Came across this site by accident and noticed a post by John Thompson who I remember from the old Boro wargames club.
I joined this club in 1976 after meeting the then club president Ian Chilton-Merryweather at my first job when I left college.
I had been there a few months when I noticed Ian was sorting through some metallic "things" from the far side of the office.Turns out he had just come back from Greenwood and Ball who were based in Stockton and not far from our office with some of their figures.
I had always been interested in military history and played "toy soldiers" up to about age 15 with my brother.I had concocted my own rules for WW2.I had built a games board in the garage when I was thirteen with terrain and scenery which to my eyes was superb!
The club at Prissick base had a lot of 25mm gamers playing "Ancients " but also other periods.My first ancients army was G and B Sung Chinese which I quickly painted to get into the action.They were pretty basic and crude but they sufficed until I bought my Hinchcliffe late Byzantine army which I loved and spent a lot of time on.Over the years my painting improved and I could turn out some stunning models.I also loved making terrain,scenery and buildings which attracted many an admiring gamer!
Also in late 1976 I also joined the Redcar club which met upstairs in the snooker club on Lord Street.
I had a great time at both clubs but in 1983 I stopped going to the Boro club as I started a new job as manager of Games Store which meant as I was working Saturdays.
I opened my own shop Games World in 1990 and I remember Dave Pengilly constructed the metal security grilles for the windows.Unfortunately I left the shop due to personal problems but I was still gaming at Redcar.
To get to Redcar I was reliant on a wargaming friend to drive me there but in the early 90's he was tragically killed in a car accident and I have not been gaming since.
I remember a lot of gamers from my years wargaming and here are the guys I can put a name and face to-
Gary Neesam, Jeff Neesam, Geoff Punshon, Graham Antwhistle,  Stuart Bookless (who set up his own wargames figure company - Kontos Miniatures),
Ray Hulley, John Waller, Colin Stangoe, Andy Copestake, John Thompson, Quiff, Marcel Bradley, Derek Boyle, Neil Hoskins, Andy Robinson, Paul Brown, Peter Barnes, Paul Harrison, Charlie Whitehouse, Robert Whitehouse, Andy Fenton, Joe Elders, Gary Norman, Robin Hyman, Steve Thompson and Ian Chilton - Merryweather.
I can remember a few more faces but their names escape me!
I rattled on a bit here but I do miss the past!

Cheers,
Dave Roberts.

A very warm welcome, Dave.
Cheers - Phil

Welcome to the forum Dave .

Thanks guys.

Hi Dave, welcome to the Forum!  I'll point Dave towards this thread as well, a few blasts from the past in there!

More Forigners......


Hi

IanS 

Hello and welcome!

Welcome aboard

Welcome aboard Dave. Funnily enough I was gaming with John Thompson yesterday, I'll try and get him posting on here again.

  , Dave. Welcome back to this great hobby (and some cracked cracking company).

[by the way, when did you have the sex change? (your photo ID icon)  ]

Welcome, Friend Didi. Is that a French name? It sounds Gallic.

You have in fact confirmed one of my theories. I assume that all members of the Pendraken Forum are in fact really attractive young women, with a cavalier attitude to social mores and an aversion to loose or indeed constricting clothing.

Be warned though. Some of the Forum members are a bit weird. (Mostly the blondes.)

Welcome Didi. Like you I really enjoy a fine juicy pear.

Hi people,
Thanks for the welcomes.
My avatar is my fave actress the sexy Helen Mirren who has indeed has a juicy pear!
Dididave was my nickname at school pinched from Ken Dodd and his diddymen!

Hi Dave. Who knows, we may get you gaming again - even if it's only solo. 

Hi Dave,
if there is anything my club, Redcar Ironbeards can do to help you drop me a line here on via the club website.

Oh and I forgot............Welcome to the mad house