VISIT TO PW OFFICES - January 22nd 2002

And so to 'Mission PW'.........

The plan was hatched by Ian, the problem before us was this: "How do we get back issues of PW (Kindly donated by Rob) from Dorset to Wrexham, cheaply..." - After the last club meeting, Ian says ""What are you doing next Tuesday ?", "Nothing that can't be cancelled....." was the reply - I E-Mailed Rob that night - and found a reply the following evening saying "No Problems.." - Arrangements were made, I got up at the crack of dawn, and we were off......

I won't bore you with the details of the journey down there, suffice to say that Station Approach in Broadstone is a "blink and you'll miss it" junction.  At this point, Thanks to Tex Swann, G1TEX, for guiding us in. 

Once there, the initial swap of 30 years or more worth of PW was done by Ian - we were then shown to the PW Offices, where we met Rob Mannion (G3XFD) and Tex Swann, Donna Vincent (G7TZB, who was quite amused by the fact we'd missed the turning!) and Zoe Shortland.

(Rob, in his Office - Mission Control...)

After initial greetings, refreshments and a chat - Tex asks "So, how can we help?" - At this point I explain about the Science Festival, and my earlier communication with Rob.  We then go down to the ground floor, where we meet Clive Hardy (G4SLU) who hands us a few empty boxes, and says that we're pretty much free to take what we want, this proved a little daunting, as we really didn't know where things were !

We were soon put right - and while Clive helped Ian, I went back to the main offices with Tex, and was directed to a stack (and I do mean stack) of old PWs and SWMs - I got on with the task in hand, while Tex helped out by finding us some more recent issues.

Once done, back to the ground floor, where We all got stuck in ! - the easiest way to sum up what happened next, can be put in a few simple words - Kids in a sweet shop.

We went through boxes, were handed maps, data-cards, GC maps, CDs, magazines, pretty much anything we could find, we were also given exclusive PW wall-planners (We know when they're coming out !) - If you witnessed this spectacle, you'd have to wonder if we'd been let loose in Toys R Us....

We even have various Polish, Japanese and other similar language magazines! - Ian has the best task, he gets to keep hold of it all until March, but in the meantime - He's going to sift through and organise all the piles of magazines

                                                                                    (Ian's Car - Full to the Brim !)

Oh - we also have a fair stack of the SWM car sticker's - if anyone wants one, head down to the Science Festival ! (that msg to all on the SWM List!) and pick one up!                                                                                                                       

We then went back to the Offices, to chat with Rob, who was quite busy during the initial part of our visit - There we shared thoughts and ideas, explained a little more about what the Science Festival was all about - We said our goodbyes, went downstairs to load up the car, presented Tex with a club newsletter, and departed...

All in all a great (if long!) day out - On behalf of the club, Myself and Ian would like to thank Rob, Tex, Donna, Clive, Zoe, and Kevin for their hospitality and generosity!

Rob, Demonstrating why everyone wants a go in the Editors Chair....

or

"Thank goodness they've gone..." [Ian]

 Clive Hardy, G4SLU - In the depths of the PW Offices.