Early History

In the late 1970’s, a teacher at Birkdale High School (Mr Jack Keegan) started an evening class for boys interested in metalwork and invited any parents who were interested to come and assist.

As time went on and word got around of this activity individuals, not connected with the school, asked if they could attend the classes, with the emphasis being on building model steam locomotives.

This led to a fledgling club being formed and in the autumn of 1979 an advert was put in a relatively new magazine “Engineering in Miniature” to help attract new members.

Although official meetings were being held at the school, in a separate room, it soon became apparent that another venue would have to be found for these meetings. Some of the venues used were the old Southport Drill Hall and the original Richmond Hotel, until subsequently, with the kind permission of Zoo owners, Douglas & Carole Petrie parents of one of the members (Jeremy Petrie), the club was allowed the use of the lecture room at Southport Zoo.