PICTURES: Caithness Model Club back on track at well-attended show in Wick
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Organisers of the annual Caithness Model Club show say they would be happy to welcome new members after overseeing the return of the popular two-day event for the first time since before the pandemic.
More than 30 exhibitors, from as far afield as Shetland, Blairgowrie and Argyll, displayed everything from model railways to scaled-down ships and from war scenes to a circus big top.
The show at Wick's Norseman Hotel was well attended on both Saturday and Sunday.
Caithness Model Club chairman Kenny Gunn said the club had always been well supported by the public and the business community, although he and others were unsure what to expect as they prepared to stage the show for the first time since 2019.
Kenny said: “We were worried – were people going to support us after Covid?
“On Saturday we got a £100 donation, today [Sunday] we had a £35 donation. People appreciate our efforts and it makes it feel worthwhile.”
He pointed out that an Australian family called in on Saturday on their way to Orkney. “They had seen our signs, they came in and they fair enjoyed it,” Kenny said.
Show manager Davie Mackenzie emphasised that new members – especially younger ones – would be welcome.
“We'd like to see someone younger stepping in to take over the show," he said. "As long as we're here, we can guide them and help them.”
This year's event was sponsored by local haulage firm D Steven and Son. Again, all funds will go to Caithness charities.
The club was founded in 2004 and the show has been held in the Norseman for most of that time.
Kenny said: “We get a lot of help from the Norseman. This establishment is a credit to Wick.”
Davie added: “We'd like to say how well have been looked after, and have been since we started. And every year gets better.”
Wind farm funding enabled the club to buy 60 foldaway tables along with a trailer and container.
Bill Staley was one of the farthest-travelled exhibitors, having made a six-hour journey from Ardrishaig to display about 20 models of US steam locomotives. The highlight of his weekend was a surprise encounter with an American visitor whose father used to work for Southern Pacific.
Bill explained: "We started chatting, and of course he knows a lot about American railroads and I know a bit, so we were swapping stories about what we knew.
"I showed him a book – Southern Pacific in Color, by David R Sweetland – and he looked through it and said 'this is the book of my childhood'. Living in California, he could see all these locomotives.
"He said, 'If you'd said to me that I'm going to come along to a model show in Wick and I'm going to meet somebody that's got an interest in American steam locomotives, I would have given you a million quid!
"We parted as brothers, almost. It was really nice."
Bill, who was attending for the third time, added: "It's a good show because they've got this huge array and it's very well attended."
