About the Society

The North Eastern Meccano Society (NEMS) was founded by the late Frank Beadle in 1975. Frank placed an advertisement in the Northern Echo, inviting people with an interest in Meccano to phone him. The result was the first meeting of the club on the 5th March 1975.

By the October of that year we staged our first ever display of models in a large window of the Nationwide Building Society in Darlington. None of the models were shown working, as the window was left unattended. This display lasted for one week. The press saw it and put a large spread in the Echo, and Tyne Tees T.V. also got to hear of this display of models. This was great publicity for the club.

The club then began to make some arrangements for their first exhibition. This was held in the Baths Hall Rooms in Darlington on 11th December 1976. At this first exhibition we had 56 models. This was our first year and a memorable one and it was certainly one of progress, putting the club on the map. The club has now held an annual exhibition in Darlington every year since.

The club also publishes a quarterly magazine for its members. This magazine acts to keep members in touch and serves as a medium for expanding the interest in the Meccano hobby.

We are also proud to support the Great North Air Ambulance with funds raised during our events.

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