Forest of Arden Ploughing Match

Before the month of September expires, I have selected a number of photographs I took when me and Matt Bisp attended the Forest of Arden annual ploughing match, held this year on Thursday 14th at St. Giles Farm, Spernall.

This is always a well attended event and is an excellent meeting place for both visitor and exhibitor. Excellent catering is always provided by Sue Dalby, who is also the Secretary of the Forest of Arden Association.

Next year, 2011 the match is scheduled to take place at a farm in Norton Lindsay, nr Warwick.

This is Ted Pratt from Worcester. Ted is Chairman of the West Midlands NVTEC.

John Snape here on his Fordson E27N. John is from Earlswood.

This is a gentleman that many a vintage tractor owner knows. Rod Flint from Atherstone on his Minniapolis Moline.

A general shot of the ploughing match, with Studley C

stle in the distance.

Ron Turner on his little grey 'Fergie' Ron is safety officer for the North Worcestershire Vintage Tractor and Engine Club.

Geoff Lamb on his Fordson Standard. Geoff is also a member of the NWVTEC.

Vintage Ploughing

On Sunday 12th September, we attended a ploughing match in rural Herefordshire. I was informed of this match by club member Pete Summers.

The match, organised by the West Midlands Vintage Tractor & Engine Club in conjunction with the Hereford Ploughing Association, is held by courtesy of the Eastnor Castle Estate.

A wonderful setting in the shadow of the Malvern Hills and close the Ledbury.

A truly lovely part of the English countryside.

This is Pete Summers on his Fordson Standard taking part.

A very rural scene.

Standing alone in a Herefordshire field with the Malverns as a backdrop

Another rural and tranquil scene.

Always at home on the farm, a Series 1 'Landy'.

This is indeed a very unusual and rare Standard Fordson 'Hedge cutter'.

Oh England, my England!

The Great Dorset Steam Fair Part 2

Those who are frequent visitors or exhibitors know just how large this event really is. On a 600 acre exhibition site it is difficult to get round every department and stop and look. This year we decided to concentrate on the vintage commercials, and there are lots of them.

This is just a small selection of vintage commercials on display.

Once we had left the vintage commercials we came across this little working exhibit, complete with and Allis Chalmers tractor in full working mode.

A typical night shot from my caravan of the modern fun fair. There is a large selection of both modern and vintage fun fair rides to enjoy, in fact it is the largest assembled fun fair in Southern England!

The Great Dorset Steam Fair Part 1

It was just over a week ago that we returned from a very successful, and dry Great Dorset Steam Fair. Held over 5 days at Tarant Hinton, nr Blandford Forum, Dorset. Me and Jon Boyce presented the North Worcestershire Vintage Tractor and Engine Club stand once again. This was our 8th year of doing so. Young Matt Bisp joined us for the weekend. Steve and George Crump assisted once again and provided us with the 'Fergie'

The theme tractors this year was Porsche, and this orange model is extremely rare indeed. Only three were ever made and this is from a private collection in Derbyshire. Its known as 'the coffee pot' because it was designed and built for the South American coffee plantations.

The next three photos are just general shots of the vintage tractor section, organised by Stuart Cotton.

A lovely pair of living vans situated along side the countryside arena.

This is just a general shot taken whilst enjoying lunch outside 'Art's Cider Shack'.

On my previous blog I mentioned that we spotted a tug boat on the south shore in the estuary at Bideford.

I have done a liitle reseach into this vessel.

She was built in 1959 by Henry Scarr of Hessle for the Thames in London, and was fitted with a 6 cyl 900bhp British Polar MN16 diesel engine. Speed 10 knots.

There are plans to turn her into a Tea Rooms!

Travels in North Devon and Somerset

A week before we travelled down to the Great Dorset Steam Fair, we spent a very wet several days in North Devon and Somerset. In order to beat the weather it was thought favorable to seek indoor attractions if possible. So without any hesitation I decided that Dingles Fairground Heritage Museum was the order of the day. It was several years ago when I last visited this centre and was pleased that money from the Heritage Lottery Fund was wisely spent. A brand new purpose built shed has been erected to house just some of the vast number of rides they own.

The centre is too far away from any reasonable power supply to run these of the national grid.

They would have to install a sub station in order to do so. Generating sets have been installed.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had purchased a complete Compton cinema organ, and was in the process of restoration. This is the manual/keyboard. For those with memories, there were two principal cinema organ builders, Compton's from North London and Wurlitzer from the USA.

This is an Orton and Spooner (Burton on Trent) 'Switchback' ride. Age unknown, but restored to full working condition. The tilt also revolves with the ride. Just £1 per person

Another Orton and Spooner ride, the Super Chariot Racer. A stunning restoration and fully operational, and at £1 a go, it was operating at full speed!

Now the Dodgems. We spend about £15 each on this ride, Tremendous thrill and whole heartedly enjoyed by all.

During a lull in the bad weather we spend a day out at Bideford, and Appledore on the Barnstable Bay shore. There is a lovely little place on the north shore called Instow. This is all that remains of the Torrington to Barnstable line.

A day was spent on the West Somerset Railway. This runs from Minehead to Taunton and is Britain's longest preserved steam railway at 20 miles each way.

At Bideford there were many boats of all types, but this one caught my eye. I do not know too much about it, but on early investigation, it was originally steam powered, now diesel, and we think it was either a tug, but more likely to be a fire boat. I will be making further enquiries. It is badly in need of restoration.