I’m pleased to confirm that the next National Garden Railway Show will take place at our usual venue, the Peterborough Arena, on Saturday 25th June 2022.  This is the same June weekend as the recent 2021 show took place and has been chosen in case COVID-19 infections flare up during winter 2021/22, leading to the reimposition of some of the measures implemented during the first half of this year.  We did announce to those who attended this year’s show that this was our intention, but at that time the date had not been reserved.  It has now!

We anticipate, even if measures are reimposed over winter, that by June 2022 the show will be free of restrictions that limit numbers, so the show will run as a single, uninterrupted session and that catering and seating will be reintroduced to the Main Hall.  We plan to have access to the Cambridge Suite, allowing us to reintroduce Member to Member Sales.  A lack of restrictions will also allow us to hold Model of the Year in the Atrium as in the past.  We will of course observe whatever guidance is provided by government and/or health bodies, but we hope by June 2022 that these will be few in number and therefore allow the widest possible attendance.

Our first Show Planning meeting takes place, face-to-face, on Saturday 11th September.  We’re expecting a high level of attendance at the 2022 show and we’ll plan accordingly.  The first four prizes for the Grand Draw have already been selected.  We hope to offer something a little different for the 2022 draw, details of which will be provided in SMT as our plans crystalise.  If anything arises as a result of our planning meeting which would be of interest to or affect possible attendees, we’ll make another announcement via Shed Notice.

We intend to make our return the new normal memorable, so perhaps you’ll want to put this date in your diary, to avoid inadvertent conflicts.  We hope you can join us in celebrating our wonderful hobby at the biggest garden railway show in the UK, if not Europe, on Saturday 25th June 2022.

Alan Regan, Chairman & Membership Secretary