accounts of Veterinary Practices and travels all over the UK to visit her clients.
When not working, or handling the GMRC accounts, Sarah spends most of her time walking, training or competing in obedience classes with Border Collie Duke. You can follow Duke’s progress on his website Detania Duke of Gloucester. Sarah is also the finance director of Seligsoft Limited which trades as Elite Baseboards, a company run with her husband Giles.
Sarah and Giles married in October 2010 and were friends for several years before, having met through the shared interest of Model Railways. Sarah’s Great Grandfather was Company Secretary to LNER and her Great Aunt Dr Beeching’s Personal Secretary (which is not something that Sarah is proud of). Sarah’s Mum grew up over looking the Northern Line, and got to watch the Mallard and Flying Scotsman at work. This love of trains was passed on to Sarah. At the tender age of 6 Sarah was given her first layout – this stopped her “playing with” her Dad’s layout.
Members Representative – Sam Dobbs
Sam works as an electronic building management systems designer for a local company Severn Controls since he left school in 2010, before which during the school holidays he often worked at A& D Marine as he has an interest in restoring ships.
Sam has been building models of spacecraft (Star Trek), ships, armour, aircraft and anything which runs on rails, since he was a little lad, and has an interest in Russian cold war aviation and the soviet navy particularly its submarine force. Sam, along with his dad, has built many radio control model ships, before discovering the joys of building your own locomotives and rolling stock.
Sam has been interested in railways almost since he was born as his dad used to read to him the stories of the Rev Audrey; Sam has since met his son Christopher and has all the railway series books. Sam’s first layout was in the roof of his house which was built for him as a surprise by his dad; unfortunately building work on the central heating system resulted in the layout being cut in half and is due for a spot of rebuilding.
Sam currently is in the process of helping to build the club’s new 3mm layout, and is building a portable 4mm layout called Walmington-On-Sea. This is a layout loosely based on Swanage and inspired by the BBC comedy series Dad’s Army.
Sam prefers to build his own locos and rolling stock over RTR and enjoys the engineering challenges in the various kits that he has encountered. Sam enjoys attending exhibitions and interacting with both the public and exhibitors; it was at one of these exhibitions when he was a teenager that he was first inspired to build a working locomotive from a kit.
Sam collects railwayania, in particular lamps and wagon plaques; he enjoys also the American railroads and the contrast to the British railway system.
Sam enjoys playing as active a part as possible in the club since he joined with his dad in 2012. He feels it is vitally important to spread the word about the joys of model railways and kit building. He feels it is important to encourage the young generation to prise themselves away from their iPods and to discover the world of model making and the skills needed.
Members Representative – Philip Bird
Biog coming soon
Members Representative – Keith Wooton
Biog coming soon