McCormick’s Hobby Centre was started in Sept. 1960 at 241 Oxford St, East London by Fred & Erika McCormick in the front of there home. They lived on a busy street and saw a need for a good hobby shop in the area so they added to the front of their house.

In the hay days of model kits when it was the hobby to do, this was the business to be in. It was of course a risk as well when you put your life savings into it. The business grew over 35 years and different things were bought to be sold and to try. As years went by and some things didn’t sell they were put in the back of the store or upstairs in Fred’s own collection of model kits to be built one day.

Myself, I first was brought here by my mother in 1961 to see if this might me something I might like to do to occupy my time as an only child. We made good friends of the McCormick’s and I was here every Saturday spending my allowance on model kits. I couldn’t believe all the different models to look at like aircraft, cars, trucks, ships, tanks, slot cars, trains, puzzles, paint by number, matchbox cars and a lot more. (ads from those times) I found it very hard to choose something and would spend hours looking, I must have been a real pain.

Myself I have built models since I was five years old and have continued to build them today. I have worked many jobs in the past including sales, truck driver and in the hobby business for 20 years or so in different forms.

In 1995 Fred took sick and the store was only open half days on Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays. Mrs. McCormick looked after the store and him as well. In 1997 Fred passed away and there was a lot of uncertainty to what will happen to the store "...will it close?".

That’s when I came on board and was put in the driver's seat to make this store go again. A few hobby stores popped up in the area for a few years thinking this one would die, but no it didn’t, it just got stronger. We did a major renovation and doubled the size of the store and added much more to the shelves. I was a modeller at heart and knew what to bring in for my customers. Slowly the other shops closed and we are still here serving our customers well. We have seen fads come and go but didn’t get caught up in it, just carried on with what we know best.

I find it very interesting that a lot of old customers come back after many years away and may have moved to different countries, but still wonder if the store that they grew up with is still there. Some of them now have children, grandchildren and bring them here for a look and to see if this is what they would like to do for a hobby. Three generations at a time, What can I say!

Tim Humphrey
McCormick's Hobby Centre