Manchester Day 2015

By Chris Shute • Published on Monday 15 June 2015, 8:00pm

Our chairman, Chris Shute, reports on the Manchester Day 2015 event, where TIMS were invited to put on something for members of the public to have play with. Words and photo's by Chris Shute.

The first attendance of TIMS at Manchester Day went surprisingly well, thanks to the enthusiasm of North West Meccano Guild members Dick & Veronica Watson, Chris & Sue Harris, Roger Marsh, Derrick Murdie and Neville Bond.

This was the first time we'd been involved in a public-drop-in-big-build-to-plan project. Our clientele were younger than I'd imagined, perhaps because other activities, like the virtual reality crane driving next door, attracted the over 10s. Not all parents wanted to sit and help their children, perhaps because the pro-team were doing such a good job of patiently teaching nuts & bolts to beginners. Girls, generally, seemed quicker than boys in mastering which way to tighten nuts, at all angles.

The tent and its compound was excellent, with astroturf covering the paving stones (much easier to spot fallen nuts!). The event sponsors, construction company Laing O'Rourke provided helpers to kit out the youngsters in hi-vis jackets, hard hats, goggles and sometimes gloves, not so good for nuts and bolts! Each child received a small gift afterwards. The council even provided us with better seating than that provided for the V.I.P.s watching the carnival parade! We displayed a traditional Meccano banner, after a friendly chat with a senior manager, who agreed that it let people know what we were doing.

Big events are complex. A number of parties worked together: Manchester City Council (who initiated it), the production company, Walk the Plank, (who were hired to make it happen), and Laing O'Rourke, as sponsors. Oh, and the Meccano people of course. But everybody got something out it. Everyone we dealt with was remarkably flexible, with a healthy sense of humour. The comedy Health and Safety man, was in fact an actor provided to bring a smile to the faces of the public (see the label on his jacket!). His colleagues were offering pages of (very!) small print in several languages to our visitors. There was also a joke 'de-contamination tent' in operation. Not all public bodies are humourless health & safety-obsessed kill-joys, thank goodness.

In all, a lot of fun, and perhaps there's a chance of building on it next year.

Regards, Chris Shute, Chairman.

Webmaster: Thanks very much for your report Chris. Nice to know that all your hard work and hoop jumping finally paid off. Comedy H & S chap?! Irony or hypocrisy? (wink)