Ipswich Model Engineering Society in Foxhall Road to host summer open day this weekend

A club for model train enthusiasts is looking forward to welcoming new faces as it plans its first open day in nearly four years.

The Ipswich Model Engineering Society, based in Foxhall Road, will host a summer event this Sunday, August 20 – its first since November 2019.

Not only is this the first event the club has organised since before the pandemic, but it will also serve as the inauguration of its brand new clubhouse, which was recently completed after a year under construction.

Andrew Grace, the club’s treasurer, said he was excited to welcome the public and prospective new members to the club, which now has upgraded facilities.

He felt it was the perfect chance for curious visitors to learn how its different model trains, which includes steam engines and other locomotives, operate.

Mr Grace said: “The open day will provide a great opportunity for anyone interested in model trains to see how they work, and also gain a snippet into what the club does.

“Not only will attendees be able to meet like-minded people, they’ll get the chance to enjoy coffee and cake and watch demonstrations – we’ll even be offering train rides.

“In addition, we will also host an exhibition to offer a glimpse at the models in our collection.

“This will be our first event in quite a long period of time. Our members are currently eagerly preparing to welcome the public on Sunday.”

The Ipswich Model Engineering Society was founded shortly before the end of the Second World War in 1945.

After a few years, its members managed to gather the funds to buy a patch next to Copleston High School, on which they built a clubhouse.

Mr Grace said the club’s old facilities dated back to the 1950s, and that the new one was a modern build on the same site featuring an upgraded workshop.

To make way for the new clubhouse, the old one was demolished and groundwork was completed.

Mr Grace said, while the club had not hosted any events by itself in a number of years, it did make an appearance at the Ipswich Transport Museum’s model festival on June 17.

He added: “Our events have always been popular, and although the club’s popularity has ebbed and flowed over time, we’ve recently gone from strength to strength.

“The Ipswich Model Engineering Society is always keen to recruit new members, and we’re looking forward to welcoming fresh faces to our new clubhouse.

“We hope this event will put our name out there and help people understand what we’re all about.”

Entrance costs £5, and up to three children can go free per paying adult.