Paddler day at Darlingtom MBC

[sandystrone]

Thank you Eddy, Walter, and Bob, and the rest of your team for a very enjoyable day out today.
It was a pleasure to meet up with such a friendly club, and chat with the visitors.
The topic being about paddlers, and it was nice just to discuss them in a blinkered fashion
apart from sailing them on your lake.
Very impressed by some of your real live steamers, and I picked up some ideas for the future and hope to make it back next year.
I shall display my trophy at Tynemouth just to show them what can be achieved by sailing at Middleton-St-George.

And for you paddleducks who read this, you don't know what you missed.
Come Red Hamish, if Hans can make it from Germany so can you!

Once again, Eddy, many thanks,            Sandy Thomson

[Eddy Matthews]

Thankyou Sandy - As one of the UK modellers I respect the most, your comments are appreciated more than you can possibly imagine!

After such a dreadful start to the year with family problems, it really made my day to see so many people enjoying themselves. It makes all the time and effort that an event like this takes worthwhile.

Of course, we could never have done it without all the help and support of the members of the Darlington club, so a BIG thankyou to them for all the hard work they put in.

Eddy

[Ernie Lazenby]

Thank you Eddy, Walter, and Bob, and the rest of your team for a very enjoyable day out today.
It was a pleasure to meet up with such a friendly club, and chat with the visitors.
The topic being about paddlers, and it was nice just to discuss them in a blinkered fashion
apart from sailing them on your lake.
Very impressed by some of your real live steamers, and I picked up some ideas for the future and hope to make it back next year.
I shall display my trophy at Tynemouth just to show them what can be achieved by sailing at Middleton-St-George.

And for you paddleducks who read this, you don't know what you missed.
Come Red Hamish, if Hans can make it from Germany so can you!

Once again, Eddy, many thanks,            Sandy Thomson

Hi Sandy. I know your comments will mean a lot to Eddy and the team. I usually help out at these events but on this occasion could not due to having to travel across to Cumbria for a family crisis meeting. My mother is 87 and has cancer.

 The team at Darlington have been working for weeks on the event, including getting the prayer mat out regularly to remind him upstairs that good weather would be a nice reward for all the hard work. I dont pray these days but it seems to have worked on this occasion.

  I know Eddy, Walter and Bob ,the prime movers in the venture, will be happy that everything went down well and the presence of so many like minded individuals will be reward enough.

  Personally I am pleased that the trophy I sponsored has gone to a throughly deserving individual and I am disappointed I did not get to see the boat.

[Ernie Lazenby]

I have just got back from my local model shop where I saw Hans and his friends who had popped in to purchase one or two things before heading off to Newcastle to catch a ferry. Hans said after arriving at the other side of the North sea he would be facing a 1000Km drive back home. Crikey thats  dedication to the hobby!  The longest journey I had ever to a race meeting was from Middlesbrough to Eastbourne (over 300miles) and that was bad enough in one day.

 They said they had an excellent time over the weekend and would be back next year.   

[Walter Snowdon]

A very big thanks to all who attended to make this such a good day. It was marvelous to see FIVE clyde steamers on the water at once (WAVERLEY, MARCHIONESS OF LORNE, JEANNIE DEANS, MAID OF THE LOCH, TALISMAN).
I like these non competitive days= a lot of model gatherings put me off with the gong hunters and the competitive edginess!! We just have friendship.
A lot of people from the Darlington Club really pulled the stops out to make this a success. But could I especialy thank Jeff Fish and his wife and daughter. His wife and daughter worked all day in the kitchen making sure there was a constant supply of hot rolls and sandwhiches and home made cakes. Not an easy job! Jeff is one of those backbones of all clubs, quietly in the background, making no fuss but when there is work to do he is always in the front. Never looking for praise, but shies away when anyone thanks him. Thanks Jeff.
 Once again , thank you all for a very good day. Walter.

[GreeboTheCat]

I am soooooo envious of you guys.  Personal commitments meant I couldn't make it even though my Glasgow was finished in time. Can't wait to see the pictures everybody took.  You did take pictures..........

Greebo

[Bob Golder]

Thanks for the "thanks" Sandy.  I enjoyed meeting fellow paddlers as always.  I do believe a good time was had by all .  I must echo Walter's and Eddy's thanks to all who helped before the event and on the day.  A special mention perhaps about Chris who, as Officer of the Day, darted about in early hours to make sure everthing was ready lakeside    I must admit, by the time I got home I was pretty well kaput (one for Hans and co).  Incidentally, it's 127 paces from the clubhouse door to the tea bar as I proved by frequent visits, just checking of course .  Finally, again, many thanks to all who attended.  You all added something to the overall success of this second Paddler Day 

[Eddy Matthews]

Talk about lucky! Yesterday, glorious weather, fine and dry, 19 celcius with very light winds..... Today, Cloudy with occassional drizzle, 13 celcius, strong and gusty westerly winds - More like winter than autumn!!

Lets hope the weather gods shine on us for next years event too!

Regards
Eddy

[scotfriend]

Hi Eddy, Bob and Walter,

I arrived now safely at home, the whole trip made around 2350 Km with a max. speed of 95 km/h ( 60 mph ) so it was a long journey but it was it worth to do. Yesterday aboard the DFDS ferry (Princess of Norway) we spoke about next year and we decided "We will be back"

I speak also for my friends, we have to say it was a brilliant day, well organized with all you can ask for like weather, Lot's of models as well as many nice people, food and many many more.

So please Walter, Eddy, Bob and all the others who helped to organize this event carry on for next year we are waiting when you release the date for 2009.

Many thanks, Daniel, Jörg and Hans

[Eddy Matthews]

It's good to see you arrived home safely after your long journey Hans - The old bus stood up to the trip then?

Walter and I have already started to discuss next years event, so we look forward to seeing you, and our two new friends Daniel and Jörg in 2009.

Regards
Eddy

[Eddy Matthews]

I've added a new gallery in the Photo Gallery for the 2008 Paddler Day - If you attended the event and took any photos, please feel free to upload them there, so everyone can see what they missed 

I will add all of the photos taken by our club photographer in a few days.....

Regards
Eddy

[ajg141]

What a wonderful day this was. Tremendous organisation and hospitality, stunning models both on display and on the water and you even managed to arrange for great sailing weather. Our grateful thanks go to all who put so much effort into making this such a succesful event. It's so nice to be able to meet up with such a friendly and knowledgeable group of folk who are so willing to share their combined experiences in a completely relaxed atmosphere. Well done everyone.

I've sent Eddy some pics for posting and am currently doing my best to edit the video footage from Southern Belle and will get this posted in due course. 1 pic in the meantime

Andrew
(EMBC)

[Bob Golder]

An excellent shot of WAVERLEY Andrew  pity about the giants in the frame

[Tug--Kenny]

A great atmospheric shot.

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the pics.

ken

[Eddy Matthews]

The first photos from the big day are now in the photo gallery - Look in:

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/mkportal/modules/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=62

There are FIVE pages so far (53 images), so don't forget to click on the various pages to view them all. Thanks to Eric West (Westy) of Darlington & District MBC for providing them.

There are LOTS more to come, but they are still being sorted.... The majority will be posted next week.

Regards
Eddy