Best show in town

The final London Toy Soldier Show of 2019 brought more than 60 domestic and international traders to the Haverstock School in North West London for Europe’s largest gathering of hobbyists. Always the busiest in the calendar of shows organised by Guideline Publications, the event offered collectors a tempting selection of seasonal treats…

- George Phillips

When I wrote the report on last year’s December show, I’m pretty sure I opened the piece with a phrase like: “where did the last year go?” As I sit at my computer preparing to write up this year’s event, I’m harbouring exactly the same thought. I’m sure I’m not alone…

While I’m tapping away here at my keyboard, the country is going to the polls to decide which party will govern us and ultimately, the nature of the relationship we’ll have with our European neighbours in the years to come. I trust that as a nation, we will choose… wisely.

With the campaigning in the build-up to polling day – and all the claims, counterclaims, vitriol and venom it brought – the December London Show provided a welcome and enjoyable distraction.

Top team

On entering the Havistock School on the chilly morning of 7 December, I turned right into the Mountbatten Room and was greeted by the smile of Patrick Adams, owner of The British Toy Soldier Company (BTSC). Behind his tables with Patrick and wife Christine was an older gentleman I’d never met before.

On introducing myself, I discovered the man in question was none other than David Scheinmann, a talented and celebrated sculptor who has served the collectable toy soldier industry for many decades. David is the creative force behind a large proportion of Patrick’s stocklist and you can read about some of the new releases on page 69. In my experience, David was a good-humoured and modest man and I hope to see him at many more shows to come.