Ceasefire 2003

Pics from the talented lens of Chis Tofalos

It was not the most promising of starts when I paid my money, got my hand stamped and walked into the sports hall, only to be faced with a row of empty tables. Looking around in the strangely orange light there seemed to be a marked lack of display games, and no sign of a number of traders that I had hoped to buy from.

To be fair, the weekend was the first of the school holidays, and traditionally the busiest time of the year for holidays. And the weather outside was hot and sunny, which would ensure that a lot of families would be out and about. 

The venue is also not the easiest of places to reach unless you drive. No really convenient rail station, and the bus service is pretty infrequent if traveling from north Manchester.

Mailed Fist as the host club had a couple of interesting display games, and I liked the WW2 airborne landing operation especially. The British Model Soldier Society had a large display, which had me getting all nostalgic, 54mm Britains, the back garden and an air rifle…..now that was wargaming!

The Ancients competition was well underway when I arrived and I spotted a number of familiar faces, but they were so engrossed in their games that I did not get a chance to chat. In fact the competition provided most of the action at the show. The trading hall did not get busy when I was there, and there was a general lackluster atmosphere.

This is a pity as this is my local show, but next year I may give it a miss and save my dosh for Phalanx.

D. Carr

( I asked Damian to report on this show as I was only there for an hour or so. I have to agree with him that the atmosphere was suppressed, and the number of base table where promised traders or games had failed to appear just added to the suppressed atmosphere. The problem may be the date, the first week of the school holidays and the busiest day of the year for the nation's airports, as families rush to get away. Or it may have been the weather, very hot, and very very sunny, not the day to be stuck indoors, whatever the reason the crowds were sparse.

 

I did not visit the competition games, but I am told that there were a large number of people in there, so I may have got a false impression of the event.

The Bring and Buy had a few nice bits and pieces and my son gained a few more fantasy units, but on the whole the bargains had gone early, into the capacious boots of E-bayer vehicles.

I bumped into veteran gamer Chris Tofalos whilst at the show. Chris is a professional photographer, and offered to send my some pics which I gladly accepted, hence this report containing a photo montage. Chris is always looking for work and so if you have a special unit, display, or portrait that you wish to preserve for posterity contact him at chris@ctp-photo.co.uk)

Please remember to mention Wargames Forum when contacting traders!

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