Tuesday, 7 August 2018

"Greenfields Jubilee Harriers" model railway layout diorama - part 1

In parallel with disclosure of information about my experiences as an athletics spectator and other untold stories, I've also been translating some of my past into model form.

For some time I've wanted to create a fictitious athletics club, because they've rarely been modelled, it's probably because of the size of a typical 400m/440yds running track, which in 1:76 scale (OO - as popularised by Hornby) would take up about the space of a double bed.
I've no room for a full running track, but have room for a club house diorama.



The diorama is 715 x 297 mm, based on B&Q's door panels.

It represents "Greenfields Jubilee Harriers" (founded 1897) during the interwar period, 1918-1939, although the Austin 7s date it to the mid-1930s.
It's served by a private station called "Westgrove Halt" served by request to the guard, for Lord Westgrove's private estate. The club house is built from two surplus railway carriages joined together with a shelter bolted onto the sides.



It represents a quiet mid-week training session, but with Lord Westgrove and his entourage in attendance outlining their plans for the club.


From left to right: Lord Westgrove (in bowler hat), A. Smith-Crisp, C. Lane, P. Grove, P. Castle.



Prominent sign publicising the club with two of Lord Westgrove's Austin 7s.

In reality, I attended Greenfields Junior School in Jubilee Avenue, Paulsgrove, Portsmouth. There was a special unit there for pupils with speech and communication difficulties; I first arrived in November 1974.
Pupils arrived from all over Portsmouth and SE Hampshire by minibus and taxi; I lived in Southsea at the time and came by minibus.
At the time, there was also Westgrove Junior School next door. There was a complex of four schools on that site built in the 1950s, including Paulsgrove West and East Infant Schools; they no longer exist, replaced by a housing estate, but a few remains survive.

[As an aside ...]
In September 1976, both schools merged to form Westfield Junior School. By then I was integrated into normal classes and considered myself for all intents and purposes to be a full member of the school year group.
In that school year, I was in Peter Collett's class, together with pupils including Bruce Baker, Mark Aubry, Denise Copplestone and John Sweetman. For certain classes, maths in particular, I attended Mrs Burden's class. Neil Gray was in her class.
I left Westfield in July 1977 and attended Priory School, the nearest to my home in Southsea; my family didn't want me to go to a single-sex school; I don't know anyone else who went there with me from my old junior school.

[By the way ...]
I'm working on a second diorama of the same size representing the fictitious "Greenfields Jubilee Harriers" if it existed during the 1980s/90s when I attended athletics events as a spectator.
This is in an advanced state of construction and may be completed by late August or early September.


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