Saturday 3 February 2018

Dave Clemmet and Tom Davidson.


I received the following e mail from Dave Clemmet and Tom Davidson this morning announcing their retirement from organising wargames shows in the North East of England. Both men took on the dubious pleasure of organising wargames shows in the North East of England from the early 1980's and through their hard work built up their Stockton shows into a must go to event. 
  Tom and Dave were always looking for new ways to sell wargaming. They provided a top quality painting competition, and excellent tombola with all the funds going to their local disabled persons organisations, they introduced low entry fees [ other shows take note ] and were always keen to invite groups who wanted to stage a new way to publicise wargaming. One of my favourites which I will always remember was the wonderful 54mm Historex Napoleonic wargame with hundreds of figures.
 Dave and Tom very kindly allowed two keen wargamers to stage games at their show, and their kindness helped create the Independent Wargames Group.
  These two men never spoke of or complained about their own personal battles and always were keen to be involved in growing the hobby. Wargaming is lucky to have individuals like Dave and Tom and again I would like to thank them for all their enthusiasm and hard work in promoting our hobby and also raising a lot of money for less fortunate individuals. Well done. 


'It is with a tinge of regret that Tom Davidson and I have decided to end our wargame show organising career and are thus closing our website – www.teesshows.co.uk – in the very near future.

We began our wargame show organising career with what we thought at the time (1981) would be a one off event. Models, Wargames and Boardgames 1981 was our way of celebrating the International Year of the Disabled Person but we were persuaded by a range of people to organise another show – and what followed is history.

Between 1981 and 2016 we organised 41 wargames shows staged in four different venues (3 in Stockton on Tees and 1 in Middlesbrough) – and between 1997 and 2006 we organised two shows per year. The proceeds of all 41 shows was donated to charity (the amount being in excess of £15,000) and while that was an important reason why we staged the shows it was not the only one – we wanted to promote the hobby that has given us so much pleasure over the years.

Our proudest moment came at our 2007 show – Parade Ground 2007 – when we were each presented with an engraved silver salver by the Durham Wargames Group and we have always been very grateful for this public recognition of our efforts. Photos of the presentation and of my salver are attached below.

We still intend to support the hobby that has given us so much pleasure – by attending as many shows as possible in our region for as long as we are able and supporting our favourite traders with our purchases.

Finally we would like to record our thanks to everyone who helped us to make our shows such an enjoyable experience for us over the years.

David & Tom'

15 comments:

  1. The Parade Grounds shows were a major influence in bringing me into the hobby. And some of my fondest show memories were from events staged by the great duo of Dave and Tom ... England playing in the Rugby World Cup and a lot of the traders bringing along portable TVs to watch events unfold while trading!
    I also admired the fact that the Parade Ground shows featured military modelling, and people at least dressed as/if not members of reenactment groups helping give the show something different to the others I visited.

    Definitely these two gentlemen are worthy of recognition for their work with the hobby, both locally and for the overall improvement that was carried over into the hobby everywhere.

    Thank you Dave and Tom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember that day really well Roy, it was a grand day out.

      Delete
    2. We remember it well too - we thought that the show was going to be a disaster especially when the rugby went into extra time!

      Delete
  2. We could use more people like David and Tom in all areas of 'real life' and recreation in 2018.

    Best Regards,

    Stokes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stokes,
      These two gents were very adept at thinking of new ways to sell the hobby.

      Delete
    2. Now we are spending time buying little bits of the hobby - Vikings and Saxons at the moment!

      Delete
  3. I always enjoyed going to Stockton Wargames shows , always had a good mix of trade and games and very friendly. Maybe one of our glossy wargames magazines should give these two gents a write up (article) addressing the effort and time Dave and Tom have given to the hobby, think it would be the least they deserve for their contribution. Catch to tomorrow for York 😄😄

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good idea Neil, I am certain that one of the glossies will come up with something.

      Delete
    2. Do you know something that we do not know!

      Delete
  4. Possibly the most enjoyable show of the year for me were the early Stockton shows, meet up with old friends, spend a lot and then usually drank a lot on the walk to the railway station whilst discussing plans for next year. They have supported the hobby brilliantly

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was quite a venue Graham.The first time I went I expected to be mugged on the way from the station.

      Delete
  5. Indeed. Well said.

    It was myself, helping my mad next door neighbour who ran the 54mm Napoleonics ..happy times

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dave, it was a terrific spectacle. I have often wondered what happened to the collection.

      Delete
    2. It was sold off and spilt to the 4 winds a few years ago..

      Delete
  6. Very nice post really ! I apperciate your blog Thanks for sharing,keep sharing more blogs.

    Movie Online

    ReplyDelete

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.

My 6mm Napoleonic set up.
Austria 1809.

Austrian Hussars

Austrian Hussars
Hinchliffe figures

Austrian Grenzer

Austrian Grenzer
Austrian Grenzer

Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2013
Smoggycon 2013

Smoggycon 2012

Smoggycon 2012
Smoggycon 2012

Smoogycon 2009

Smoogycon 2009
My French getting another beating