Magazine


Days Out in Manchester

by Angela Kelly
29/ 9/2006

MODEL railway enthusiasts from around the North West will be speeding to Manchester's New Century Hall this weekend for a landmark date in their calendar.

It is the 70th Annual Model Railway Exhibition staged by the Manchester Model Railway Society and it opens today (Friday) until Sunday in association with Bachmann- Branch-Line.

For those not in the know, they are one of the major manufacturers of model railway equipment and will have an extensive stand showing their latest products and some of their new developments.

A total of 17 different layouts, of a variety of scales and gauges, will be on show plus a number of "micro" layouts which will be involved in their own competition. These will be demonstrating that a layout does not have to be large to be challenging and interesting.

This is a show, however, not just for the experienced veteran but also for the enthusiastic novice, or just interested visitors who may recall the Hornby delights of childhood.

The show will include 27 different traders giving everyone the chance to buy anything in the railway modelling world - from complete train sets to those "hard to get" parts for fans building models from scratch.

Opening times are today (Friday) 5pm-9pm, tomorrow (Saturday), 10am to 6pm and Sunday, 10am to 5pm.

Admission is £5.50 for adults, £3 for juniors, senior citizens £4.50 and a family ticket (maximum two adults plus two children) is £14. To find out more, log on to www.mmrs.co.uk

LOOKING or something to keep under-fives interested and learning at the same time? Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry has just the thing.

Their Xperitots sessions, held on the first Friday of each month, offer fun, creative activities, puppets, music and storytelling for youngsters and their carers in Xperiment - the Museum's interactive science gallery. They last from 10am to 11.30am and are free, although booking is essential, and the Museum is buggy-friendly, with nappy changing facilities and enough attractions for children to see and do.

Next Friday (October 6), the theme is Children Around The World, which promises plenty to attract and keep their attention.

The museum is on Liverpool Road, in the city's Castlefield area.

For opening times and booking details, contact them on 0161 832 2244 or log on to www.msim.org.uk

IF you are trying to inspire youngsters to take up sports, two events coming up might just do the job.

Tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday, the National Squash Centre in Sportcity is the venue for the Manchester Leisure Junior Squash Open. The best young players in Manchester will be lining up against top juniors from all over England to compete in the under-11s mixed, under- 15s and under-19s boys and girls. Find out more by visiting www.englandsquash.com

And if it's cycling that has caught their eye, Manchester's own top-class venue, the Velodrome, stages the National Senior Track Championships from next Tuesday to Saturday, offering four days of intense cycling competition.

For more details, visit www.britishcycling.org.uk

YOUNG football fans have a useful opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Wayne Rooney or Joey Barton tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday on a skills' course designed just for them.

The Gimme 5's programme is especially to encourage ball control with both hands and feet. It takes place at Ashton-upon-Mersey School in Cecil Avenue from 8.45am to 10am each day at a cost of £3.

To find out about the full Gimme 5's programme, ring 0161 905 3099.

SENIORS looking for new interests and inspirations may well find them at a free exhibition in Timperley next week. Retired And Inspired is its appropriate name and it takes place on Thursday at Timperley Methodist Church, in Stockport Road, from 1pm to 3.30pm. There will be refreshments, free gifts and the chance to meet new people.

To find out more, ring 0161 912 4421 or just go along on the day.

MANCHESTER Bierfest returns for October, beginning next Thursday and Friday. City of Manchester Stadium is the venue for the authentic Bavarian Bier Hall, and the event includes unlimited beer, a Bavarian buffet, traditional oompah band and other live entertainment. It is also on October 12 and 13. For ticket information contact Arena Events on 08707 203010 or visit www.arenaevents.com


Have your say
 
Have your say Got an opinion you want to share?
Register now and have your comments heard.

Register now


 
Personal Finance
 

Balance Transfer
Card BT Fee
Virgin Credit Card 2.98%
Customers with a 'good' credit profile
Company Typical APR
Platinum Exclusive Loan 7.8%
Sainsbury's Personal Loan 7.9%
Halifax (Semi-exclusive) 8.6%
Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) 8.6%
Alliance & Leicester 8.7%
HASH(0x2b601821c950)
Provider AER*
ICICI BANK
HiSAVE Savings Account 		5.50%
SAINSBURYS FINANCE
Internet Saver 		3.50%
FIRST DIRECT
Everyday e-Saver 		2.75%
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER
Online Tracker 		6.00%
ABBEY
Instant Access Saver (Special Issue 2) 		6.00%
ING DIRECT
Savings Account 		6.00%
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER
eSaver - Issue 2 		6.30%
ABBEY
eSaver Direct 		6.00%
POST OFFICE
Instant Saver 		3.75%
Fees may apply