A CLUB which started off on a small scale in every way is celebrating its silver anniversary in style. Keighley Model Railway Club is toasting 25 years of marvellous miniature trains and lovingly crafted layouts.

And the group, which is based in Walk Mills, is celebrating the landmark in customary fashion with its annual exhibition - now a permanent fixture in the Keighley calendar - this weekend.

It is all a far cry from humble beginnings when a handful of enthusiasts met up in a pub room in 1974.

Founder member Phil Kirtley, who is now the club treasurer, remembers the old days with affection.

He says: "It all started when a couple of us got talking at Skipton Show and we all thought Keighley was big enough to support a club of its own, so we put adverts in the Keighley News and shop windows. We had no headquarters, so we used to meet at The Globe for the first 10 months, and we somehow managed to put on our first exhibition within six months. Nowadays it takes us 12 months.

"From the original three people we now have about 35 members, of which there are a lot of long-standing members.

"They come from as far afield as the North East and even Canada, and we exhibit all over Britain and Europe."

"We have been very lucky in attracting a group of modellers who have very high standards and I think they have inspired us to do better.

"The club is also quite unique in that members work jointly on club layouts, which requires a lot of team work and effort.

"The standard of modelling has improved out of all recognition and the models we used to display are crude by today's standards, which is due, in part, to the improvements in the toy trade."

The majority of club members are now in their fifties or over, with only a handful of younger members. "Unfortunately, a lot of young people aren't interested because there's so many other things like computer games which are easier to play with," says Phil.

"But we do have two junior members at the moment and four or five junior members who have stuck with us for years, and we always welcome new members."

The exhibition at Victoria Hall this weekend is sure to bring the memories flooding back, with fellow founder member Derek Lee displaying a range of heritage items. Popular layout Patrick Brompton will also be on display.

The event is open from 10am-6pm tomorrow and 10am-5pm on Sunday. Admission is £2.50 for adults and £1.25 for children. A family ticket is £6.

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