Group Pictures and Information from the past
About the Exeter Gauge O Group 27 years Old in 2020.
The Exeter Gauge O Group (ExeGOG for short) exists to cater for modellers in the Exeter area of Devon, working in or around 7mm scale, standard and narrow gauge. Our members have a wide and diverse range of prototype and modelling interests, and at the last count we had people working in SIX different gauges! Geographically the group covers a very wide area, with our members travelling from South and East Devon, and Somerset. All centralising on Whimple!
We meet at The Victory Hall in the village of Whimple near Exeter, (close to the M5 and A30/303 dual carriageway) usually on the first and third Thursday Evenings of the month. Please contact us or check the diary pages before coming, to check what is happening.
The Group has a large multi-gauge test track featuring standard and narrow gauge, with a circuit of approx. 22 metres, available for running at most meeting nights. Currently the layout features three gauges, with the potential to add two more!
Also on Club nights we hold regular modelling “Clinics” on various subjects, for developing skills and sorting out that difficult kit.
Regular annual events include the Modelling Competition, Bring & Buy sale, Christmas Meal etc.
Meetings usually conclude with a visit to the nearby village Pub.
In addition we have a portable Display-Stand which we use to “fly the flag” at local Exhibitions.
History of The Exeter GOG
The group was founded in the early 1990s, and for several years enjoyed a permanent base in Exeter, thanks to the generosity of President and Founder-Member Jim Harries. Here we had a large layout, lounge, kitchen, library facilities etc. Sadly Jim died in 2010 and we had to move out.
"A few pics of Hope Hall, after Jim Harries had purchased it for us to use. The photo file names give the month/year and some reference to content. Jim was the philanthropic retired dentist who bought Hope Hall from Devon County Council and spent a great deal on it to make it a pleasure to be in. The shot of the crowd at one end also shows the 'platform' above the kitchen and 'snug', together with the ladder up which we used to have to haul the test track before we enjoyed sole occupancy. By this time (2003) the platform was occupied by some little people - 4mm modelling friends of Jim. The photo of Jonathan Lear is included as he was a hugely enthusiastic and active member of the club; he was a recently-retired Royal Marine officer, a wonderful, generous, warm-hearted man who tragically died from cancer about 8 years ago. Many of the faces there are no longer with us, but such is life." David Fouracre
In the absence of permanent premises, we eventually settled on the bright and modern Victory Hall in Whimple with its excellent facilities. Here we could hold regular meetings and have the use of vital storage space to keep a portable layout. For some time we had the generous loan of The Yeovil Club’s spare Test-Track to sustain running facilities while we designed and built our own layout, which is now fully operational.
If you are interested in coming along, please use the Contact Link to check what is happening.
The Exeter Gauge O Group (ExeGOG for short) exists to cater for modellers in the Exeter area of Devon, working in or around 7mm scale, standard and narrow gauge. Our members have a wide and diverse range of prototype and modelling interests, and at the last count we had people working in SIX different gauges! Geographically the group covers a very wide area, with our members travelling from South and East Devon, and Somerset. All centralising on Whimple!
We meet at The Victory Hall in the village of Whimple near Exeter, (close to the M5 and A30/303 dual carriageway) usually on the first and third Thursday Evenings of the month. Please contact us or check the diary pages before coming, to check what is happening.
The Group has a large multi-gauge test track featuring standard and narrow gauge, with a circuit of approx. 22 metres, available for running at most meeting nights. Currently the layout features three gauges, with the potential to add two more!
Also on Club nights we hold regular modelling “Clinics” on various subjects, for developing skills and sorting out that difficult kit.
Regular annual events include the Modelling Competition, Bring & Buy sale, Christmas Meal etc.
Meetings usually conclude with a visit to the nearby village Pub.
In addition we have a portable Display-Stand which we use to “fly the flag” at local Exhibitions.
History of The Exeter GOG
The group was founded in the early 1990s, and for several years enjoyed a permanent base in Exeter, thanks to the generosity of President and Founder-Member Jim Harries. Here we had a large layout, lounge, kitchen, library facilities etc. Sadly Jim died in 2010 and we had to move out.
"A few pics of Hope Hall, after Jim Harries had purchased it for us to use. The photo file names give the month/year and some reference to content. Jim was the philanthropic retired dentist who bought Hope Hall from Devon County Council and spent a great deal on it to make it a pleasure to be in. The shot of the crowd at one end also shows the 'platform' above the kitchen and 'snug', together with the ladder up which we used to have to haul the test track before we enjoyed sole occupancy. By this time (2003) the platform was occupied by some little people - 4mm modelling friends of Jim. The photo of Jonathan Lear is included as he was a hugely enthusiastic and active member of the club; he was a recently-retired Royal Marine officer, a wonderful, generous, warm-hearted man who tragically died from cancer about 8 years ago. Many of the faces there are no longer with us, but such is life." David Fouracre
In the absence of permanent premises, we eventually settled on the bright and modern Victory Hall in Whimple with its excellent facilities. Here we could hold regular meetings and have the use of vital storage space to keep a portable layout. For some time we had the generous loan of The Yeovil Club’s spare Test-Track to sustain running facilities while we designed and built our own layout, which is now fully operational.
If you are interested in coming along, please use the Contact Link to check what is happening.
