TWO enthusiastic groups of hobbyists in Warrington are opening their doors to let the wider public see what they get up to.
Warrington Amateur Radio Club and Thelwall and Grappenhall Model Railway Club both meet at Grappenhall Community Centre and on Saturday and Sunday, September 23-24, they are putting their hobbies on show.
The event will also celebrate the anniversary of the opening of the Stockton and Darlington Railway – the world’s first public railway to use steam engines.
David Charnock, spokesman for the Amateur Radio Club, said: “I don’t think we have anyone who is a member of both clubs. But we both use the same building and we thought it would be a good idea to get together to show people what fascinating hobbies they both are.
“Railway modelling is well-known as a popular pastime, but amateur radio is probably not so well-known.
“But there are more than two and half million Radio Hams worldwide and more than 100,000 in this country alone.
“We communicate with fellow enthusiasts all over the world. Quite often we maintain contact with people during emergency situations when normal telephone networks and even the internet go down.”
The model railway club will have their working layouts operating and the radio hams will be demonstrating their equipment – and both groups will welcome new members.
The two clubs will be open to visitors from 10am to 4pm on September 23 and 24 at Grappenhall Community Centre.
