Events – The Great Goodbye – Gresley A4s, NRM Shildon

Final preparations for the Great Goodbye

In Shildon from 15-23 February 2014

We’re just over a week away from the final event of the Mallard 75 series. Looking back over everything that’s happened, it’s truly been an amazing time with so many people showing their love for the world’s fastest steam loco. For an overview of the past few months see our latest blog, but here at the museum we’ve been busy looking fowards and preparing for the next event. The two repatriated A4s left our museum last week to make a special appearance at Barrow Hill, before heading up to Shildon to meet their sister locos. Meanwhile Mallard and Union of South Africa were waiting in the wings getting ready for their own journey to the Great Goodbye. Yesterday Mallard returned to the East Coast Main Line behind the operational engine Union of South Africa as you can see in this video. Together they made the trip to Shildon, and in doing so made some fantastic photos which can be seen here. With the arrival of the two other operational locos next week, Bittern and Sir Nigel Gresley, we’ll once again have all six surviving Gresley A4s together – most likely for the last ever time. For full details of everything we have planned check the website.

Find out more

Get ready for the final gathering

We’ve made our preparations, have you? The next seven days will be your last chance to book your place at the special extra events that guarantee to make the Great Goodbye a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With all the special photography events now sold out your final chance to snap the A4s up close and without the crowds is at our Gala Dinner. The engines will be floodlit with plenty of time to make sure you get the perfect shot. Afterwards you can enjoy a sumptuous dinner in the museum’s Collection Building and say goodbye to the A4s in style. There will also be a unique preview of ‘Steamsong’, a multimedia opera inspired by the story of the A4s including a blend of live performance and archive footage. There are also a few places left to attend the series of Curator Talks, offering a fascinating insight into the celebrations from our team of experts. Don’t worry about planning your journey either as our friends at Northern Rail have arranged for extra services to deal with the increased demand.

Make the Great Goodbye a special farewell

Forthcoming Attractions – Half Term February 2014

Forthcoming Attractions

Half Term February  2014

 Royal Air Force Museum Cosford

Model-Making Half Term

Monday 17th to Friday 21st February

11.00am to 3.00pm £3.00 per person

If you’re looking for something exciting to entertain the children this February Half Term, the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford is inviting families to participate in a fun model making activity. Taking place from Monday 17th to Friday 21st February, visitors will have the opportunity to build either an Airfix 1:72 Sopwith Pup or an Airfix 1:72 Albatros.

Models will be built alongside the full sized aircraft on display at the Museum in a communal and fun atmosphere. You don’t have to be a skilled modeller to take part as staff will be there to lend a hand and to ensure visitors get the most from their modelling. Plus, if you need a little inspiration as to how to paint your model Spitfire, sessions will be taking place next to the famous 1:1 scale model Spitfire built by James May for the BBC Toy Stories series.

 The model making activity will be taking place in the Museum’s Hangar 1 and sessions will run from 11.00am to 3.00pm each day. Participation is just £3.00 per person and all materials including glue, paints and brushes will be provided by the Museum. Tickets are available on the day from the Admissions Desk.

Please Note: The Airfix activity is not suitable for children under the age of 3. Children will need to be supervised by an adult and may require assistance with the model making.

Welcome to Beacon Park

Entrance to Beacon Park.  © Copyright Chris McAuley and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 Lichfield at Half-Term

Half term holiday fun

From holiday clubs and football offers, to swimming fun sessions and coaching courses, Lichfield District Council’s Holiday Fun programme is packed with plenty of energetic activities to keep young people active and entertained.

In the lead up to the 2014 February half term, which takes place across Staffordshire from Monday 17 to Friday 21 February, the council has launched an online calendar of its holiday activities, to make searching for fun things to do over the school break really easy.

The holiday calendar is available at http://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/holidayfun. It lists the activities in date order and gives information, such as the times, what the activity involves and booking information, all in one place.

The council also produces a Holiday Fun e-newsletter that it sends to leisure centre users. This lists all the holiday activities on offer. To sign up to get this free newsletter, please email holidayfun@lichfielddc.gov.uk.

Councillor Andrew Smith, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure & Parks, said:

“We’ve got an exciting programme of activities this February half term, including swimming lessons, golf, holiday clubs, junior triathlon training and much more. Places book up fast, so take a look at http://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/holidayfun to see what’s on offer.”

Lichfield District Council’s Holiday Fun programme is running at venues across the district, including Burntwood Leisure Centre, Friary Grange Leisure Centre, King Edward VI Leisure Centre and Beacon Park.

Both the Severn Valley Railway and Amerton Railway are running daily services during half-term.