After days of warm sunny weather during the run up to the Dreaming Spires Rally we couldn't have hoped for a better Friday. When we arrived at the site about mid day there were about 20 members already there. We had our big marquee to put up as well as a similar size one Jim Elliot had borrowed from his work.
Visitors had already begun to arrive and get settled in. After we had unloaded the car, the caravan and the van of food and beer and everything bar the kitchen sink, the station had to be turned into a temporary CLEAN kitchen and food preparation area which took some doing. Wouldn't it be nice to have a proper kitchen?

As well as Jim's borrowed marquee we also had the use of trestle tables which Ron Head had borrowed from his church. These came in really handy - some in the main marquee for the food and drinks and some in the other one for Ron's Bring & Buy sales.
We had invited several local model clubs but all had been unable to attend. We were therefore surprised at the arrival of the Oxford Model Flying Club on Saturday morning but were pleased to see them none the less. Chris Kelland used one of the gazebos for his all day BBQ. Water and lights were rigged up the main tent and we were all ready.

Saturday bought car loads of visitors - at one point cars were queuing up waiting to unload right back to beyond the toilets. People were patient though and prepared to wait. Both tracks were busy all day with nearly forty engines taking to the tracks.
Geoff Stait was parked in his Reeves van along with Malcolm Bason selling second hand tools etc and the Shiny Metal Men (Keighley Metals). Some friends of Keith Marr showed some old motorbikes in the area by the carriage sheds. It was good to see so many of our members turn up as well - just over forty. For the first time we had decided not to provide an evening meal but had arranged a fish & chip supper from The Mediterranean Fish Bar in Headington. I had been worried about this all day - hoping they would be OK and more importantly would they be ready on time. We took orders for 41 suppers and I rang them through. Denis went to collect them and I needn't have worried. All went well and the food was superb and more importantly no clearing up afterwards.
After the supper Denis gave a small speech thanking every one for attending and also pointing out that we are celebrating our fiftieth year as a society. I had made a huge cake which a friend iced for me with our logo on. The first cut in the cake was made by mum and dad as they were two of the oldest members present. Some engines were still going when it got dark - they had lights fitted and just kept on running. Ron and Tony's signalling came into it's own in the dark and really looked impressive.

Waking up on Sunday was not so nice. It was chucking it down - the worst possible ending to our Rally. People put on a brave face and we tried to carry on as best we could but all we did all day was sit in the marquee drinking tea and coffee. We had one visitor and they were determined to run their engine no matter what the weather - and they did.
The rain didn't ease until late in the afternoon, by which time many of our visitors had left each taking with them a mug to commemorate our fiftieth year as a society (see below). We still had wet tents to dismantle. We waited and waited hoping for the weather to clear and finally it did but the tents were all soaking wet. We spread them out every time the sun broke through the clouds but were interrupted by showers. At last there was nothing else for it but to put things away wet and get them out again the following weekend if it was dry. Dad took one of the big tents home and had it draped around his garden all week and we had a gazebo spread over the garden furniture and wet shoes hanging on the washing line!
Each year the Rally gets better and better but wouldn't happen without the assistance and time of many members but we could always do with more help. We had a few new faces around this year which was nice but a few more would be welcome. If you have any new ideas or have seen something that other clubs do at their rallies please let us know. We will consider anything. Next year I have got to get thicker bacon, tastier sliced bread and not so many tomatoes!!

Sue Mulford