Eddie Izzard to open family's model railway exhibition

The model railway layout is a Tri-ang “OO” scale set which John Izzard began to build in Aden while awaiting the birth of his first son Mark, in late 1959 and early 1960.

The layout was continued in Bexhill when the family returned after the birth of Eddie in 1962.

This trainset is of particular significance and poignancy as it was greatly extended as a project to occupy the boys during the illness and tragic death of their mother Dorothy at a young age in 1968.

Eddie Izzard wanted to show their much loved trainset, unseen for 40 years, to the public for the first time and to share his family’s enjoyment of it.

With the expertise of the Bexhill Model Railway Club, the layout has been lovingly rebuilt and restored to working condition during six months’ hard work and is now complete.

Fully restored and interactive, visitors can now enjoy the experience of playing with Mark and Eddie’s childhood trainset in Bexhill Museum’s Technology Gallery.

The layout references Sidley, the Izzard’s family home, and also the old Bexhill West Railway Station which was used in the 50s by John Izzard. It playfully re-interprets the Bexhill townscape with intriguing detail and a few surprises.

Museum patron Eddie Izzard will open the exhibition at 3.30pm on Tuesday, July 12.

Bexhill Museum is an independent accredited museum and registered charity run by the volunteers from the local community.

Bexhill Model Railway Club (www.bexhillmrc.org.uk) was formed in 1969. It is a small club with a good range of experienced and highly-skilled members who offer a welcome to modellers of all levels.

The club has premises in central Bexhill and the regular club night is Tuesday with sub-groups working on specific layouts utilising the room at other times.

The club currently has four working layouts. It has held an annual exhibition for many years. This year’s exhibition will be on August 13 at St Richard’s Catholic College, Bexhill.

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