Closing Out 2016

With political upheaval at home and abroad, enduring war in the Middle East and the death of a clutch of iconic celebrities, 2016 proved to be a year full of surprises and challenges. But at Islington’s Business Design Centre on December 3, the London Toy Soldier Show provided collectors with some reassuring familiarity in the midst of much uncertainty.

What a year 2016 proved to be! For practically everyone I know, work has been busier than anyone can remember, the economic outlook has been uncertain and the political dramas acted out across the world stage have created a sense of unease for many.

It was against this backdrop that I anticipated with relish one of the reassuring ‘constants’ in the life of the toy soldier collector: the December London Show.

Arriving early at the Business Design Centre to get my show report underway, I was met by the cheery countenances of Alan Hall, Reg Auckland and the team at Guideline Publications, the producers of this publication and since 2012, the organisers of the London shows.

A quick chat with the team, a glug of hot coffee to shake off the morning cobwebs and I was into the lower-level display area of the show.

Sad farewell

Close to the entrance of the main hall lay the display of Steve Dixon of Mariela Miniatures. Steve was accompanied on the day by daughters Jade and Stephanie who had travelled down to London to keep the ‘old man’ company and to provide some additional support when things got busy.

I was saddened to hear of the death of Eddie Rollinson, a toy soldier enthusiast, collector and old friend of Steve’s who used to accompany him to the London show and was a familiar and friendly face on the Mariela Miniatures stand for many years. Eddie passed away in October 2016 aged 78 after a bout of illness and it was very poignant that Steve was seeking to sell some of his old friend’s collection to raise funds for Eddie’s family.