Our club is not just about trains!
We fly planes!
We fly drones!
We fly spacecraft!
We sail boats!
Saturday is 'Play Day' every week, so come along and join us for some fun!
About Brandon & District SME
The Brandon & District Society of Model Engineers is a relatively a young club by comparison having been founded in November 1978 by only twenty or so enthusiastic individuals.
Initially the club used land in Brandon owned by a co-founder of Anglia Television and regular meetings were held at Brandon Community Centre. This arrangement worked well for the club and lasted many years until a spate of vandalism encouraged a re-think which prompted the club to move. The Breckland Council offered use of a part of Brandon Sports Field and the club moved there during the 1980’s until another surge of vandalism pushed the club to move again. This time the club was offered use of part of a field used by the annual Weeting Steam Rally.
Layout of our track at Weeting
Now settled at the Weeting site the club has grown and the track supports all of the popular gauges (3 1/2″, 5″ & 7 1/4″) and we have a small boating lake constructed in the centre of the site. We have two interesting ex-BT Telecoms vans for shelter on site beside the platforms and raised steaming bays.
The club has an active calendar and can be seen represented at many of the local exhibitions, events, fairs and fêtes during the summer months. Larger traction engines provide rides for children, the proceeds of which are usually donated to charities, and our marquee provides the club with a portable venue and shelter should it be required.
Currently, the club meets on the first Wednesday of every month at Brandon Council Offices, Market Square, Brandon at 19:30 for a 19:45 start. After any business matters conclude members discuss any current projects and occasionally provide presentations or we have speakers in that may be of interest to model engineers.
Newspaper Clippings From The Past
A Times newspaper article from September 1991
I found the paper cuttings below and thought, I wonder if they will raise some memories?
I have everyone's name on picture three, except the young lad on the far left.
I do hope it will remind people who started our group.
