End of Warley National Show - but now it's not the end of a show at the NEC.

[Graham_Muz]

It's official folks no Warley National Model Railway Show at the NEC this year or for the foreseeable future.

[AY Mod]

We have been aware of a lot of discussion around the hobby with regard to the future of the Warley show including ‘leaked’ material on social media.

 

Our understanding is that notice was given for an extraordinary general meeting outlining the facts regarding attendance levels, financial return levels and the available manpower resources to run the show. Members were asked to vote on whether to continue to hold a show at the NEC in 2024 and subsequent years. Our understanding is that the members voted to cease running the show at the NEC.

 

There was a second vote to establish whether plans should be examined to hold a different size of event at a different venue and it is our understanding that is what will happen next.

 

We wish the trustees and members all the best in whatever choices they make for the future and we realise, and appreciate, just how much they have given to run such a massive undertaking over the decades.

 

We would ask that there isn't armchair speculation over any details or the reasons for the decisions; that's the club's business and also that random suggestions over what they should do next are not posted; it's irrelevant and wouldn't actually be seen or responded to by decision makers.

[John M Upton]

Not been a good week for UK railway modelling, has it?

[AY Mod]

My previous post was prepared in anticipation of this 'escaping' before official comment but the majority is still relevant.

[AY Mod]

1 minute ago, John M Upton said:

Not been a good week for UK railway modelling, has it?

 

It's not been a good week for forum moderators either! Some very late nights so if there's any nutcases who don't bother to read my earlier request they'll have a bit more time on their hands too.

[Fair Oak Junction]

Well, yet more sad news. A huge well done to all of the people who kept such a large show going for so many years, it will be hugely missed.

It's very hard to feel good about the hobby right now 😢

[admiles]

Well, I'll say a simple well done and thank you to the members of the Warley club both past and present for bringing us so many successful shows. It truly was a monster to organize.

 

I hope it continues in some form or another at another venue.

 

Well done and enjoy the rest Warley MRC!

Edited January 11 by admiles
Spelling!

[Gwiwer]

Another sad loss to the hobby but with sound reasons and, it seems, transparency.  

 

At the end of the day Warley was just a club show after all.  But on a massive scale.  

 

I shall await developments as there is now a void into which something new may develop as the Warley club implies there will be a "son of ...... " event in some form somewhere.  

[Chris M]

As a member of Warley club I would like to stress that Warley Club is strong and in a very good position with plenty of things planned - as can be seen in another post I started earlier. As someone who has been part of the exhibition management team from the beginning some 30 years ago I can say that the Warley NEC exhibition has been successful beyond our wildest dreams. I am happy that a bunch of amateurs achieved so much for so long. So part sad that it has come to an end but part happy that things went so well for so long. 

[Hippo]

I've always enjoyed my visits.

 

Thanks to all the organisers and volunteers from over the years. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of hours that goes into organising such a large show.

 

Enjoy the extra time, maybe take up a hobby. I can recommend railway modelling 😉 

 

Owen

[snitchthebudgie]

6 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

Another sad loss to the hobby but with sound reasons and, it seems, transparency.   

 

Perhaps it's in order to again thank both Hattons and Warley for their integrity and transparency in handling these major decisions.  We can only wish them well, as both have made a significant contribution to our hobby.

[scottystitch]

I managed to take my father to the 2022 show, his first Warley visit at the ripe young age of 74, and he thoroughly enjoyed it. He was a bit like a kid in a sweetie shop and the whole weekend was a joy; so much so we had planned to attend together the following year. Unfortunately he succumbed to a long running illness at the start of November 2023 and we lost him.

 

One of my most loving memories will be of taking him to the show and enjoying all there was to see.

 

Thank you to everyone involved for giving so many of us such a spectacle and such lovely memories.

 

Best wishes to everyone at the club and in connection with the event.

 

Scott.

 

 

[Craig1989]

Such a shame that this has come to an end. I always looked forward to the Warley show and hope it will come back in a different style in the future 

 

cheers Craig 

[Oldddudders]

4 minutes ago, snitchthebudgie said:

 

Perhaps it's in order to again thank both Hattons and Warley for their integrity and transparency in handling these major decisions.  We can only wish them well, as both have made a significant contribution to our hobby.

Indeed. Both organisations have taken a necessary but orderly decision to stand down. Both can walk away heads held high. Tick. 

[Markwj]

An unfortunate but totally understandable decision none of us are getting any younger. Thanks for the memories and good luck to the club going forwards.

mark

[Nearholmer]

Mr Flint’s words quoted in the bulletin seem very wise to me:

 

“The hobby is alive and well at grass roots level, but the commercial boom period of recent decades has probably run its course, having been slowed by the effects of the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and the ever-increasing age of enthusiasts”

 

The last line is very important, because while people continue to build layouts and play trains to impressively advanced ages, they don’t want to be lugging those layouts about the place, working long hours to make shows happen, running shops, or trying to make a living out of a specialist kit supply business beyond a certain point. There’s clearly a feedstock of younger people, including the newly retired, but all sorts of subtle changes in society seem to put more demands on many people’s spare time these days.

 

 

Edited January 11 by Nearholmer

[sjp23480]

I never went to Warley, as I am in deepest darkest Kent.   But still a sad day for the hobby.

 

We owe a debt of gratitude to the members and trustees of WMRC for the Warley show, they have definitely done their bit for our hobby and no one can blame them for stepping back.

 

For me, the last paragraph of the announcement is very telling.   I attend 2-3 local exhibitions every year and I can count the number of "organisers" below 60 years old on one hand - I suspect this fate will befall more shows before too long and our hobby is not the only one suffering this way.

 

The next generation (I include myself, although I am nearly 60), have too many other things to worry about - meeting the cost of living challenge, buying/maintaining a house, young (or not so young) families, aging parents and in laws to care for, increasingly demanding jobs with no work life balance (including website moderators by the sounds of it!), and other volunteering commitments (often expected of you by your employer to meet their CSR goals).

 

All of which leaves little energy for hobbies and pastimes, other than binge watching box sets or social media immersion.

 

I guess 2024 can only get better?

 

 

 

 

 

[woodenhead]

It is an understandable decision, given an ageing membership and a lack of sufficient youth within the club environment then there comes a point where the risk becomes too high and the effort involved in putting on a show with such high expections becomes too great.

 

Like Wigan a year ago, the Warley team can retire from this show heads held high that every show was a good one.

 

There will be something smaller to replace it which is good, expectations can be managed and there are other shows in the calendar now like the new Model show in April and the big Stafford show that can pick up the mantle for big shows in the West Midlands.

 

Thank you to the Warley team for your shows, they have been enjoyable even if the journey there and back could be arduous.

[Vecchio]

Sad to hear that. Warley was one of my highlights every year. 

[nightstar.train]

Very sad to see Warley go. I have been going on and off for nearly 20 years, and taking my oldest son for the last two. Big trip from Glasgow/Paisley, but always worth it to me. Amazing that a single club could put on such a huge show. 

 

I do agree with the hobby aging and a worrying lack of younger members of groups. 15 years ago when I joined a local area group of a society I was by far the youngest member. Now, 15 years on and within shouting distance of 40 I still am. 

[PMP]

Thank you to the Warley team for many years of excellent shows personally having attended as an exhibitor, trade team member, and walk-in punter.

 

 

The biggest loss of course will be felt by non visiting foamers regarding back packs, soap marketing gurus and the well regarded car park team.

 

 

[MikeParkin65]

37 minutes ago, John M Upton said:

Not been a good week for UK railway modelling, has it?

A difficult week for the ready to run audience certainly but railway modelling as a creative hobby still seems to be thriving. New and successful manufacturers  TV shows, general acceptance by the wider public, 5 monthly magazines,  specialists making things (Tony Wrights topic on RM Web is by far the most active it seems) and much more. Chin up, sad to see Hattons and now Warley go but they are choosing their future and going out on highs :)

[RateTheFreight]

Incredibly saddened by this announcement. Since the very first Warley it’s been a show I’ve attended without fail annually (barring Pandemic) with my Dad and was always a highlight in our diary. It wasn’t just about the modelling show but quality time with him sharing a hobby we both love. 
 

I’d hoped to take my small boy this year for his first one with us both but sadly that won’t now happen. 
 

Whilst this and the Hattons news are saddening for different reasons we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that amongst this there is much to be positive around the hobby too. 
 

Greg 

[Colin_McLeod]

Sorry to hert this.  I was only at Warely once but really enjoyed it.

 

Best wishes to the club in whatever they decide to do.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, AY Mod said:

We would ask that there isn't armchair speculation....

Good luck with that Andy 😀

[PaulRhB]

Warley was a superb show for me, great as a punter because with working ⅔ of weekends I don’t get to a lot of other shows so all in one place was fantastic. Great as an exhibitor too as it was well organised, fun to be there and be well looked after. I took five of my layouts over the years and helped on a load more and always had fun. 
I’ll be sad also because I bumped into friends I hadn’t seen for years, this year I bumped into someone I’d not met for thirty years! It also meant mates who now lived ‘up’ country could be met reliably each year for catch ups. Yes I’ll miss Warley for many many reasons. 
Thank you to the club members, Paul Jones for the personal touch over the years always coming round to say hello, Chris Morris for similar help with the expenses, and many more stewards, electrical testers etc and a lot of NEC staff who helped us with all those little requests that made it so easy. 
I only wish a final goodbye show like NGsouthwest had could have been the farewell but I totally understand the reasons :) 

 

Another that will be fondly remembered.