A SPECIAL memorial day is being held at Coate Water Miniature Railway in memory of 20-year-old Sam Maisey.

On Bank Holiday Monday, May 7, the North Wilts Model Engineering Society will be holding a charity day for Sam, who died in November 2011.

Sam, who suffered from a stomach illness from birth, was a keen member of the society from a early age.

As well as the society’s regular engines, it is hoped there will be many visiting locomotives with all proceeds from the day going to the Meldon Ward and the Intensive Care Unit at Swindon’s Great Western Hospital.

Ken Parker, the events and publicity member of the society, said they wanted to do something special to remember a man who had become an integral part of the society.

He said: “Sam Maisey was an enthusiastic member, who sadly died in November 2011 aged just 20. This day is for him.

“I think Sam would be honoured and he would be surprised that he was held in such high esteem down here.

“He was a great lad who you just wanted to help and as soon as he was old enough he was driving his own engine around here.

“I think coming down here gave him an outlet when he was younger for what he was going through.

“We all agreed in the society we had to do something to remember him and we always have a charity day so we wanted to do this one in his memory.

“I am expecting the family to come down to the day and I hope that some of the members of the hospital will be there too.”

The memorial day will be held at the Coate Water Miniature Railway and will be open to members of the public with rides on the locomotives costing just £1.