Michael McCabe’s Around the World in 80 Miniature Models in Sway to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research

AN incredible collection of miniature models will be displayed at Sway Village Hall to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research.

Each piece has been hand-built by Michael McCabe, often during visits to see his wife Susan who is a resident at Birchy Hill care home. The collection features many local and world landmarks, lighthouses, castles, towers, cathedrals, basilicas, churches, abbeys, trains, ships, racing cars and even spacecraft, not to mention planet Earth itself.

Entitled Around the World in 80 Miniature Models, the one-day show will be at Sway Village Hall on Saturday 12th April from 11am to 4pm.

Michael said: ”It will be the adventure of a lifetime and a virtual holiday for all visitors. There will be tea, coffee, biscuits and cake available.”

The show is dedicated to people with dementia and their carers, inspired by Michael’s wife Susan McCabe, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 65 in October 2020. She moved into care at Birchy Hill in 2023.

Michael said: “Susan had been a social worker in Lymington, Hampshire and Dorset as well as course leader for social work at the University of Southampton. Until then she had an exceptional memory, especially for the people and families whom she supported during her career.”

The couple were married in 1984 and have three children, Anne, Tim and JJ, who live the other side of the world in Auckland, New Zealand.

“For several years after her diagnosis, I was Susan’s carer at home,” said Michael. “In January 2023 she needed to go into care at Birchy Hill care home in Sway and the world suddenly seemed to shrink. Yet in a very unusual and paradoxical way it has grown.”

As Susan’s Alzheimer’s has progressed, Michael has discovered model making as a way of spending extended periods of time sitting with her. “She watched while I built,” said Michael.

The first models were of London landmarks on the marathon course, which Michael used to run every year. With Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, Elizabeth Tower, Buckingham Palace and many others finished, he then turned his attention to Paris, Berlin, Rome, Florence, Athens, Agra, Sydney, Auckland, New York, Washington and other world cities.

Models of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Florence cathedral, Parthenon, Taj Mahal, Sydney Opera House, Sky Tower, Manhattan, Capitol Building and the White House were added to the collection, as well as lighthouses, castles, cathedrals, basilicas, churches, towers and other famous landmarks.

Michael revealed: “Initially the models were kits of different sizes made from wood, card, foam or plastic. Many were 3D jigsaws which I glued together. For local landmarks there were no kits available, so I developed my own model making techniques to create Sway Tower, St Luke’s Church in Sway and even Birchy Hill care home where Susan lives.”

The collection also includes the Flying Scotsman and the Orient Express, as well as racing cars, planes, rockets and spacecraft.

Around the World in 80 Miniature Models is sponsored by Birchy Hill. Singers from Susan’s Brockenhurst singing group will be performing international songs during the day.

Admission is free and all donations will go to Alzheimer’s Research UK. Michael hopes to raise £2,500 for the charity. To donate visit www.justgiving.com/page/modelswithsusan