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Who singer Roger Daltrey may visit Ashford after recovering from viral meningitis for AIMREC model rail project.

00:00, 19 September 2015

updated: 17:08, 19 September 2015

Roger Daltrey may visit Ashford when he is fully well and a new model railway museum he is backing takes off.

Singer Roger Daltrey is behind the plan
Singer Roger Daltrey is behind the plan

The rock star, who is co-patron of the organisers AIMREC (Ashford International Model Railway Centre), has been struck by meningitis.

Cliff Parsons says he is in talks with the council
Cliff Parsons says he is in talks with the council

AIMREC chief executive Cliff Parsons said that he had met the Who singer in London last week and saw that he was far better.

Mr Parson said: “I saw Roger recently. He’s now home and made a full recovery from the symptoms that he had a couple of weeks ago so he’s now resting. “

When asked whether the singer for The Who would eventually come to Ashford for the museum Mr Parsons said: “He’s already been and met the council officers on more than one occasion and should all the plans go through I’m sure he’ll make more appearances.”

Mr Parsons was speaking today at the start of a two-day exhibition at Ashford Designer Outlet for the £4 million rail museum.

The Who were meant to be in Las Vegas today for a North American tour but all the shows have now been cancelled because of Daltrey’s illness.

A statement on the band website said “Doctors diagnosed Roger as having viral meningitis and prescribed a period of rest. The band apologise to fans and realise that the postponement will cause an inconvenience for ticket holders. It wasn’t a decision taken lightly - ultimately the band had no alternative but to postpone the tour.
“Thankfully he is already getting better.”

Roger Daltrey: recovering from meningitis.
Roger Daltrey: recovering from meningitis.


A statement directly from the 71-year-old star on the website said, “ For the last four weeks, I have been in and out of the hospital and have been diagnosed with viral meningitis. I am now on the mend and feeling a lot better but I am going to need a considerable time to recover. The doctors tell me I will make a complete recovery, but that I should not do any touring this year.”

Daltrey is patron of AIMREC with millionaire businessman Sir William McAlpine.

How the model rail museum would look.
How the model rail museum would look.


The museum is planned for the old Klondyke Railway Works site in Newtown.

Plans include a 30,000 sq ft building with a huge displays area, lecture and demonstration theatre, specialist model shop, cafe and observation deck for visitors to watch the Eurostar train travel over a viaduct.

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