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The members entry form is available for download: Marquee Exhibition - Members Entry Form (gminvit.pdf)
We ask that as many members as possible attend the Pre-Rally Meeting.
We still have plenty of posters that could be put up. Collect them from the clubhouse or contact Mike Sleigh.
| Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas visitors start to arrive | ||
| Monday | Traders pitches marked out | |
| Thursday | 12:00 | Help required to set up tables in the marquee (if it has been delivered & erected) and various other jobs around the site |
| 19:30 | Barbecue for members, family and friends. Contributions of desserts would be appreciated. Soft drinks will be available but you may wish to bring your own liquid refreshment. | |
| Friday | All Day | Help required to prepare site |
| 12:00 to 19:00 | Exhibition models accepted (subject to the marquee being ready) | |
| Saturday | Early | Gates manned |
| 08:00 to 10:00 | Exhibition models accepted | |
| 11:00 | Gates open to the public | |
| 15:00 | Grand parade of model traction engines | |
| 16:30 | Booking office closed | |
| 16:50 | Last trains depart | |
| 17:00 | Train rides stopped, marquee closed. Public leave. | |
| Evening | Pig roast | |
| Evening | Traction engine break-out run | |
| Sunday | Early | Gates manned |
| 08:00 to 10:00 | Exhibition models accepted | |
| 11:00 | Gates open to the public | |
| 12:00 | Competition prizes awarded | |
| 15:00 | Grand parade of model traction engines | |
| 16:30 | Booking office closed | |
| 16:50 | Last trains depart | |
| 17:00 | Track gates opened, marquee closed and cleared of people. Public leave. Traders pack up. GMES members clear away rolling stock, signals, temporary electrical cabling, rubbish, etc, etc. | |
| 20:00 or maybe earlier if we're quick | Everything cleared away except the marquee and perhaps the boating pools | |
All members, old and new, can help run the Rally, both in the lead up to, and during, the actual weekend.
There is plenty to do during the week before, getting the place spick and span. We need manual help especially from 12:00 on Thursday and all day Friday setting up the exhibition tables etc. There will be a barbecue for members, family and friends on Thursday evening. (Bring your own liquid refreshment.)
During Saturday and Sunday we need guards (approved), station staff to get passengers safely on and off trains, stewards in the marquee, help in the station booking office and the pay booths and manning the members tea bar. There are lists up in the club house asking for volunteers. Family and friends can often help with these tasks, especially the tea bar.
John Jones, rallychair2008(at)gmes.org.uk
As always there is a need to man the railways with guards and station staff. Many club members have already agreed to help with this and the rosters show details the duty times allocated to them. I have not been able to contact all of the members on the roster and apologise to those whom I've assumed will help as they have done in previous years, for taking them for granted. If they, and indeed any others on the roster, need to change their allocated slot, please contact me.
Although we have a working roster this is likely to change during the rally as circumstances dictate. This means that ideally we would like to have a reserve of members we can call on as and when. So if your name is not on the roster and you would like to help as station staff, booking office staff, signal box staff or guard, please get in touch with me.
Please note that for guard duties you must be on the approved guards list. If you are not on the list contact Bob Dudgeon.
Clive Lawrence, station2008(at)gmes.org.uk, Tel 01483 853898
The locomotives on the passenger railways are by invitation only. GMES members' loco's are used only as a backup. We in the steaming bay would welcome members to help out, and get a flavour of the work that goes into running the railways. I am still looking for someone to learn what goes into the passenger hauling, the track marshalling and rotors for the 5" gauge railway.
All drivers should visit the Information Centre at the start of the Rally or on arrival for a name badge and various other admin tasks.
Terry Young, railways2008(at)gmes.org.uk
This year we will have a display of work-in-progress in the Rally marquee. Any member who can spend an hour or two manning the stand and answering questions about model engineering, please contact Ian Carney.
Ian Carney, exhibits2008(at)gmes.org.uk
All models on site must be registered on arrival at the Information Centre. Anyone in posession of a model may be asked to produce the GMES documentation for that model or to show evidence that they have purchased the model at the Rally.
Members are asked to assist the organisers by taking their exhibition models to the Marquee during the following times only:
On the Friday before the Rally between 12:00 and 19:00. Note that 12:00 may be too early if the marquee is delivered and erected on the Friday. (It is usually ready on the Thursday but we can't rely on this.)
On the Saturday or Sunday of the Rally between 08:00 and 10:00.
Either drive into the marquee field or, if you prefer, leave your car outside the site near the main entrance and take your model across the temporary bridge in front of the club house.
When delivering models for the exhibition you are asked to register them immediately on arrival at the Information Centre. After registration, contact Ian Carney in the Exhibition Marquee. If you plan to operate your model boat(s) on the pool you should also contact Bryan Finch.
See the back of the entry form for full details.
Please note that a one way traffic system will be in operation on the site. Entry is via the top gate adjacent to the clubhouse and exit is via the Traction Engine Field. This one way system extends into the 'top loop' so that models may be delivered to the marquee entrance in an orderly fashion. After unloading models, etc., on the Saturday, all cars MUST be off the GMES site by 11:00 otherwise we can't run the railways.
On Saturday and Sunday ALL cars, members and visitors alike, MUST park in the area allotted in Stoke Park and in the places indicated by the stewards. Members and other Rally participants are asked to leave the spaces on the opposite side of the road to the GMES main entrance free for the use of the rugby club. Note that the car park on the Spectrum side of the A25, Parkway, is likely to have a 2m height restriction barrier at the entrance.
There are a few spaces reserved for disabled visitors along the railings at the side of the garages attached to the clubhouse.
It helps those manning the pay booths if members are easily recognisable; wearing a GMES polo shirt is ideal.
The entrance gates to the site will be manned from early on the Saturday and Sunday mornings, so be prepared to show who you are when entering the site.
Entry for members' immediate family is free. Production of the member's current membership card will facilitate entry.
John Jones has HELPER TICKETS for, guess what, helpers. These will be given out at the Pre-Rally Meeting and will be available from the Information Centre.
ALL members, exhibitors, loco and traction engine drivers and helpers must wear a 2008 Rally I.D. badge. These badges will be pre printed by Brian Jones from whom members can get their badges at the Information Centre. If your spouse or a friend has volunteered for duty then their names should be given to Brian beforehand so that he can get them printed. Everyone with a GMES badge is asked to return it to the Information Centre on before leaving the site for the last time. (We need to recover the holders for use next year.)
If you have one then please wear the club polo shirt, hat or what have you.
Members can get free tea, coffee etc. during the Rally from the club house team in the tea bar. Other refreshments can be bought from the refreshment area in the north end of the marquee: drinks, sandwiches, cakes, burgers etc.
Saturday evening hog roast, tickets £6.00 each, available direct from the caterer at the Rally (limited numbers, get your tickets early). There may be some locos running, rides at the discretion of the drivers, and activity in the traction engine field with an evening 'break out' across Stoke Park.
This year, although some parts of the GMES telephone network will be used, we are trialling the use of members' mobile phones for communication across the site. A list of key members is available from John Jones or from the Information Centre. Members on the list are asked to bring their phones fully charged and to keep them switched on throughout the duration of the Rally.
Information sheets for disabled visitors will be available at both entrances to the site.