Graham Davenport (Nottingham SMEE)

[PeteT]

Members who knew him will be saddened to hear of the sudden and unexpected passing of Graham Davenport, past President of the Nottingham Society of Model Engineers. The attached notification to the membership of the Nottingham Society by Bill Hall the secretary, is a brief tribute to Graham and gives details of the funeral to be held next Tuesday (17th November).

Graham will be sorely missed.

Pete Thomas
President, NSMEE

Attachments:

[44767]

I have just been told, by a friend, of Graham's passing. I met Graham through this site because I am building the same model, Black 5 George Stephenson, which of course he had already finished. He met me at this year's Harrogate exhibition and invited me to the Nottingham track to have a drive of his model. I thorougly enjoyed myself and was looking forward to continued friendship with Graham. I must thank those at the Nottingham track for their warm welcome but mostly please forward my condolences to his family and friends. I can only now savour the very short time I knew him; and in this time I knew he was a very good person to know.

Here is a Photo of Graham in May this year at the Nottingham track with his masterpiece




farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3615889907_77a345237b_b.jpg




Regards,

Mike Jack

[drjohn]

That is too sad - I had so many questions I wanted to ask him.

Although I never met him, if it's not out of place, please send my condolences too to the family of a great modeller.

I sit here on the other side of the globe and watch mass murderers, Tony Blair and George Bush, strutting around gathering millions of pounds for hot air rubbish, then I see Graham --- if there is actually a God up there, he should be ashamed of himself.

DJ

[44767]

Graham was only 71 years old. There is a pdf attached to Peter Thomas's message at the top of this thread which tells us about
Graham.

Mike

[44767]

Yes, I had been given a link to the Station Road Steam site a while ago by Ian Storey (owner of full size 44767) and I recognised it as Graham's loco. The price they want is fair considering how good the model is. I only hope mine is that good when it is finished.

[drjohn]

So sad to see materialism getting in front of sentimental value - as Mike says, it really ought to stay in the family IMHO. Poor Graham must be turning in his grave.

DJ

[alanstepney]

I will admit that I would love to be able to afford it.
The pleasure of showing and running an engine built to that standard would be worthwhile. (And it is far better than my creations!)

I agree that, in an ideal world, it should remain with the family, but, just in case anyone hasnt noticed, this isnt an ideal world.

We dont know the circumstances, but there may be excellent reasons for selling it. Death duties, taxation, or just assets but no cash- and nice as the engine is, you cant eat it!

I just hope the new owner both appreciates and shows it, rather than keeping it in a glass case.

[drjohn]

Gotta say that if I was still in the UK, I'd find the 15K and send it to the family then exhibit the loco as Graham's masterpiece. No doubt someone will buy it and claim to have built it all by their little selves!!!

DJ

[steam4ian]

G'day DJ

Don't be so cynical. Like you I would buy it if I had the cash but make sure it carried an authentic maker's plate honouring the builder. There is a place for cheque book engineering.

I just hope it gets steamed, looked after and enjoyed. The last thing you want is it getting stuffed and mounted as somebodies curio.

Regards
Ian

[northerner]

Hello The loco was on Station Road stand at the Harrogate Show. I heard a story that they had added 50% onto what they payed for it. I do not know if this is true so please do not take this as gospel regards John

[6233]

Last year I lost a very good friend and fellow club member, he built two stunning Black 5 loco's one in 5 inch and one in 7 1/4 bot true to the oringinal even down to the fact that he built a scale bucket with tools for the 5 inch loco. I am glad to say that the family are keeping this along with his 3 1/2" Brit, the 7 1/4" Black 5 will be offered for sale soon as its just to big for the family to keep. If I had the money I would grab it, but its nice to know that the family will keep his memory alive in his beautiful work.

I am sure that somebody will appriciate Graham's loco and it will live on.
The other problem is that other family members just at time do not know what the true value of these models are or even how to sell them.

[mutley]

I've felt for a long time that there is a role for the Fed's and Northern Association in helping the families of deceased ME realise a sensible value for there models and workshops. The Gauge O guild has been doing this for years.
My family have been told not to sell outright to a dealer but only on a commison basis.

Andy

[alanstepney]

Andy, as this is a different subject, I will start a new thread, using your post.

[Jason]

I have just stumbled upon this thread doing some research on Graham. I have purchased Graham’s George Stephenson and would like to put some of your concerns to rest.

First I have no intention of claiming I built this magnificent engine, it is far beyond anything I could ever dream of creating, some of you might have noticed from other threads that I have assembled a Modelworks Black five and started one of their Duchess’s so I am far from what you would call a model engineer, but do have a great passion for the hobby if a little lacking in skill, but I am slowly learning.
With the engine came a folder of all Graham’s photos and research he had done of the full size George Stephenson which he always displayed with the engine and which I intend doing along with a builders plack in honour of Graham.

Also I intend running the engine at my own club as well as taking it to other clubs and not keeping it locked up in a glass case, it deserves to be run and shown so others can enjoy in Grahams workmanship.

I never knew Graham personally but had admired his engine when visiting the Nottingham society.

This thread is probably not the place but if anyone wants to talk to me about the engine or wants to see it please do not hesitate in contacting me.

Jason

[pault]

Hi
Having read the thread about Sapper I would say the following, whether you build a loco or buy it you are only a custodian. One of the next projects we have coming into the workshop is a North Eastern R1 which the owner wants overhauled and repainted ready for its 100th birthday in 2013. We also have a couple of locos from the 1930’s so all of these locos have far outlived their builders and are still around doing what their builders intended them to do.
Regards
Paul