END OF AN ERA                                                                                    Home

 

 

Geoff and Betty Wright

on the last day of counter sales at MW Models

Saturday the 29th of March 2003 was the last day that MW Models offered a counter service.

To celebrate the 30 odd years of the Meccano shop Eddie Oatley, Derek Mills, Dick Henderson and Kim Fisher went to the shop in the afternoon to have a party. Geoff and Betty did not think that there was anything to celebrate but the rest of us thought that at least there was an excuse for a commiseration. The shop was busy with many of the old faces popping in. The Bonners were there with Darren buying parts so Darren became the last counter customer. Until…..right on closing time three people came into the shop who had an obvious interest in Meccano.

The visitors proved to be Richard Foss, a modeller who had come all the way from Canada and was visiting UK friends Olive and Peter Thornton. Richard knew Henley because he was billeted here in the war. Peter remembered Dinky Builder from the 1950s and ended up buying a set that was in the shop. Peter thus became the last counter customer.

 

        The last counter sale

at MW Models

Geoff and Betty continued with a mail order business until 2005 before retiring.   

The shop, in Greys Road, was converted into a new police station for Henley and the local police moved into their new station in 2005. At the opening ceremony in July Geoff and Betty were  invited to cut the blue ribbon and so truly end an era. The event was recorded for posterity in the local paper, the Henley Standard,  under the heading “Police surprise for Mr. Meccano”! Geoff's comment was "I just can't recognise the place now".

 

Geoff and Elizabeth Wright cut the blue ribbon, aided by Insp Jason Purnell, and to declare the police station officially open

     Home