The Club, by Dave Bailey
March 2002 marked the 25th anniversary of the founding of Peel Scale Modelers. When Francis D'Oliveira asked me to write a brief (very brief, Dave!) history of the club I went back to the archives to provide newsletter readers with some significant dates, people and events that brought the club we all enjoy into being.
The Peel Scale Modelers story begins in Bramalea of the 1970's. Bramalea at that time was a rapidly growing suburban community, to the east of 'old' Brampton. Although houses were in abundance, other services were not as available. Most new Bramalea residents had only one central location for shopping - Bramalea City Centre. Friday nights and Saturday mornings were particularly popular for this task.
Bramalea City Centre had opened in 1970. One of the stores that was soon established there was North York Hobbies. This was a satellite operation of the well known parent store located at 1910 Avenue Road in Toronto.
Naturally, local scale modelers who found themselves faced with a choice of pushing a shopping cart or visiting the hobby store, made an easy choice - they headed to the store!
This gathering of modelers was further strengthened by congenial staff, new kits, new materials, as well as an excellent selection of periodicals and reference books. As now, the 1970's was a "Golden Age" for scale modelers - there was always something new and exciting on the shelves!
A focal point of the store was a large, lighted, locked showcase at the back, where modelers were encouraged to display their latest creations. Modelers congregated around the showcase to chat, joke, spin yarns, exchange tips and 'talk models'. Thus was born what came to be known as 'The Cracker Barrel Club'. Like the dry goods stores of days gone by, this was where the locals hung out.
Who were these 'locals' ? Some names spring immediately to mind. There were some transplanted Brits - notably Fred Hawkins and Bryan Gibbins. A young Welshman, recently arrived on this side of the pond, Huw Jones. 'Neighbourhood' guys, Ron Lowry and Paul Osborne and several teenagers - Alf Wong, Dave Irons and Garry Wilks. Their numbers were supplemented by store management, who were also keen modelers - Lee Humphreys, Maarten Dejong, and Will Murray.
Now, I know that when you name individuals, there are always people you leave out and it upsets them, so I'll apologize now. I didn't list everyone, since to do so would take the entire story. Suffice to stay that a significant number of people were present at the time and their contribution, too, helped to start Peel Scale Modelers.*
Modelers who regularly gathered at the 'Cracker Barrel' struck up friendships (many of which survive to this day). As time went by, modelers began to attend out of town model contests as a group - NOREASTCON 5, held in Syracuse, New York in May 1976, was a pivotal event for many. Choices were very limited at that time - there were only about 6 shows in all of Canada and North Eastern United States! A far cry from today's bonanza!
Not unlike groups today, we also began to share information and pictures taken at airshows and museums. Since North York Hobbies didn't have the space to accomodate this type of activity, Bryan Gibbins invited 'the lads' to an evening at his home on 39 Athlone Avenue on Thursday, March 24, 1977 to see airshow slides and some interesting pictures of his recent visit to the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton. It was at that 'get together' a plan was formulated for the inauguration of a model club to be known as Peel Scale Modelers. An executive was elected, a constitution written and membership cards printed. We still use the original design created by Ron Lowry - a head on view of a red Avro Arrow with the motto, Facta Non Verba , (Deeds, Not Words)
Why the name Peel Scale Modelers? Most of us lived in the county, so it stuck.
Additional meetings took place that year in modeler's homes, but as our numbers grew, the meetings (and the homes) were packed! Huw Jones suggested that we consider meeting at a recreation building which was part of his townhouse complex at 85 Hansen Road North. Arrangements were made and as they say, 'The rest is history...'
If you ask some of the other 'old timers' about the events, they will provide their own 'take' on what happened but that's the way I remember it!
That 25 years has gone by, there can be little doubt. I have only to reach for my increasingly stronger glasses as I write this to remind me. Many of the 'young guys' are now long time parents, a number of the 'older fellows' are grandparents, some of the 'kids' are new parents and we now have memorial awards for members who have passed away.
A symbolic reminder for me, of how the club has grown and flourished over the past 25 years, is one provided by the environment. When the club began, the trees in front of the 85 Hansen Road North 'club house' were short, slim, green saplings. Now towering, full grown, trees with strong, mature trunks and deep roots stand at the entrance. Like those trees, Peel Scale Modelers has continued to enjoy healthy growth, strength and deep roots connecting it to the modelling community. Three things have made it so: Interested, active modelers, energetic leaders of integrity and an ongoing commitment to the hobby of scale modelling.
WELL DONE PEEL SCALE MODELERS! Happy 25th Birthday!!
