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Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
A toy shop in Royston's ( Cambridge ) High Street for nearly 50 years
is to close. It's owner Doug Drake @ 75 looks very well on it I must say. Apparently the shops model railway will take pride of place in his retirement home. http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk:80/n...372393d5ec.lpf I remember our local toy shop in town had a model train going round on a circular track in the window suspended in the air so as the train moved the whole layout used to swing. The local Co-op near Donnington Park Race Track built only s few years ago apparently had a car race track set up running at high level around the store, did not last too long as it was not very reliable. Chris |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
"Dragon Heart" <chris_brett@tesco.net> wrote in message news:1186266404.472584.197450@w3g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com... >A toy shop in Royston's ( Cambridge ) High Street for nearly 50 years > is to close. > > It's owner Doug Drake @ 75 looks very well on it I must say. > Apparently the shops model railway will take pride of place in his > retirement home. > > http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk:80/n...372393d5ec.lpf > > I remember our local toy shop in town had a model train going round on > a circular track in the window suspended in the air so as the train > moved the whole layout used to swing. > > The local Co-op near Donnington Park Race Track built only s few years > ago apparently had a car race track set up running at high level > around the store, did not last too long as it was not very reliable. > > Chris > Where was that ? Cheers, Simon |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
On 4 Aug, 23:54, "simon" <si...@nospam.com> wrote:
> "Dragon Heart" <chris_br...@tesco.net> wrote in message > > news:1186266404.472584.197450@w3g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com... > > > > >A toy shop in Royston's ( Cambridge ) High Street for nearly 50 years > > is to close. > > > It's owner Doug Drake @ 75 looks very well on it I must say. > > Apparently the shops model railway will take pride of place in his > > retirement home. > > >http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk:80/n.../f6675ccd-c113... > > > I remember our local toy shop in town had a model train going round on > > a circular track in the window suspended in the air so as the train > > moved the whole layout used to swing. > > > The local Co-op near Donnington Park Race Track built only s few years > > ago apparently had a car race track set up running at high level > > around the store, did not last too long as it was not very reliable. > > > Chris > > Where was that ? > > Cheers, > Simon- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - The toy shop or the Co-op ? |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
"Dragon Heart" <chris_brett@tesco.net> wrote in message news:1186269104.379696.38080@b79g2000hse.googlegro ups.com... > On 4 Aug, 23:54, "simon" <si...@nospam.com> wrote: >> "Dragon Heart" <chris_br...@tesco.net> wrote in message >> >> news:1186266404.472584.197450@w3g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com... >> >> >> >> >A toy shop in Royston's ( Cambridge ) High Street for nearly 50 years >> > is to close. >> >> > It's owner Doug Drake @ 75 looks very well on it I must say. >> > Apparently the shops model railway will take pride of place in his >> > retirement home. >> >> >http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk:80/n.../f6675ccd-c113... >> >> > I remember our local toy shop in town had a model train going round on >> > a circular track in the window suspended in the air so as the train >> > moved the whole layout used to swing. >> >> > The local Co-op near Donnington Park Race Track built only s few years >> > ago apparently had a car race track set up running at high level >> > around the store, did not last too long as it was not very reliable. >> >> > Chris >> >> Where was that ? >> >> Cheers, >> Simon- Hide quoted text - >> >> - Show quoted text - > > The toy shop or the Co-op ? > Both might be interesting. One of our local surgeries had one running round high up on a shelf. beats the dentists fish tank anyday. Cheers, Simon |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
On 5 Aug, 21:55, "simon" <si...@nospam.com> wrote:
> "Dragon Heart" <chris_br...@tesco.net> wrote in message > > news:1186269104.379696.38080@b79g2000hse.googlegro ups.com... > > > > > On 4 Aug, 23:54, "simon" <si...@nospam.com> wrote: > >> "Dragon Heart" <chris_br...@tesco.net> wrote in message > > >>news:1186266404.472584.197450@w3g2000hsg.googleg roups.com... > > >> >A toy shop in Royston's ( Cambridge ) High Street for nearly 50 years > >> > is to close. > > >> > It's owner Doug Drake @ 75 looks very well on it I must say. > >> > Apparently the shops model railway will take pride of place in his > >> > retirement home. > > >> >http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk:80/n.../f6675ccd-c113... > > >> > I remember our local toy shop in town had a model train going round on > >> > a circular track in the window suspended in the air so as the train > >> > moved the whole layout used to swing. > > >> > The local Co-op near Donnington Park Race Track built only s few years > >> > ago apparently had a car race track set up running at high level > >> > around the store, did not last too long as it was not very reliable. > > >> > Chris > > >> Where was that ? > > >> Cheers, > >> Simon- Hide quoted text - > > >> - Show quoted text - > > > The toy shop or the Co-op ? > > Both might be interesting. One of our local surgeries had one running round > high up on a shelf. beats the dentists fish tank anyday. The shop was called Golden Gains, They had two shops, both in Derby ( where I lived for a few years ), one in the Wardwick opened by Frankie Vaughan ( just within the 'Golden Mile' ... a pub crawl and just a few steps away from the museum ), the other, and the one to which I referred was at The Spot. It was one of those "traditional" toy shops that, in my experience, do not exist any more. Why did Frankie Vaughan open one of these shops you may ask ! Well the man who founded Golden Gains was John Barnes ( ex Tank Regiment not the ex Liverpool FC legend ). He also owned 'Talk of the Midlands' night-club on Mill Street plus the 'Stork Club' at Hucknall. The 'Talk of the Midlands' used to be a tiny cinema that was turned into one of the Midlands' best night-clubs, it even had it's own free car park. The Co-op I referred to is in Castle Donnington. Chris |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
"Dragon Heart" <chris_brett@tesco.net> wrote in message
news:1186349336.041669.264140@g4g2000hsf.googlegro ups.com... > On 5 Aug, 21:55, "simon" <si...@nospam.com> wrote: >> "Dragon Heart" <chris_br...@tesco.net> wrote in message >> >> news:1186269104.379696.38080@b79g2000hse.googlegro ups.com... >> >> >> >> > On 4 Aug, 23:54, "simon" <si...@nospam.com> wrote: >> >> "Dragon Heart" <chris_br...@tesco.net> wrote in message >> >> >>news:1186266404.472584.197450@w3g2000hsg.googleg roups.com... >> >> >> >A toy shop in Royston's ( Cambridge ) High Street for nearly 50 years >> >> > is to close. >> >> >> > It's owner Doug Drake @ 75 looks very well on it I must say. >> >> > Apparently the shops model railway will take pride of place in his >> >> > retirement home. >> >> >> >http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk:80/n.../f6675ccd-c113... >> >> >> > I remember our local toy shop in town had a model train going round >> >> > on >> >> > a circular track in the window suspended in the air so as the train >> >> > moved the whole layout used to swing. >> >> >> > The local Co-op near Donnington Park Race Track built only s few >> >> > years >> >> > ago apparently had a car race track set up running at high level >> >> > around the store, did not last too long as it was not very >> >> > reliable. >> >> >> > Chris >> >> >> Where was that ? >> >> >> Cheers, >> >> Simon- Hide quoted text - >> >> >> - Show quoted text - >> >> > The toy shop or the Co-op ? >> >> Both might be interesting. One of our local surgeries had one running >> round >> high up on a shelf. beats the dentists fish tank anyday. > > The shop was called Golden Gains, They had two shops, both in Derby > ( where I lived for a few years ), one in the Wardwick opened by > Frankie Vaughan ( just within the 'Golden Mile' ... a pub crawl and > just a few steps away from the museum ), the other, and the one to > which I referred was at The Spot. It was one of those "traditional" > toy shops that, in my experience, do not exist any more. > > Why did Frankie Vaughan open one of these shops you may ask ! Well > the man who founded Golden Gains was John Barnes ( ex Tank Regiment > not the ex Liverpool FC legend ). He also owned 'Talk of the > Midlands' night-club on Mill Street plus the 'Stork Club' at Hucknall. > The 'Talk of the Midlands' used to be a tiny cinema that was turned > into one of the Midlands' best night-clubs, it even had it's own free > car park. > > The Co-op I referred to is in Castle Donnington. > > Chris > Frankie Vaughan was also a model railway enthusiast. -- Regards John |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
> Frankie Vaughan was also a model railway enthusiast. Any truth in the rumour that he built a layout on a green door? -- Brian |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
"Brian Watson" <WACCI_inf@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5hogi6F3jbtfqU1@mid.individual.net... > > >> Frankie Vaughan was also a model railway enthusiast. > > Any truth in the rumour that he built a layout on a green door? > > -- > Brian > LOL -- Regards John |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
Was that the door from 'The Gateways' club or the one from the 1968
film 'The Killing of Sister George' ? Apparently other well known celebrities are model rail enthusiasts :- Tim Allen comedian, based on his character in 'Tool Time' he would probably replace the electric motors with model aircraft engines :-) Johnny Cash country music singer / songwriter Phil Collins rock singer, actor Kevin Costner actor Roger Daltrey lead singer of The Who John Entwistle singer member of The Who Whoopi Goldberg actor David Hasselhof actor Tom Hanks film star, producer Elton John rock star Michael Jordan basketball player Lionel Ritchie singer John Pertwee actor 'Dr Who' Bruce Springsteen rock star Patrick Stewart actor (Star Trek: The Next Generation & The X-Men) Neil Young rock star and apparently part owner of Lionel Trains ( had a look at their web site with it's MagniVision™ view of their loco's ?) Chris |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
Pity about the shop in Royston: I remember it well from the time I
lived there (1981-99). If I had a quid for every tin of Humbrol paint I bought in there.............. Rod Stewart is another model railway enthusiast. And of course Pete Waterman, music producer and owner of "Just Like The Real Thing", the company that specialises in high quality 7mm scale models. Allan Sibley |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
<Allansib@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1186466807.581595.307830@k79g2000hse.googlegr oups.com... > Pity about the shop in Royston: I remember it well from the time I > lived there (1981-99). If I had a quid for every tin of Humbrol paint > I bought in there.............. > > Rod Stewart is another model railway enthusiast. > > And of course Pete Waterman, music producer and owner of "Just Like > The Real Thing", the company that specialises in high quality 7mm > scale models. Until I visited the website just now I didn't realise the Home of O Gauge had closed as well. I'm really going to miss the background music  ((kim) |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
"kim" wrote > Until I visited the website just now I didn't realise the Home of O Gauge > had closed as well. I'm really going to miss the background music (Yes, the owner, Philip Millard has retired I believe. John. |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
Dragon Heart <chris_brett@tesco.net> wrote:
> > Apparently other well known celebrities are model rail enthusiasts :- > > Elton John rock star I've heard that Sir Elton has a full-scale ex-Melbourne tram on his estate. I don't know if he has any track to run it on. -- Martin S. |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
Dragon Heart <chris_brett@tesco.net> wrote:
> A toy shop in Royston's ( Cambridge ) High Street for nearly 50 years > is to close. > > It's owner Doug Drake @ 75 looks very well on it I must say. > Apparently the shops model railway will take pride of place in his > retirement home. > > http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk:80/n...372393d5ec.lpf > > I remember our local toy shop in town had a model train going round on > a circular track in the window suspended in the air so as the train > moved the whole layout used to swing. > > The local Co-op near Donnington Park Race Track built only s few years > ago apparently had a car race track set up running at high level > around the store, did not last too long as it was not very reliable. In eastern Ontario, there is a chain of shops owned by a dairy, that operates a small children's theme park at its main location. Each of the shops has a circuit of 45mm gauge track suspended from the ceiling with an LGB train that is actuated by pushing a button near the doorway. -- Martin S. |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
Gary Coleman - the black midget actor from the TV-series "Different
Strokes" - is often filmed playing with a large proprietary H0 layout at his home. I believe the layout was purchased with the proceeds of a settlement from a lawsuit against his parents who he claimed had stolen most of his earnings from the show? Coleman always looks deadly serious when "playing" with his layout. In fact, I've yet to find anyone in any country other than Britain who finds this pastime remotely funny. (kim) |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
On Aug 7, 11:32 pm, "John Turner" <nos...@nospam.invalid> wrote:
> "kim" wrote > > > Until I visited the website just now I didn't realise the Home of O Gauge > > had closed as well. I'm really going to miss the background music (> > Yes, the owner, Philip Millard has retired I believe. > Do you know him? He got quite nasty when it was pointed out to them that their website order page wwas insecure, accusing people who were trying to help of "malevolence and malice" and being "hard up for something to do with their time". The wording of the closure notice on the website smacks of the baby throwing its toys out of the pram. A few other choice quotes from the MERG archive: "I have been told by others that this contemptuous attitude is normal for the 'gentleman'" "I live within eight miles of the shop refered to but prefer to purchase my requirements elsewhere - I will leave you to your own conclusions" MBQ |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
<manatbandq@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:1186558722.284080.72060@22g2000hsm.googlegrou ps.com... > On Aug 7, 11:32 pm, "John Turner" <nos...@nospam.invalid> wrote: >> "kim" wrote >> >> > Until I visited the website just now I didn't realise the Home of O >> > Gauge >> > had closed as well. I'm really going to miss the background music (>> >> Yes, the owner, Philip Millard has retired I believe. >> > > Do you know him? He got quite nasty when it was pointed out to them > that their website order page wwas insecure, accusing people who were > trying to help of "malevolence and malice" and being "hard up for > something to do with their time". > > The wording of the closure notice on the website smacks of the baby > throwing its toys out of the pram. > > A few other choice quotes from the MERG archive: > > "I have been told by others that this contemptuous attitude is normal > for the 'gentleman'" > > "I live within eight miles of the shop refered to but prefer to > purchase my requirements elsewhere - I will leave you to your own > conclusions" I think "idiosyncratic" may be the word you're looking for. :-) -- Brian "Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman." |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
"Brian Watson" <WACCI_inf@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5htahfF3ko7r7U1@mid.individual.net... > > <manatbandq@hotmail.com> wrote in message > news:1186558722.284080.72060@22g2000hsm.googlegrou ps.com... >> On Aug 7, 11:32 pm, "John Turner" <nos...@nospam.invalid> wrote: >>> "kim" wrote >>> >>> > Until I visited the website just now I didn't realise the Home of O >>> > Gauge >>> > had closed as well. I'm really going to miss the background music (>>> >>> Yes, the owner, Philip Millard has retired I believe. >>> >> >> Do you know him? He got quite nasty when it was pointed out to them >> that their website order page wwas insecure, accusing people who were >> trying to help of "malevolence and malice" and being "hard up for >> something to do with their time". >> >> The wording of the closure notice on the website smacks of the baby >> throwing its toys out of the pram. >> >> A few other choice quotes from the MERG archive: >> >> "I have been told by others that this contemptuous attitude is normal >> for the 'gentleman'" >> >> "I live within eight miles of the shop refered to but prefer to >> purchase my requirements elsewhere - I will leave you to your own >> conclusions" > > I think "idiosyncratic" may be the word you're looking for. > > :-) A timber merchants cum model shop around here was owned for many years by a former war hero by the name of Claude Beesley. He was one of those ex-servicemen who could never readjust to civilian life. He drove away a lot of regular customers like myself with unwarranted outbursts. Quite often the shop had to be run by his assistant or daughter while he was away "sick" and they made a very good job of it. Eventually, a competitor opened a specialist model shop just a few doors away and that was the end of "Beesley's". (kim). |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
<manatbandq@hotmail.com> wrote > Do you know him? He got quite nasty when it was pointed out to them > that their website order page wwas insecure, accusing people who were > trying to help of "malevolence and malice" and being "hard up for > something to do with their time". No I don't, but I believe he's a subscriber on the 7mm Yahoo! group. John. |
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Re: Close of play for Mr Toy Shop
"kim" <ntscuser@aol.com> wrote in message news:F4KdnSZS2PZGTiTbRVnyuwA@giganews.com... > A timber merchants cum model shop around here was owned for many years by > a former war hero by the name of Claude Beesley. He was one of those > ex-servicemen who could never readjust to civilian life. He drove away a > lot of regular customers like myself with unwarranted outbursts. P'raps he wasn't a warrant officer? (he asked, innocently) -- Brian "Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman." |
