Stopfordian 2010–2011 - Stockport Grammar School

The Stopfordian 2010–2011
SCHOOL CHARITIES
A total amount of £7,823.38 was raised. A variety of charities
were supported this year.
A number of pupils performed in a talent show to raise money
for The DEC Pakistan Flood Appeal. This raised £382.44.
Other charities were supported through the Houses. A
number of fundraising events helped pupils to raise over
£3,000 for EducAid Sierra Leone. Other regular charity
events such as the annual Vernon Show, non-uniform day, and
money donated at the music concerts throughout the year
helped to raise money which was then distributed to the
following charities:
The Christopher Clarke Cancer Foundation £1,370
Diabetes UK £460
The Genesis Appeal £495
Comic Relief £214
Wellspring £850
Beechwood Cancer Care, The Rainbow Trust and The
Manchester Children’s Hospital also received donations from
money raised.
A. Hicks
GRAMMARRAIL
In anticipation that we might be enjoying more comfortable
accommodation in the not-too-distant future without fear of
inundation from above as has been the case this year, the
railway group is in good heart. Activities have become more
diverse with two Fourth Year pupils working on a railway
modelling project for their Duke of Edinburgh Award. This
will generate another OO scale layout of an end-to-end
nature which will involve plenty of interesting operation. We
are hoping that the layout will be ready for possible inclusion
in the next exhibition in May, but much will depend on the
space available to be able to put it together without the
constant need to dismantle it at the end of each work session.
A group of Second Year pupils are modifying one of the N-
Gauge layouts while some Third Year pupils are developing
the other N-Gauge layout. A pleasing number of enthusiastic
First Year pupils have joined the society and are working with
older pupils on the N-Gauge layouts in particular. Lower
School members have also produced a pleasing array of kitbuilt
structures, ranging from a factory complex to a brewery,
the quality of work being well beyond their tender years.
The trackwork for ‘Morfa Mawddach’ has now been built and,
when time and space permit, the track will be pinned to the
baseboards, wired and ballasted. The use of SMP track
combined with copper-clad paxolin, soldered pointwork
should make the finished product a cut above the average
from the point of view of appearance and quality of running.
We just need Bachmann to bring out their long-promised
model of the ‘Dukedogs’ to complete the authenticity of this
important ex-Cambrian Railway junction. We could build a
couple from metal kits but acquiring everything for the two
end products would cost almost £500. Several people have
taken photographs of the scenery on both sides of the
Mawddach estuary outside Barmouth and these will be
brought together to help produce something of a diorama
back-scene for the layout.
This year we were again invited to join forces with the
Stockport and District Railway Modellers for their annual
exhibition in May. The dining room certainly offers a superb
venue for the weekend’s function and I am pleased to report
that attendance numbers were again higher than the previous
year’s. I must also record our thanks for and appreciation of
their willingness to help and advise with all aspects of our
modelling activities through the year. Their expertise has
helped everyone in their efforts to become better modellers.
I also wish to thank the school for providing us with
accommodation, the caretakers for tolerating our presence at
strange hours and Mr Clarke in DT for his unstinting and
cheerful technical support.
J. P. Ashcroft
The Year’s News 21