2019 July

From The Chair by FFA Chairman - Pat Pawsey

Prior to Ernie creating this website, our sole method of communication was via the magazine, the only other alternative is by post which unfortunately must be ruled out on cost alone.
 
The magazine has proved to be an excellent vehicle for disseminating club news and I do not see this changing, however, it is clear that as Ford and Fordson Tractors is a bimonthly publication and as the deadline for copy to be submitted to it is about a month before it drops through your doors, some three months can pass between an item of interest coming to our attention and to your being told about it.
To try and keep you better informed we shall, for a trial period, be publishing a regular ‘Club News’ item on this website. It will also feature items sent in by area representatives of ‘happenings’ they would like brought to your attention and you the members who have something you would like aired.
Please email items that you wish to be featured either to Ernie or to myself Pat Pawsey and we will do our best to include the most topical. We shall also include stories of interest that have missed publication previously due to editorial constraints or for other reasons.
 
Make no mistake this is your club and we need both input from you and feedback on the content we publish if it is to work properly.
 
Above in the blue header you can see the 7 - 11 issues of "In the Chair" 2013.
Cick on the Month & Number you want to view and this will open on another page for you.
 
Click In the Chair 2013 button in the blue header to return to this 2013 Main page.
 
I hope you enjoy reading these In the Chair information pages as it is my way of keeping the Members upto date with what is going on with Your FFA.
 
FFA Chairman

Read more ...2019 July

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2019 May

From The Chair by FFA Chairman - Pat Pawsey

Prior to Ernie creating this website, our sole method of communication was via the magazine, the only other alternative is by post which unfortunately must be ruled out on cost alone.
 
The magazine has proved to be an excellent vehicle for disseminating club news and I do not see this changing, however, it is clear that as Ford and Fordson Tractors is a bimonthly publication and as the deadline for copy to be submitted to it is about a month before it drops through your doors, some three months can pass between an item of interest coming to our attention and to your being told about it.
To try and keep you better informed we shall, for a trial period, be publishing a regular ‘Club News’ item on this website. It will also feature items sent in by area representatives of ‘happenings’ they would like brought to your attention and you the members who have something you would like aired.
Please email items that you wish to be featured either to Ernie or to myself Pat Pawsey and we will do our best to include the most topical. We shall also include stories of interest that have missed publication previously due to editorial constraints or for other reasons.
 
Make no mistake this is your club and we need both input from you and feedback on the content we publish if it is to work properly.
 
Above in the blue header you can see the 7 - 11 issues of "In the Chair" 2013.
Cick on the Month & Number you want to view and this will open on another page for you.
 
Click In the Chair 2013 button in the blue header to return to this 2013 Main page.
 
I hope you enjoy reading these In the Chair information pages as it is my way of keeping the Members upto date with what is going on with Your FFA.
 
FFA Chairman

Read more ...2019 May

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2019 March

From the Chair: Issue 89 Feb - March 2019

Sometimes a chance encounter or random occurrence will start a whole new train of thought that may rekindle childhood memories, bring to mind people long forgotten or lead on to something entirely different.  At the ploughing Nationals in October on a wet morning a neighbouring exhibitor Eric Ovenden, who we had first met on arrival the day before bought over a few copies of 'Agriculture' The Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture from the nineteen forties.  One of these dated March 1944 contained a quarter page advertisement placed by The Ford Motor Company Ltd of Dagenham.
 
It rather surprisingly depicts a Ford 2N on rubbers and not the Dagenham made Fordson that was still selling well.  It is a typically stylised advertisement of the period showing a very well dressed tractor driver bidding a pretty land army girl adieu and starts "Until then…'Good -bye Miss Land Girl…we won't forget you and all you did in helping us win the war. '…  Which surely is a bit premature as the war was not by then over let alone won.  'Operation Overlord" now usually known as D-Day was not launched until 6th June 1944 and V-E day, Victory Europe, the unconditional German surrender, was more than a year ahead on 9th May 1945.
 
 
However, tractor numbers, as indeed the mechanisation of agriculture, increased dramatically as a result of both the Great and Second World War. The table below is from a paper by Dr Paul Brassley that interestingly contains a myriad of other agricultural facts and statistics.  It is interesting to see the dramatic reduction in the number of horses employed and the rapid growth of tractor use to compensate for their loss.
The decrease in the number of agricultural workers due to the pressing need for the manpower thus released to be redeployed in the armed services and for the manufacture of munitions. Horse use was already in decline by the thirties and was accelerated both, to a limited extent by military requirements, but mainly because increasing the mechanisation of agricultural production became essential to prevent the starvation of the population that was threatened by the blockade, thereby releasing horse pastures to be used for human food production and by reducing the manpower required to grow and harvest it.
 
Incidentally the decline in agricultural workers has continued and from ministry figures for 2016 the number had shrunk further to 176,000.  Unfortunately there seems to be no official statistics as to the number of tractors then in use.
 
The journals are packed with information and advice for farmers and were of course issued by the ministry in part as a propaganda tool but primarily to help boost food production by providing advice and information.  There is much about the County War Agricultural Executive Committees known as 'War Ags' that had quite extensive powers together with topical advice on all types of livestock husbandry, horticulture, crop diseases, fertiliser use, woodland management and other related agricultural topics, much of which is still valid today.  However an "Official List of Approved Insecticides and Fungicides" would certainly raise eyebrows these days, they were grouped together under the following headings:-
 
Group A: Lead Arsenate Powders
Group B: Lead Arsenate Pastes
Group C: Lime Sulphur Washes
Group D: Miscible Tar Oil Washes
Group E: Organo-Mercury Dry Seed Dressings
 
As with many publications from the period photographs were little used but one, reproduced here complete with original caption, is quite striking.  It is of a lone ploughman, presumably published to further the campaign to plough grassland, although I don't think the ploughman's work would have been very highly placed at the National Ploughing Championships but, in mitigation, he might have been more concerned about dodging incoming gun fire than drawing a perfectly straight furrow!
 
The publications also brought back boyhood memories.  At home, old rituals such as the 'Harvest King', elected annually by the men, were dying out.  The head horseman still carried considerable clout even though his charges of Suffolk Punches and Shires were down to about thirteen. I remember the German prisoners of war billeted in one of the barns and that they were always very kind to us children.   Of seed corn being dressed with the dreaded pink powder, the men didn't wear masks in those days nor do I remember any washing of hands before eating their 'nineses'.  In the winter this was usually taken in the swill shed hopefully with the potato boiler alight for preparing pig feed and providing an illusion of warmth.  On rainy days jobs such as mending sacks and mixing straight fertilisers on the barn floor with shovels, much of which needed breaking up with mallets first, as it had gone hard in the bags, to form the compound fertilizer.  How things have changed for the better since then; of weeks in the winter spent digging out ditches and hedging, father reckoned to get around the farm's ditches within ten years.  Cutting kale for stock feed on frosty mornings and mucking out pigs and cattle, which was all done by hand, no fore loaders or forklifts.  I don't recall steam tackle working at home but saw it occasionally on neighbouring land. The threshing crew, in our part of the world did the rounds pulling the drum behind a tractor.  I do remember a Gyrotiller being hired to grub out a redundant orchard and hedgerows, it seemed a huge machine to me but then it was. I often wonder what people really mean when they speak of the 'good old days', things were certainly different, some were better but most certainly were not; but every generation talks about them as if they really were a halcyon time and, given the chance, will tell the next generation that they don't know they've been born or what hard work is.
 

 
E10 Petrol: 
The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) has highlighted concerns regarding the possible risks to older vehicles due to the forthcoming introduction of E10 petrol.  E5 petrol containing 5% ethanol has been on the forecourts for a while now, appearing from 2008, but the government is pushing suppliers to move to petrol containing 10% of non fossil fuels.  In this country that means ethanol made from wheat, this proposal is a climate change control measure.  Most of our members will be relatively unaffected as for the last sixty odd years tractors have largely been diesel powered and even if they had spark ignition engines these could hardly be described as high performance types requiring petrol with high-octane levels.  However, there are still a lot of petrol/TVO machines and some petrol only ones.
The problem appears to be ethanol's ability to attack cork and rubber putting gaskets, fuel pipes and pump diaphragms at risk of failure that could result in a disastrous fire.  It is also alleged to attack brass and aluminium, although this claim as yet seems to be unsupported by research, but if found to be the case would lead to carburettor malfunction and ultimately an engine that cannot be run.  Ethanol is hygroscopic, as is break fluid that similarly results in corrosion of system components, for example of steel and other metal parts, incidentally it also destroys fiberglass fuel tanks.  It is alleged to cause varnish formation but this has always been a problem with 'stale' fuel.
 
When E10 is finally introduced The Department of Transport is only proposing a temporary 'protection grade' set at 95RON (Research Octane Number) for two years, not 97RON as when E5 was introduced that lasted until the end of 2016.  So basically any action required to prevent possible harm to your pride and joy is down to you.  The FBHVC has recommended the firms listed below for the supply of fuel additives suitable for use with petrol containing non fossil fuels - their use may well prove to be a cheap form of insurance until the actual risk is known - I have already bought some: - 
 
Millers' Oils - website: www.millersoils.co.uk
Frost A R T Ltd - website: www.frost.co.uk
Flexolite - website: www.flexolite.co.uk
 

 
From Around the Country:
Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show held on Newark Show Ground 10th and 11th November.  The layout of the show was rather different this year as the long feature marquee of recent years was replaced with two much smaller ones one featuring '70 Years of Nuffield' and the other 'First 50 Years of John Deer' that was rather light on examples from the earlier years.  The number of entries was noticeably down show wise, for instance, the George Stephenson Hall that displays the 'Nominated Entries', Concours D'Elegance as well as club and horticultural features was not as cramped as usual giving more space to comfortably view the exhibits that were, this year presented to a very high standard.  The number of traders outside was also less than usual and the rare breeds were frankly disappointing.
 
The Club was in its usual position and bucking the show trend, we had more tractors on the stand.
 
We also introduced lorries that had brought some of the tractors to add to the display.  One of which Pauls Cooper's lovely Bedford TK won a richly deserved prize; to my mind his E27N also merited recognition but that was not to be.
 
The tractors ranged from a Fordson F up to New Holland TM125 and made an interesting line up that included an E1A Major fitted with a Gardner diesel.  I know that some of you disapprove of fitting 'exotic' engines to tractors and consider it to be a form of desecration but when executed as neatly as in this case, surely we can all admire the engineering skill? 
 
Nick Bryne who exhibited his 1927 Fordson model F was awarded 'The Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society Award for The Best Nominated Entry'.  It was Nick's first time at the show and his 450 mile round trip from Somerset was certainly not wasted.  He and his family are long term active supporters of the vintage tractor movement and it was good to see his hard work and dedication recognised, a really well-deserved award.
 

 
Representatives for our Future:
Jane Broomhall, our Treasurer writes: 
The success of any organisation is due to its product, the promotion of that product and the after sales back-up provided by the people who deliver these services on a daily basis.  Our Club, The Ford and Fordson Association and the Ford and Fordson Tractors magazine, produced and distributed by Kelsey Publishing are no different.
Whilst the Association has been in existence for some time, in early 2016 the FFA became independent whereby, to join the Club, a member must pay their subscription directly to us, we then pay Kelsey for each magazine distributed to them on our behalf.
 
As a result, an excellent member base has been established - both UK and overseas - and our relationship with Kelsey is very strong.
 
The Club has an enthusiastic committee with diverse skills, and area representatives, who work well together at shows and working events throughout the year. Members are encouraged to exhibit their tractors, we enjoy engaging with them for a chat and providing advice and technical support where possible. We have lots of fun too. However we must strive to strengthen our network of representatives both at home and abroad and this cannot be achieved without your help.
 
Do you have local vintage tractor events, which you currently support, with your Ford and Fordson tractors?  Perhaps you also have like-minded friends and feel that you could establish a satellite on behalf of the Association and expand the events into a greater celebration of the tractor?
 
It really doesn't have to take a huge amount of your time. Events can be advertised in the Club magazine, entry fees met, and promotional materials, including a Club marquee, and merchandise provided.
 
Coverage in Scotland and the north is currently a challenge for us and with Tractor World, Scotland firmly established on the calendar finding a local representative is a priority. If you are interested in representing the FFA in your area, or just running a show on behalf of the Association, please give me a call on
01379 677866 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
You will know from Issue 86 of the magazine that John Skipper recently became our representative for the South of Wales and attended the Pembrokeshire County Show.
 
He already has an ambition to see the vintage display at the show more centrally located and has other local events in his diary for 2019.
 
I am pleased to let you know that Wouter Croquey is our new representative for Belgium and we have new overseas representatives in Germany, New Zealand, Southern Ireland and the Netherlands, details of whom can be found on our website; Dawn and Barry Milsom have, of course, represented us in Australia for many years as has Gianfranco Bisson in Italy. I am also in touch with members in Canada, France and the USA and hope to confirm representatives for these in the coming weeks.
 
I believe it was Aristotle who said 'the whole is greater than the sum of its parts' meaning something is better than you would expect from the individual pieces, because the way they combine adds a different quality. This is certainly true of many organisations, the Ford and Fordson Association is amongst them.
 
A letter of introduction from our new representative for Belgium Wouter Croquey
 
Dear FFA-members,
My name is Wouter Croquey, I'm 44 years old, married and father of two children (a girl of 14 and a boy of 10).  I'm a mechanical engineer in daily life.  I have been member of the FFA for four years now. 
 
My love for Ford tractors has its origins in my grandparents on father's side.  They had a farm with two Fords - a '64 3000 Super Dexta and a '76 4600, both of them still being within the family today.   Next to this, my father has worked for many years for a local contractor during the Summer months, for whom he drove a 5000 Super Major and later on a 6600 with Dual Power powering a Clayson baler. 
So, a lot of great souvenirs of looking at Ford tractors at work and also of driving them. 
At every gathering or when reading articles or reports from events, I'm always delighted about the fact the love for blue tractors is still so strong, despite the fact that the Fordson and Ford brands as such do not exist anymore today.
For me, Ford has always stood for high quality and innovation, really answering the farmers' needs. 
I'm happy to be the country representative for Belgium, moreover as my country has played and still plays an important role in the Ford and New Holland history.  Let the FFA help us to live our passion and to bring enthusiasts together to meet and to discuss.
 
Best regards,
Wouter Croquey

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2019 January

From the Chair: Issue 88 December 2018/January 2019

This year’s Great Dorset Steam Fair certainly had people talking but not always for the reasons the organisers would have wished......

It was the show’s fiftieth anniversary an achievement of which they were rightly proud and I must say that the numbers and range of the steam exhibits were quite splendid as was the Great War display that has been developed over the last five years but this, being the centennial anniversary of the signing of the armistice was its final year. Dorset always manages to produce a new rabbit out of the hat and it is a show where one meets up with friends that you don’t see at any other shows.
Great Dorset Steam Fair Ltd. is a professionally run plc and after staging the event for fifty years it beggars belief that the organisers could have got the provision of toilets so disastrously wrong. Martin Oliver apologised on Steam FM for their shortcomings by explaining that the provision of toilets was put out for tender as usual and that the cheapest bid was accepted.

This demonstrates at best a poor understanding of a proper tendering procedure that if carried out correctly will obtain a good service at the lowest practical cost, but only if there is a stringent assessment process when evaluating the bids. We have all witnessed the incompetence of government tendering where millions of pounds of our money have been wasted on computer programmes that don’t work and other such follies, but we are not speaking of high technology complicated systems here, we are talking about lavatories, it’s basic stuff. Any tender document must clearly specify the quantity of product required, in this case loos, the type and number needed and their distribution round the ground together with the level of servicing etc. required.

The evaluation process must also confirm that the successful provider can meet both the quality of product and service specified for example by running a check on their past performance to ensure that it is likely to meet its obligations. If during the selection process to much emphasis is focused on the lowest cost, it will certainly drive that down but it will inevitably also drive down the quality of service provided.

It is such a shame that the fiftieth anniversary of this great show should have been spoilt by such a basic error. Let us hope that this was no more than an unfortunate blip, that lessons have been learnt and that it will soon be forgotten. Here’s to the next fifty years.

Great Dorset aside there has been much talk about the rally scene in general. There is no denying that many shows raise worthwhile sums for highly deserving charitable causes, play an educational roll and also help to preserve our heritage and provide pleasure to exhibitors and public alike. This all sounds like a “win – win” situation but unfortunately that is not always the case.

They say that money is the root of all evil and it may well have been a contributory factor in Dorset’s debacle, but it also seems to me to be the prime reason for some of the problems affecting our hobby. When someone wants to raise money for a ‘good’ cause all too often his or her first choice is to inaugurate a heritage event to raise it. Any new event unfortunately has three unintended effects, the first is that it dilutes the pool of exhibitors that existing events rely on, the second is that it further overloads an already bursting show calendar and thirdly of course it inevitably reduces everyone else’s gate receipts.

A strong case can be made that events should combine and cooperate rather than compete directly with one another. If done with a spirit of good will it could result in better more interesting events and reduction of the costs involved to stage them, as there would be fewer shows, thereby making more money available for good causes. I know that several rally committees find that sourcing the volunteers needed to build their shows, then operate and finally clear up afterwards increasingly difficult, so it could also help on that front........ I don’t expect that much will change but it should be considered.


Book Review: ‘The Combine Harvester’

Another new soft cover book by Jonathan Whitlam. It is a similar format to the previous two volumes and is again from Amberley Publishing, it measures 234mm x 165mm with 96 pages and is profusely illustrated with matt colour mostly half page illustrations, priced at £14-99; the book is not on glossy paper.
This book tells the story from the inception of the early machines known as reaper-threshers that were derived from two separate machines, the binder and the threshing drum and charts its course from these early, rather cumbersome trailed implements, through to the arrival of the self-propelled combine harvester. It covers the combines development, both the earlier straw walker designs and later axial flow types and touches on possible future developments of the leviathans of today.
It is packed with information and shows examples of brands once quite popular but now no more and certainly brought back memories of how itchy the job used to be particularly in barley and how black one was at the end of the day when cutting beans, a worthy addition to your book shelf.


From Around the Country:

Dacorum Steam and Country Fayre - July 28th & 29th
John Worley our Hertfordshire Representative writes, this year’s show was another success on the Saturday as the weather held, although rather windy, but by Sunday we had started rain and this put a damper on events.
There were 30 Ford or Fordson Tractors out of a total of 60. Models included Standard N, Dexta’s Major, 4000, Power Major, 3000, Super Major, and the best turned out went to Dick Trotts, DOE 130.
This Tractor is winning at all our local show and is a credit to Dick and the restorers.
On a sad note, we remembered Ivan Papworth who had passed away some weeks earlier and who made his living by restoring Tractors and Steam Engines. More about this later, when we shall be reporting on having a road run to raise funds for the family charity.
Thanks go to the organisers for another well run-event, let us hope that it was a money-making show as the funds raised will go to the Hospice of St Francis Berkhamsted.


Pembrokeshire County Show 2018 - 14th to 16th August:
John Skipper reports. This three-day county show was my inaugural baptism as the South Wales Association Representative and it was good to start the networking at such a prestigious show - many thanks in particular to John Husband for his support. Of the 45 vintage tractors on show there were about 12 Ford and Fordson, the oldest being a restored 1945 E27N.
Celebrating the year of the Dexta it was great to see five of these workhorses lined up. Coincidence it was that my 1964 Super Dexta NP was next to another that was sold within the same six-month period that year by Greens of Haverfordwest!

The middle day of the show should have seen all the tractors parading around the main arena, but very heavy rain that day and quite a serious accident in the show jumping area saw this event cancelled. Unfortunately no Ford and Fordsons received a prize, although great credit to Michael Evans' 1950 David Brown Cropmaster for achieving best in Show. I'm glad to report there was quite a lot of interest in the Association and this has translated into some new member applications. There was a good deal of interest shown by the younger show attendees and I think it's important to raise awareness amongst these budding enthusiasts.


This is a good county show and is generally well attended over the three days - it will be held again over a similar period next year. I was a little disappointed that the vintage show area was located at the very far end of the airfield, quite a few saying they had real problems finding us. I've made that known to the organisers so hopefully we will be in a more prominent position next year.


Biddenden Tractorfest & Country Fair

18th and 19th August Ernie reports; This was my first time at this show and as I walked through the entrance and paid my very reasonable £9, I was pleasantly surprised.... a vast area of tractors, vintage equipment, steam, working area, countryside stalls, wood carving and a couple of tractor pulled carts that you could hop on and off around the site for a relaxing ride around.


Just how a Country Fair should be. There were cultivators, farm working equipment and vintage stalls, a brilliant variety from years gone by. I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and lay out of the show.
A Good Day out for anyone.


Southern Area Working Weekend
Held on 2nd and 3rd September on Langham Airfield courtesy of Rix Farms was again well attended with good weather. Member’s wives, Paula Smart and Maureen Starling provided the catering and an excellent job they made of it too. Eighteen tractors attended on each day and there was a brilliant atmosphere. These ‘fun’ events are becoming more popular, perhaps everyday life is already competitive enough and people just want to exercise themselves and their ‘toys’ without the competitive element of, for example, a ploughing match? Some £478 was raised in aid of the Air Ambulance service. An excellent event and our particular thanks go to the landowner and to Roger Starling.


Kent Ploughing Match
at Melmains Farm 26th September Rodney Gibson reports, , a good day with 3 tractors on the stand. Peter Mitchem brought his narrow Dexta 1958. I brought my narrow Dexta 1962 and Andy Edmunds brought his narrow Fordson N. Kent Area Representative John Vowel Kent was on plough off with his Power Major and Ransoms plough. Bob Baseby FFA member came second with his New Performance Major and Ransoms plough.
We recruited new members wife Grace Moon, who cooks good sausage rolls, cheese straws and cakes and kept us with food all day. Thanks Grace, watch this space...


Autumn Tractor World, held at Newbury October 6th and 7th, Lin Prince reports: this show is now in its third year but for some reason remains quite small. Tractor clubs were well represented as were some of the well-known tractor spares companies and an assortment of other traders. There was also a selection of commercials to look at. The weather was good on Friday and Sunday but Saturday was cold, wet and windy. Despite this the auction did well but the weather may have kept some of the public away.
There was a nice display of Fordson Standards ranging through the ages on the Blue Force stand, mainly owned by one of their members. On the FFA stand we had Peter Nutley’s Land Army display, two Dextas a narrow and a Super and our Sandbanks Ferry Power Major along with merchandise sales and teas and coffees. This combination won us the best club stand trophy again.



68th National Ploughing Championships
Held at Atherstone, 13th and 14th October.
The weather was unkind with high wind and some rain on Saturday, the rain stopped in late morning but the wind kept blowing and we had to give up trying to erect the Club marquee. By afternoon the sun shone and it turned pleasantly warm even though the wind persisted and we had a good look round. I was particularly taken with the Foden steam tractor coupled to a Ransome trailer plough and also by the double drum Howard 8 hp built around 1876 that was demonstrating ‘windlass’ ploughing, you don’t see one of these working very often. There were some interesting tractors on the stand especially Ben Hassel’s imposing and practically unique County HSH 140 that was originally exported to Africa where it languished for many years on the dock side before working in Zimbabwe. David Suttons Howard trencher fitted to a Ford 5000 on rotor pads also drew a steady throng of observers throughout the weeken; these combinations were quite a common sight on Majors but more unusual on the later Fords.
The Club’s ploughmen had all qualified at earlier events but unfortunately mainly due to mechanical problems three were unable to attend. They were due to perform on Sunday that turned out to be both cold and wet but nevertheless I thought they made a splendid job in adverse conditions.

The results were:

Champion: Stephen Jones - Ford 4100 and Ransome TS 59 plough
Second: John Lewis - Fordson Dexta and Ransome TS 59
Third: Terence Stinson - Ford 3000 and Ransome TS 59

Steven Jones and John Lewis, Club Champion and runner up....ploughing away.
Well Done Guy's

Stephen’s 4100 was the only tractor fitted with a cab and I expect he was pleased about having some protection. I must say I liked John Snape’s E27N and TD 59 outfit and felt for Harry Williams with his lovely P6 powered N and RSLD 9 combination as his plough’s lift mechanism failed and he was forced to wind it out after each run that made for hard work in unfavourable conditions. It was the sort of day that sorts the men from the boys and they all passed with flying colours. Our thanks to ploughman’s wife Michelle Partridge and Raymond Govier, who had tractor trouble and was unable to plough for acting as Club Stewards.
We had trouble leaving site on the Monday as there had been more rain overnight and it continued damp in the morning. Sue and I were grateful for the help given to us by one of the ploughman Rob Laybourn, who had been ploughing in class 2 on Saturday, he came over with his International and Kverneland plough and not only helped us all hook up but towed us getting on for a mile to the road, complete with loaded lorry and caravan


Andrew Green from Devon writes:
I'm sat in glorious October sunshine as a wonderful conclusion to a memorable Summer! However this spell can't last too long, after all we are into our winter evening meetings season! The next date is December 7th when Julian Pratt is coming to talk to us about his early years when he was employed as a racing car mechanic and subsequently as a race driver. This was originally cancelled back in February due to snow, so let's hope history doesn't repeat itself! Looking further ahead to next year, we have dates booked at Whiddon Down on 23rd January and 27th February and more information will follow in due course.
We are already starting to note events for next year. The Somerset Tractor Show is to be held on the weekend of 26th and 27th January at Shepton Mallet with a special display of IH tractors and including the usual sale on the Saturday. We wish Nick Bryne and his colleagues the very best for another successful Charitable event. Also please note down Tractor World at Malvern which incorporates our very own FFA AGM on February 23rd and 24th. I have also been asked to draw your attention to our County Show on May 16th to 18th at Westpoint and also the Honiton Hill Rally on 25th and 26th August. It all seems some long way off but it will be here all too soon!
Well that's all for now and as I usually say, please keep in touch : Andrew Chilverton


Coming Event News: 2018 & 2019

Isle of Wight Road Run to be held on 27th December. For details contact David Lemonius Pool Barn, Thorncross, Newport, IW, PO30 4PN Telephone 07831 773561.

2019 Spring Tractor World at Malvern February 23rd and 24th
This traditionally is the Club’s show opener, and we shall be having our AGM there as usual, please do come and have your say. Preferably bring a tractor and be part of our display, the Club’s special feature at the show will be the Fordson model N so you might like to take part in that. Get your entries in to Mark but remember to put the FFA on your entry form and if you need any help please contact Ian and Lin Prince on 01268 710143

The Heritage and Transport April 6th
Held on the Kent show ground where they are featuring the N and would like to display ninety model Ns.
Contact Rodney Gibson on 01795 841775

Finally:
As 2019 fast approaches we have another tractor anniversary to celebrate, the birth of the Fordson N. It is fact that the first model N was demonstrated in 1928 with an Oliver 38 three furrow plough, but production did not commence at Cork until April 1929. So, you pays your money and takes your choice. Actually it’s a very similar scenario to the Dexta’s launch at Alexandra Palace in 1957, although probably most examples displayed were partial mock-ups, but production did not start until the following year. After the ground-breaking launch of the Fordson F in 1917 the improved version, the model N, is hardly less important to Britain’s survival through the dark days of war that followed.
I expect that the N will feature strongly at events this year, I know of two to date the first is as part of the FFA display at Spring Tractor World at Malvern on February 23rd and 24th and the other is the Kent Heritage and Transport Show on 6th April.

Read more ...2019 January

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2018 November

From the Chair July 2018 for Issue 87 Oct/Nov 2018

I have to say that sitting in my study in the cool writing this is really rather pleasant as its a tad too warm for me outside on this the hottest day yet of this exceptional summer weather we have been enjoying. Actually it has been almost too hot and dry so far this year, of course it must break eventually and we really mustn't complain, but I cannot recall such a prolonged period without rain, at least in this part of the country, nor one that has been so hot for so long. Some rallies have suffered a quite dramatic drop in gate receipts mostly, I think, because it has been just too hot for the paying public to attend and if you watch the crowds it appears that often people just stay for an hour or so rather than for most of the day as they usually do. You cannot altogether blame them, in this weather, as many sites offer neither shade nor anywhere to sit and relax for a spell.

Talking to both visitors and exhibitors it would seem that the attendance problems facing some events run deeper than that caused by a passing heat wave. There will always be those who criticise everything on principle but do nothing to improve matters themselves, they make a lot of noise but frankly their views are usually best ignored as they add nothing new nor do they offer anything constructive to the debate. However there are several recurring arguments that might improve the experience of attending rallies that perhaps organisers should consider and a few points that do affect attendance but are unfortunately outside their control.

The comment most often heard is that there are just too many rallies, its a fair point and it might be better all-round if there were a few less but of better quality. Any rally should provide enough 'substance' to make an interesting day out for both punter and exhibitor but in many cases particularly at the smaller ones there is no more than an hour or two at best. I know that it's 'meeting people' that largely makes it all worthwhile for us exhibitors, but you are there usually for at least two days?

Both the entry fee and the food and beer concessions should be reasonably priced too, certainly if you wish families to attend there must be something for the ladies and children. The gate receipts really suffer if there is nothing to draw the family.

Free or cheap site transport is increasingly important as we are all getting older and find large rally fields difficult to get round.

Several rallies, I mention no names and no pack drill here, are getting very tired with the same layout and formula followed every year and, in many cases the same exhibits, it may make life easy for the stewards, but it doesn't do much either for the regular punters or the exhibitors.

For exhibitors the cost of diesel has risen sharply again which makes one-day events and distant sites relatively expensive to attend.

Steam attendance payments continue to be a bone of contention for tractor men, but it does give us something to talk about and is unlikely to change much in the foreseeable future. I think it's simply that years ago the steam boys were better negotiators than our men were, it may not be logical or justifiable but that's life.

I do think rally programs should be given to exhibitors, in some cases it may be justifiable to make a small charge or ask for a donation. Dorset charges £7 each, or did last year, and you really need a programme to plan your viewing itinerary at a rally of that size - but charging exhibitors £7?

The practise of a few exhibitors that leave early without a good reason should be stopped - it is a free country and they cannot legally be prevented from leaving, but just ban them next year, its that simple. I've left rallies early because of necessity but I always explained why to the steward first and have never had a problem. We sign up to stay on our pegs and should honour that commitment unless the punters leave early. It's always the same ones who go first!

We all have opinions on improvements that could or should be made and those listed above are the ones I hear most often but there is one more that I think merits a separate mention. Safety. None of us like rules but there are too many accidents that could be avoided not to mention those we have all seen that 'nearly happened'. Rules and rally site regulations are in place to protect the public and exhibitors alike and I would particularly stress the importance of observing the usual 5 m.p.h. site speed limits, the illegality of having more than one person on a tractor and in particularly under age and reckless driving. Compliance must be rigidly enforced, make no mistake one bad slip up and the killjoys will try to impose further swingeing restrictions on future events, just look at how some people misuse Health and Safety regulations now.


DVLA
The importance of having the correct licence to drive cannot be over-emphasised. A long time member was pulled over by the police because his vehicle was registered as a box van and is now a flat bed, not because of any infringement. That probably wouldn't have mattered but of course they checked his licence, he still has a paper one and thought he was entitled to drive it under grandfather's rights. He thought that these were never taken away, of course they were not but if you did not apply for the class of licence you required within the period allocated for such applications they effectively did. Be warned.


Book Review:

'New Holland Tractors' a new soft cover book by Jonathan Whitlam. This is the sequel to 'Ford Tractors' reviewed a month or so back from Amberley Publishing and again measures 234mm x 165mm with 96 pages and some hundred fifty matt colour mostly half page illustrations, priced at £14-99; the book is again not on glossy paper. It is a similar format to the previous volume and although the text runs to only some thirteen pages it is densely packed with information.

It does seem strange that although this book covers a relatively short period of time that there have been so many different models in these few years, a result of various Fiat acquisitions and the establishment of New Holland as a world brand. I feel that it was a pity that the paper quality was not better as it does not really do justice to the high quality of the photographs. I did like this edition better than the previous title and it proved a welcome addition to a New Holland enthusiast's book shelf.


From Around the Country:

Whitwell Steam and Country Fair - 9th and 10th June held at Codicote near Hitchin. This was my first visit to this rally for many years; it has grown considerably since and the present site is much better. I had hoped to meet up with John Worley our Hertfordshire representative as this is part of his patch but, unfortunately, he was unable to attend through ill-health, but I am glad to report he is much better now. We were made very welcome on arrival and all the Ford and Fordsons, over fifty of them, were grouped together, just as they should be. Dick Trott's splendid Doe 130 had pride of place; this tractor has been featured during its restoration in Tractor and Machinery and it looks even better in the flesh. It developed an oil leak on the front pump that just goes to show that gremlins can strike at any time they just have, in the modern parlance, 'no respect'. We met some very friendly people and it was an interesting rally, tractors on the stand were judged and our prize winners were:

Best in Show: Dick Trott - Doe 150


Best unrestored: Jack Hooper - Roadless 95

Judges Favourite:Peter RobinsonFordson N


Pink Ladies Ride Again


Jane Broomhall writes: Who would have believed that the Ladies Tractor Road Run established in July 2004 could continue with the same support and enthusiasm fifteen year later? Believe me, it does.
There is no doubt of the commitment and passion held by Annie and John Chapman, who came up with the idea all those years ago and, for every participant and supporter, the day provides a rollercoaster of emotion.
I personally am always grateful of full sunshine, so that I can wear dark glasses, or rain, so that onlookers are unable to see the tears that flow, particularly when driving through Harleston, where the crowds line the streets and cheer every driver through.
It is true to say that we all have family members or friends who have been affected by breast cancer and have seen the sometimes devastation this has caused. But, because of treatments available today, the odds of recovery are greater than ever.
On the 1st July, another of our very hot summer days, 120 ladies took to the road in support of the charity, all with a strong focus on realising the long-term ambition to reach a target of one million pounds raised. £584,000 has been raised to date.
Thank you to everyone who was kind enough to sponsor me again this year, it really is appreciated.


Journey Through The Ages

16th and 17th June at Palgrave held near Diss. This is the rally's fourth year and for the second year running it was very hot, which undoubtedly adversely affected gate receipts. This is a rally that seems to take two steps forward and then one back, it really doesn't seem to know quite where its going probably because the management does not appear to have a clear idea of what its actually trying to achieve, there was no programme again this year.

That said we had a good turn-out of Ford and Fordsons on display, which we were allowed to arrange and were given more space than last year. They ranged from Roy Pratt's 1917 MOM F Oliver and plough through to both a New Holland TM and TZ 190, with a good selection of interesting models in between. It is a very friendly rally and I hope they improve their management skills before the good will, that has been so far engendered, evaporates. The tractors on the stand were judged and prize winners were presented by Jane Broomhall:

Best in Show:
Gerald Hunting - County 4000 Four
Best unrestored:
Robert Pratt - Fordson Row crop and binder
Judges Favourite:
Roger Starling - Fordson Major and compressor

Jane Broomhall presenting Roger Starling with his prize....
Well Done Roger



Tractor Fest
9th - 10th June near Ripon, Roger Ingham reports. The weather smiled on Newby Hall at this years tractor show with a beautiful sunny weekend attracting large crowds to this, one of Yorkshires largest tractor shows. Friday saw the arrival of Margaret and Derek Badham with the stand and all its clothing and a large selection of trinkets to tempt potential purchasers to the stand. A welcome addition to the FFA stand was our president Nick Batelle with his Twenty Parts stand. Soon the stands were up and running and, complemented by Twenty Parts, it looked outstanding and we were ready for one of Margaret's famous cuppas. Saturday brought tractors from far and near filling the stand with a stunning selection of restored and unrestored gems including Alan Nicholson's stunning display of 1000 series.


On the FFA stand we had an amazing home manufactured bale handler, an ingenious bit of work, and a credit to its very pleasant genius gentleman who manned the stand all weekend explaining how it worked what a nice chap.

Crowds flocked in on both days and we all enjoyed another wonderful weekend in Newby Halls lovely grounds. Thanks to all FFA members for calling on the stand and bringing their stunning tractors, also to all our staff on the stand and to Twenty Parts for joining us and making a great weekend of the 2018 show season.

The Kent County & Heritage Show
6th - 8th July.
Our website genius - Ernie - reports: As you know 2018 is the Centenary of the end of WW1 and the show displays included 'The Kent, the aircraft flies in memory of No. 131 (County of Kent) Fighter Squadron and the Kent Spitfire completed an exciting display over the Kent Showground on all three Show days.


Also the 'Everyone Remembered 1914 - 1918 " Bronze Centenary Soldier, with poppy cascade encased statue, that is touring the country. The Household Cavalry Musical Ride in the main area and a superb poppy display in the Gardeners tent. Next year the Kent County Show will be celebrating a milestone, our 90th Show on 5th, 6th & 7th July 2019, come and see what is going on for you then.

Kent County & Heritage Show Full Report
& more photos click here


Cambridgeshire Steam and Vintage Vehicle Rally
July 14th - 15th Stow- Cum - Quy
Lin Prince reports:- the sun rose over Quy Park for the start and kept shining all weekend; it wasn't half hot. The organiser requested that all the Ford and Fordson tractors be parked together in front of the FFA stand.


There was about 20 tractors, various models over the two days. These ranged in age from a harvest gold standard to a Ford 3600, E27Ns being the most popular model.


But unfortunately not as many exhibited as listed in the programme. Perhaps they were doing what a lot of the public must have been doing, watching football and tennis. Our thanks to Ray and Vanda for all their help over a glorious weekend.


Andrew Green from Devon reports:

As I write this in the midst of our Devon Show season, I always marvel at the commitment of organisers, exhibitors and above all else the numbers of people who turn up to make all of these events such a great success - admittedly some nice weather does help and makes a huge difference! Comparisons are being made with the 1976 summer but locally comments are that this drought is more severe due to the wet autumn and winter of 2017, so that crops didn't have properly developed root systems. However, we are enjoying a wonderful Show season and an upturn in lots of extra tourism and a boost to the local economy.

We are now looking ahead to the Autumn. I have booked up our usual evening meeting venue of Whiddon Down Village Hall and please make a note of these dates and put them in your diary NOW, they are all Wednesdays:- 7th November, 5th December, 23rd January and 27th February 2019. I am currently working on organising speakers and/or entertainment. One meeting will probably be a rearranged evening with Julian Pratt recounting his motor racing experiences, which originally fell victim to the snow at the end of February. If you do have any suggestions or contacts to help me please do let me know as it is always quite difficult to provide interesting topics.

Well, that's all for now but as I always say, keep in touch:- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


Late Event News:

The Fairford, Faringdon, Filkins & Burford Ploughing Society's annual ploughing match is to be held on 29th September at Clanfield, Oxon, OX18 2SU. This year is their big 70, there is a class for pre-1976 Ford and Fordson tractors without safety cabs and the winner will be offered one of the FFA's plots at next year's Nationals. Contact Bob Jeffrey on 01451 833636 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Megan Saunders wwwploughingmatch.co.uk

The Dutch FFA Ploughing Match, will be held October 20th at Noorderweg 9621 BN Slochteren (Groningen). All enquiries to Jans Stevens at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0031 0 640469094. My thanks to Gerrard Schoenmakers for this.

Northern FFA Ploughing Championship is to be held by kind permission of the landowner Mr Peter Zeigler and Scarcroft and District Ploughing Society on Sunday 11th of November at 10 am at Sweep Hill Farm Wetherby. All FFA members are welcome.
Contact Roger Ingham for information on 01937 531532


Some shows & Rallies for 2018:

OCTOBER
6-7 Tractor World, Newbury FFA
6-7 FFA Southern area ploughing match
13 -14 British Ploughing Championships, Austrey, Nr Atherstone, Warks, CV9 3ED FFA
20 Dutch FFA Ploughing Match at Noorderweg 9621 BN Slochteren
NOVEMBER
10 - 11 Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show FFA
11 Northern Area FFA Ploughing Championships at Sweep Hill Farm Wetherby


Finally:
I would just like to congratulate The Starting Handle Club and especially Mike Curtis and Bob Parke for the excellent way that the Summer Show at Marsham is organised. The camping area was clearly marked out which saves a lot of hassle, the loos were cleaner when I left than they are at many rallies when you arrive. It is a well-run friendly event and their teams hard work certainly paid off.

Read more ...2018 November

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2018 September

From the Chair May 2018 Issue 86 - Aug/Sept 2018

In my view our interest in preservation isn't really about tractors, or cars, or steam or whatever your particular fancy may be, it is about people. That's not to say that tractors are of no interest, of course they are, but it is the people you meet and the friends you make while working or showing, or simply chatting about them that make the hobby worthwhile. It dosen't matter how many other interests you have or how diverse they may be, perhaps you are into shooting or free fall parachuting or whatever else happens to 'float your boat' and for each one you will have a circle of pals peculiar, but not necessarily exclusive to it.
 
That is the benefit of being part of a Club like ours, you meet people you wouldn't otherwise have come across who come from all walks of life.  An added bonus is that advice and help is readily and freely available on any problem that crops up with your machine or on just about on anything else as well.  Like so much in life, it's not what you know but who you know that counts.
 
The other day I was in Devon at their county show, and over the last couple of years we have met some really nice folk there.  The weather was gloriously sunny, unlike last year when the rain was fairly persistent, or as the locals euphemistically prefer to call weather fit only for ducks 'liquid sunshine.'  Anyway Imbert May, who I first met last year, and his charming wife Alice, many of you will remember Alice helping us out by manning the stand and graciously serving teas at Great Dorset last year.  Imbert had not bought Fordsons this year but had joined the 'grey menace' because they were this year's show feature and had brought two nice Massey Fergusons from his collection.  He asked Ken and I if we would like to visit his tractor collection - we jumped at the chance.  So as there was no ring parade on the Friday we set off in the morning accompanied by Graham (of the Nuffield Club) and Imbert's pal Les, a retired haulier who has an inexhaustible fund of good stories, chauffeuring us, a treat was in store!
 
Imbert lives near Exeter so it was only a short trip and what a collection he has; sheds full and here I'm being conservative most are not sheds but much bigger, large barns is a better description and when I say full I mean tightly packed like sardines.
 
 
The first shed is mostly Ford and David Brown and includes a workshop area where a Thomas was undergoing refurbishment.  The second was stuffed with Allis and the next was built on the hillside and therefore has split floor levels and included Nuffield, Marshal, H S C a Turner and combines and many others.  The next was mostly Ferguson, ranging from a Ferguson Brown up and included examples of Wallis, Case and MM.  Then, some distance away, up a steepish track through beautiful rolling Devon countryside we entered one containing John Deer, more Case several crawlers a working high drive Cat with its blade fitted and assortment of implements.  The last contained some unusual gear including a Schluter and plough and a very original Lister, plus muck spreaders etc and how many of you know what Sutcliff is, let alone have actually seen one?
 
 
One does need to be fairly nimble to really enjoy this huge and varied collection as everything is really tightly packed in and to see any particular machine involves a bit of an obstacle course clambering over others to get there.  There is so much to see that it is quite impossible to take it all in in one visit and the description here barely scratches the surface as to what other gems it contains.  There is some very rare and unusual kit but the one that stuck in my mind was a Fordson N powered by a wood powered gas generator that was built by Imbert, presumably a continental manufacturer.  There aren't many collectors who can boast owning a tractor bearing their own name.  If you are ever lucky enough to be invited to visit don't hesitate, just go, it was a great trip out with excellent company.
 

 
Bob Owens of The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs has updated the position regarding MOT exemption of vehicles.  I strongly recommend that members who may be affected read the article, which may be seen on Our web site on the FBHV CLUB NEWS section
 
 
In Issue 2 of this year's Newsletter, Bob writes that the Federation has received further information:-
 
I am using that as the basis for what I now understand to be the actual position on all aspects, which is quite complex.
1.        Motorcycles, cars and light commercial vehicles built more than forty years ago are all (with the few exceptions listed in the Guidance) entitled to be declared as VHIs and thus exempt from the MOT test.
2.        All buses and coaches, whether or not they are in commercial use, built before 1960 are entitled to be declared as VHIs and thus exempt from the MOT test.
3.        Buses and coaches not in commercial use built more than forty years ago are entitled to be declared as VHIs and thus exempt from the MOT test.
4.        Buses and coaches built more than forty years ago, but in commercial use, are not entitled to exemption from the MOT test.
5.        Heavy Goods Vehicles built before 1960 and not in commercial use are entitled be declared as VHIs and thus exempt from the MOT test so long as they do not travel laden or towing a laden trailer.
6.        Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) built after 1960, whether or not they are in the 'historic' taxation class, are not entitled to any exemption from the MOT test.
 
I realise that some of our members who preserve historic HGVs will be disappointed at this outcome. All the Federation can say is that this decision was set out in the DfT's Consultation response and was not thereafter subject to any further influence by the Federation or anyone else.
 
The concern must be that the 1960 date is not a rolling one and that the age at which preserved HGVs still have to be tested will therefore increase year by year. The Federation will keep this matter under review, particularly with relation to the number of test stations which can carry out this testing, and their geographical locations. The Federation will continue to make the case that the Government should not require that any vehicle be tested unless it is practically able to offer the owner of that vehicle a test within a reasonable geographical distance of the place the vehicle is usually kept.
 

 
From around the Country:
 
Eastern Counties Tractor & Vintage Spectacular - 21st and 22nd April. Keith and Jane Broomhall report: held at the Norfolk Showground, this event should go from strength to strength for the effort made to present it, and certainly the commercial vehicle entries increase each year. Few other shows have such a large collection of pre-1930 tractors or vintage cars. Roger Desborough's 'green leather Bentley blower' is an amazing exhibit, unlikely to be seen widely in the UK. Both exhibitions deserve a greater audience.
 
For Ford and Fordson it was an enjoyable and successful show with a full hall of tractors, together with good membership and merchandise sales. The Dexta is our feature tractor this year, as it celebrates its sixtieth anniversary, and Club members rose to the challenge for exhibits, our Prize Winners were:
 
Best in Show: Stuart Bailey         Fordson E27N
Best Unrestored: Tony Weavers Ford 5000 Select-0-speed
Judges Favourite: Ann & Brian Dye Petrol Dexta
 

 
April sees the first of Cheffins vintage sales and also the East Anglian Game and Country Fair, now held at Euston Hall, and surely it is unwise to coincide an event with either of these?  However, if we are to see the continuation of this vintage show in our County we also need to see it publicised widely in both vintage and local press listing.
 

 
The 42nd Stradsett Park Rally held 6th and 7th May:
Gordon Carson and his team worked their magic again, but I thought that the '100 Years of John Deer' was not as interesting as their usual themes.  This was not altogether surprising as the company has really only come to the fore quite recently in this country.
 
Otherwise the rally was up to its usual excellent standard. The bank holiday weather was excellent, the 'interesting' trade stands were probably a bit down, but this is in common with all other rallies, probably largely due to the convenience of selling on EBay and the like. We had ten tractors on the stand, and were in a similar position to last year, it is a bit far away from the general tractor line up which is a pity but I have made this point before, however I know that compromises have to be made when organising any layout. 
 
It was nice that the event was held again on this parkland site as there had been a threat that it would not.  If you have not yet visited this rally I thoroughly recommend that you do next year.
 

 
Road run held at Item House, Kent on 6th May: 
Philip Broad reports.  Well what a glorious day Sunday was, just perfect for trundling through the Kent countryside!  When we chose to have our spring road run on the 6th May I don't think we quite realized it was the bank holiday weekend! We chose this date as Robert Mitchell informed us this would be the weekend to see his fruit blossom at its best and he was certainly right. Although I didn't make the journey with you, Phil kindly took me round later when we collected the signs.
 
As always you support these charity road runs with great enthusiasm and it's so wonderful to hear all the lively conversation, so thank you all for taking the time to come. I can report today that we raised £1040.00 which will be going to the Alzheimer's Society, a fantastic sum which we should all feel proud of.
 
How nice for us to see some new faces each time, I think word is getting round. Please tell your friends about our road runs as everyone is welcome whether on a tractor, in a 4x4 or just spectating. Our farm yard comes alive with you all there, I'm sure the sheep wondered what on earth was going on! It's such a beautiful farm and a pleasure for us to welcome you there. As always Phil and Matt were busy before the day getting ready and I had to get Matt off the strimmer at 9.30 on Saturday night.
 
Our thanks, as always, go to our wonderful catering team who we could not manage without. Your kindness is so very much appreciated by all who consume the bacon rolls and cakes, not forgetting the tea and coffee to wash it down. Thank you to all who donated delicious cakes, we really appreciate your generosity as everyone seems to enjoy them especially the kids both young and old.  As usual the flying saucers were all eaten.
Our thanks also go to Beth for being our resident photographer. She took photos of each and every one of you so please get in touch via us if you want a photo from the day, I'm sure she won't mind emailing it.
 
It's so nice to think of the support we can offer such worthy charities doing what we all take pleasure from, well done everyone for the role you played in the day.  Our next road run is on Sunday 21st October, proceeds to the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, do come.
 

 
Devon County Show held 17 -19 May: 
report from Andrew Green:
As I write this in very early June, the signs bode well for a good old fashioned summer but fingers crossed as we all know the reliability of any forecast! It was great that the FFA HQ team graced us with their presence at our recent County Show and we are delighted that they made the considerable journey to be with us: thank you, we do really appreciate it.
 
However, they did bring a little of their East Anglian weather on set up day, but the following 3 days of the Show were wonderful Edward Underdown deservedly won best in Show with his Ford Force 3000,
 
 
Den Marks's, a long-time supporter of the Devon County Show, was awarded the prize for the best unrestored with his Fordson N and Michael Coleman's Fordson Major E1A was the judges favourite.
 
 
Moving on, the Show season is upon us and I am booked into Mid Devon on 28th July and I also hope to go to Okehampton and Chagford as well and some of the smaller local events. Well that's all for now so I will wish you a great Summer, have fun and I hope that I will see some of you around the County somewhere but please do keep in touch :- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 

 
Late Event News:
 
The Dutch FFA Ploughing Match, will be held October 20th at Noorderweg 9621 BN Slochteren (Groningen).  All enquiries to Jans Stevens at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0031 0 640469094.
My thanks to Gerrard Schoenmakers for this.
 
Yesterday's Farming will be held 18th  - 19th August at Dillington Park Estate, Ilminster Somerset, TA19 9DQ Contact: 07754 593545 or www.yesterdaysfarming.co.uk  The special feature this year is International tractors, but no doubt there will still be plenty of Ford and Fordson tractors on display. Also, heavy horses, threshing and combine harvesting, ploughing, large crafts marquee and much more - from Pat Bryne.
 
The Fairford, Faringdon, Filkins & Burford Ploughing Society's annual ploughing match is to be held on 29th September at Clanfield, Oxon, OX18 2SU.  This year is their big 70, there is a class for pre 1976 Ford and Fordson tractors without safety cabs and the winner will be offered one of the FFA's plots at next year's Nationals.  Contact Bob Jeffrey on 01451 833636 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Megan Saunders   wwwploughingmatch.co.uk
 

 
Some shows & Rallies for 2018:
 
JULY
14 - 15 Cambridgeshire Steam and Vintage Vehicle Rally, Stow- Cum- Quy, Nr Newmarket FFA 
20-22 Weeting Steam Engine Rally and Country Show, Weeting, Nr Brandon.
27-29 Welland Steam Rally, Nr Upton - upon - Severn FFA 
28 - 29 Kedington Steam and Vintage Show, Kedington, Haverhill, Suffolk
28 - 29 Dacorum steam and Country Fair, Hemel Hempstead FFA (John Worley)
 
AUGUST
 
3-5 Gloucestershire Vintage and Country Extravaganza, South Cerney Airfield, Nr Cirencester
4 - 5 Weald of Kent Steam Rally, Woodchurch, FFA 
11 - 12 Starting Handle Summer Show, Marsham, Norwich  
18 - 19 Lincolnshire Steam and Vintage rally, Lincoln show ground
26 - 27 Shrewsbury Steam Rally, Onslow Park, Shrewsbury
23-27 Great Dorset Steam Fair FFA - (merchandise only)
 
SEPTEMBER
 
1 - 2 Working Day at Langham airfield FFA
8 - 9 Haddenham Steam Rally, Nr Ely FFA
14-16 Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fair
15 - 16 Grand Henham Steam Rally
 
OCTOBER
 
6-7 Tractor World, Newbury FFA 
6-7 FFA Southern area ploughing match
13 -14 British Ploughing Championships, Austrey, Nr Atherstone, Warks, CV9 3ED FFA
 
NOVEMBER
 
10 - 11 Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show FFA 
 

 
Finally:
 
We are happy to report that a new member has agreed to become the Club Representative for South Wales. John Skipper, who served in the Army for over 35 years but is now retired and runs a 20 acre smallholding near Carmarthen.
 
 
"I was born in the country, not far from Bury St Edmunds, and my ambition has always been to get back to my roots and own a vintage tractor. A couple of years ago I was fortunate enough to find a restored 1964 Super Dexta and an International 434 to replace my very tired Ford 6610. Both are in regular use and will soon be harvesting organic hay small bales. The two of them share my ancient PZ Haybob and 1972 vintage Hayliner 276 baler, with the Dexta just managing to balance the new Talex mower.
 
I live in a beautiful part of rural Wales, surrounded by farmers who also own tractors that can be repaired with spanners and the odd expletive, rather than a computer laptop! The Dexta attended the excellent Tractor World Spring Show at Malvern in February and I'm really looking forward to running the Association stand at the Pembrokeshire Show between 14-16 August 2018.  I look forward to meeting you all there.
 
There are quite a few tractor runs locally - great fun and a brilliant opportunity to network.  I'm very much the 'new boy' and look forward to sharing these opportunities with other Association members.  Finally, everyone is very welcome to come by my high valley retreat near Llangynog - a good cuppa and Welsh cake awaits!"
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 

 
Members Letter........
 
Dear Keith, (Membership secretary)
 
It was my pleasure to hear from you last week, reminding me that my membership is due for renewal shortly. I had remembered that it would expire in the next few days and I am glad you offer a 'direct debit' payment option.
 
Unfortunately, Ford tractors are not as appreciated or as common on this side of the Channel as they are in GB, and this gives me even more pleasure to own one.
 
They have more than 2000 milking cows. This is not very common for our part of the country, but a few of these farms do exist at the Niederrhein though many of them struggle to make a living because milk is still much too cheap to allow the producer his profit.
 
Best wishes from Germany
Heinz Ulland

Read more ...2018 September

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2018 July

From the Chair - Issue 85 -June July 2018

"It can happen to anyone" - your vehicle breaks down, so Murphy's law will immediately kick in.  Usually it will be dark, you are probably in the middle of nowhere and your torch batteries will be flat. In any event everywhere will be closed, it's almost certainly pouring with rain or worse still snowing, you didn't bring a coat and, it goes without saying, that you will have no 'phone signal.
I could go on but would still have missed something. Actually Murphy must have over indulged the previous evening as on the morning of Monday 26th February he was clearly off form.
 
A group of us were leaving the Malvern show ground the morning after Tractor World, at about eight.  The sun was shining although the wind had a distinct edge to it, we had breakfasted, hitched up and were ready to roll.  All was well with the world after a successful show.
  It's about four hours home for me and although a weather warning of snowfall in East Anglia was in place it looked like being an easy run.  The usual leave taking completed, engines were started gears engaged and clutches released, we were off except one, there's always one, isn't there?  Ken's lorry didn't move, a quick inspection narrowed the fault to a failure of either the clutch slave or master cylinder, the result being much the same  - it was not sensible to attempt the long trip home without repair.
 
We are both subscribers to the Caravan and Motorhome Club's Mayday breakdown cover that is provided by Green Flag.  We all know people who have experienced the cost of a motorway breakdown and just how expensive that can be and a while ago discovered this, I think, very inexpensive insurance policy. 
I do not believe in covering every eventuality as far as insuring against risk is concerned and, in general, insure against three classes of risk.  The first are risks I am compelled to by law to insure against, the second is against losses that I cannot afford to take and the third is optional and purely for peace of mind, I don't carry much of this type of cover. Breakdown insurance is a good example of this third category. Of course when you take out such protection one hopes never to be forced to use it and, personally, I have always had a nagging doubt as to whether it will actually work when required.
 
On this occasion it most certainly did, Ken made a phone call and a fitter was promised within a couple of hours.  He arrived sooner than that, confirmed our diagnosis as the probable cause but was, unfortunately, unable to repair the vehicle, as he did not have the necessary parts.  However he called in and a recovery lorry was organised which arrived before lunchtime.  Ken's lorry complete with tractor on board and caravan still hitched were loaded, strapped down and they were on the road to Essex soon after lunch reaching their destination before dark.
It is really good to know that this policy actually does what it says on the tin, and having witnessed it in action I can thoroughly recommend it to you.
 

 
DVLA and VOSA's announcements and other matters have featured prominently on these pages for a quite a while and I had hoped to have a break from them this time.  However the EU's Roadworthiness Testing Directive has been adopted by the government and is likely to remain in force whatever the eventual outcome of the Brexit negotiations. 
As much of this ground has already been covered in the previous issue and because tractors are relatively unaffected, I will say no more here, but suggest that any of you who own vehicles that fall into either Historic Vehicle or Vehicle of Historic Interest categories should consult 'The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs' website for the latest position and guidance. If you own such a vehicle the onus to make the correct declaration is entirely your responsibility and the regulations are time sensitive - so be warned.
 

 
 
Book Review:
'Ford Tractors' is a new soft cover book by Jonathan Whitlam from Amberley Publishing measuring 234mm x 165mm with 96 pages and some hundred and sixty-five matt illustrations, priced at £14; the book is not on glossy paper.  It covers similar ground to "100 Years of Fordson, Ford and New Holland Tractors 1917 - 2017" by the same author, a volume published last year which is a glossy,  hard back edition with 598 pages and is  profusely illustrated, costing £29.95. 
 
It gives a quick gallop through Fordson and Ford tractors from Henry's initial experiments through to the final true Ford tractor, the 7840, that survived in production until 1998.  It covers Ford's acquisition of New Holland in 1985, followed by the 'merger' of Ford New Holland with Fiatagi that actually amounted to a take over by Fiat of Ford's tractor division.  I would have preferred rather fewer pictures and more facts, but it may suite some interested in a brief overall outline of the marque's history.  Should you consider purchasing either book I would strongly recommend that you compare both versions before deciding which is for you.
 

 
From around the Country:
 
Tractor World held on 24th and 25th February, what a brilliant way to begin the season. Malvern is traditionally our opener and the Club again won the prize for the "Best Club Stand" for the fourth year running, surely this must be a record.
   On top of that Nick Bryne's immaculate 1927 Fordson F won the show prize for the "Best Vintage Tractor up to 1939" and if that was not enough Tony Wyslocky's lovely 4WD Dexta was awarded the show prize for "The Best Original Tractor from 1952 to 1964".
 
  Three prizes in one show for the Club and members is an achievement any one should to be proud of!  But make no mistake it's the members and their exhibits and enthusiasm that make it happen - so thanks to all who took part and contributed to make this our most successful display ever at Malvern.
 
Mark changed the area we were allocated in the top Wye Hall the week before the show which  entailed our having to rejig the stand's layout that had remained basically the same  for the previous three years.  In actual fact  it was  no bad thing; otherwise any display does tend to become stale without change after a while.  We could, however, have done with a bit more room particularly as the other end of the hall was half empty and we were forced to place  some tractors rather ignominiously in a corner well away from our stand area, which was a pity.
 
Tim Pearman's 946 Versatile certainly made its presence felt standing proudly at the top of the central gangway in the hall, you couldn't miss it and his 9600 looked stunning as usual.
 
The Club's judges, although judging is never easy, do have a rather simpler job than the show officials as they are only concerned with our member's exhibits and no-one has far to walk. By mid-day on Sunday they had completed their deliberations.  Mr Steven Hodge won "Best in Show" for his 7000, it was a pity that it was rather poked away in a corner, but that was not our choice.  The Club's prize for the "Best Unrestored" was awarded to Jonathan Boaz for his Morris Commercial that resided in Peter and Luke's shed.
 
Although not a Fordson product, Jonathan and his brother can always be relied on to produce an interesting exhibit and few had seen a row crop version of a Dexta entered by his brother Nicholas. 
The Judge's favourite this year broke the mould and, instead of being given for a single tractor, was awarded to three exhibits gathered together because they made such a wonderful display.  The group comprised of Peter and Lyn Nutley's new 'Land Army Display' flanked by Nick's Fordson F to one side and the Harris Bros' 1924 Fordson F Half Track on the other, it was an absolute delight and certainly caught the public's attention.
 
The Club's AGM  was held in the Friesian Hall on Sunday following the Show's prize giving and was well attended.  In brief, committee members eligible for re-election after serving for three years were myself, Jane Broomhall, Graeme Clark and Keith Broomhall; all offered themselves for re-election which was confirmed by members present on a show of hands.  Luke Burgess who was co-opted to the committee during last year,  was also confirmed.
 
I gave the Chairman's report and that was followed by the Treasurer's report from Jane Broomhall; which  showed the Club to have had another successful year and to be in a very satisfactory financial position. Copies of these reports are available for inspection on the website, together with information on forthcoming events and much more.
 

 
Kent Heritage Transport Show and South East Bus Festival held 7th April.  This is two shows in one on the same day on the Kent Showground providing many interesting types of  transport.. Different buses and coaches of all ages up to modern day gave free rides around the showground all day and you could hop on and off at various stops around the site.
 
Ford and Fordson had a stand in the John Hendry Pavilion with sales, teas and three tractors on display, a Ford 2000, an Orchard Dexta and an Orchard Super Dexta.
 
Outside the pavilion we had four more tractors a Dexta, a Fordson Power Major, a Ford 3000 and a Ford 3910. Also in the pavilion and on display outside were various makes and models of tractor and horticultural machineryalong with commercial vehicles, classic cars and military vehicles.
The day started with drizzle but changed to sunshine, making it  an enjoyable day for everyone.
 

 
Andrew Green from Devon writes:
Mother Nature interfered with the end of our winter evening programme and brought an abrupt end due to snow and the loss of our final get together. Julian Pratt's visit to tell us about his life with motor racing had to be postponed, it was a great shame but he has promised to rearrange this for the autumn. Please do come forward with ideas for our next winter evenings, as it is quite difficult to come up with original ideas, so your help would be much appreciated.
 
Moving on, the Show season is looming  and we look forward to this. The first major event on the calendar is our County Show on 17th to 19th May at Westpoint and I am delighted to inform you that Pat and Sue Pawsey and Ken Bailey want to come down again and take part despite all the delights of the overdose of liquid sunshine in 2017! I suppose it means they enjoyed themselves and I am really pleased to welcome them back again. As I said to them last year, don't forget your passports! If you're coming to the Show, make sure that you do call in.
 
I would like to invite you all to my local village of Coldridge for our biennial Fete, Vintage Rally, Flower & Dog Show on 30th June. It would be great if you could bring an entry of a tractor, engine or a steamer or just bring yourself and your family. We would be delighted to see you.
 
Finally all the best for a successful and hopefully good, old fashioned English summer! Do keep in touch :- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 

 
John Worley from Hertfordshire writes: By the time this edition is received a number of events will have taken place in Hertfordshire; they are a tractor get together on Sunday 13th May at Hemel Hempstead supported by local F.F.A members.  An open day at Dick Trott's tractor collection at Markyate follows, hopefully in late May or early June and two shows one at Oaklands College, St Albans, 2nd and 3rd June and Whitwell Steam and Country Fair at Codicote, 9th and 10th June.  I hope to report on all these events in future edition, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 07939003890.
 

 
Looking Forward - firstly a few reminders
 
FFA Working Day- 1st and 2nd September will be held at Rix Farm, Langham, Nr Colchester CO4 5NJ.  Bring your plough for some practice or an implement and put your tractor to work, it will do you both good and you will enjoy. Entries will be limited to 35 tractors so don't delay, contact Ken Bailey on 07702 202311 or Roger Starling on 07860 745249. Entry is £10 with proceeds to Essex Air Ambulance.
 
Southern Area FFA Ploughing Match is on 6th and 7th October by kind invitation of Henry Castle of Friends of Ferguson at Hall Farm, Fornham St. Martin For details contact Ken Bailey 07702 202311 or Henry Castle 01824 728422.  Entry forms may be downloaded from our website.
 
British Ploughing Championships - 13th and 14th October at Orton-on-the Hill, Nr Atherstone Warwickshire CV9 3ED.  In the last two years the Club has successfully held our Championships at this prestigious event.  We have been allocated plots again this year that are open to ploughmen that have previously qualified.  Members interested in entering should contact Jane Broomhall on 01379 677886 or 07884 115089 for further details.  I warned you last time that places are limited, and Jane tells me that there have already been enquiries, so if you are interested in entering, do get in touch.
 
Tractor Shows and Rallies for the coming year - a provisional list was published in the previous issue and the final decisions as to the shows  the Club will attend and have a stand are now clearer. However,  if any members wish to represent the Club at any of the events mentioned that are not already marked FFA, your committee would be only too pleased to offer whatever support is  required.  Of course members who want to help on the stands are always welcome.
 
I have said many times, and make no apology for repeating it here yet again. We simply do not have enough committee members to attend all the shows we are invited to.  I do bring this problem to your attention on a very regular basis and  put simply it is your Club and if you want a presence at your favourite show then sometimes you must do something about it yourself.  Some members do absolutely splendid work and we are very grateful to them for their support and will do what we can to assist them.  But just look at the list below take July for example there is an event every weekend and of course lots more not listed here - we just can't have a stand at every one.  (Those rallies where a stand is already planned are marked FFA in the listing but it is still not set in stone, updates will be available on the website and in forthcoming issues of the magazine.)
 
Some shows & Rallies for 2018:
 
MAY
17-19 Devon County Show. Contact Andrew Green on 01363 83791 FFA
27-28 Carrington Steam and Heritage Show, Boston, Lincs
 
JUNE
2-3 Woolpit Steam Rally, Stowmarket
2-3 Tinkers Park Steam Rally, Hadlow Down, Uckfield, East Sussex
2-3 Grantham Steam and Country show, Colsterworth
9-10 Aldham Old Time Rally, Whites Colne, Essex
9-10 Tractor Fest, Newby Hall, Ripon, FFA
16-17 Journey Through The Ages, Palgrave, Nr Diss FFA
 
JULY
6-8 Kent County Show, Detling, Maidstone, ME14 3JF FFA
7-8 Hollowell Steam and Heavy Horse Show, Hollowell, Northampton
7-8t F.M.P.S. Melford Rally, CANCELLED  I suspect this one now be at an end - a great pity!
14-15 Cambridgeshire Steam and Vintage Vehicle Rally, Stow- Cum- Quy, Nr Newmarket FFA
20-22 Weeting Steam Engine Rally and Country Show, Weeting, Nr Brandon.
  27-29 Welland Steam Rally, Nr Upton - upon - Severn FFA
28-29 Kedington Steam and Vintage Show, Kedington, Haverhill, Suffolk
28-29 Dacorum steam and Country Fair, Hemel Hempstead FFA (John Worley)
 
AUGUST
3-5 Gloucestershire Vintage and Country Extravaganza, South Cerney Airfield, Nr Cirencester
4-5 Weald of Kent Steam Rally, Woodchurch, FFA 
11-12 Starting Handle Summer Show, Marsham, Norwich  
18-19 Lincolnshire Steam and Vintage rally, Lincoln show ground
26-27 Shrewsbury Steam Rally, Onslow Park, Shrewsbury
23-27 Great Dorset Steam Fair FFA - (merchandise only)
 
SEPTEMBER
1-2 Working Day at Langham airfield FFA
8-9 Haddenham Steam Rally, Nr Ely FFA
14-16 Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fair
15-16 Grand Henham Steam Rally
 
OCTOBER
6-7 Tractor World, Newbury FFA
6-7 FFA Southern area ploughing match
13 -14 British Ploughing Championships, Austrey, Nr Atherstone, Warks, CV9 3ED FFA
 
NOVEMBER
10-11 Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show FFA
 

 
Finally although I am  writing this in late March , the weather is on the up and spring is in the air. I am not too sure about the sap rising - in my case, perhaps I'm just getting a bit too old for that sort of thing and unfortunately there is certainly not quite the spring in my step as there once was, but life is good and one mustn't grumble. The first day of spring is a movable feast, it either begins in March on the first, if using the meteorological method, or this year the twentieth by the astronomical system, so take your pick. Anyway the days are getting longer and I am at last getting my shed sorted with the tractors back where they should be Warmer weather is hopefully on the way. 
 
Last year I changed the front tyres on my truck to one's with a wider cross section and that made an enormous difference in soft ground conditions, I didn't need to be towed either on or off site once as a result. It's often the little things that make the big difference.  I've also fitted a separator in the fuel line, after continuing the problems with contaminated fuel that I've mentioned before - the dreaded black slime.  I will let you know how successful this is in due course We all have similar problems from time to time and if something works let people know, it is one of the prime benefits of any club
 

 
I have made no secret of my intention to relinquish my roll as Chairman of the Club, and a rally or event does not pass by without my being asked, usually several times about it.  I have enjoyed my time but I'm afraid my answer is yes I do mean to retire from the Chair but have no intention of putting unnecessary pressure on the committee.  I am happy to remain on the committee if re-elected at the AGM at Malvern in February and plan to continue to assist members to register their tractors with the DVLA. I will do whatever I can to support the new chairman or woman, for example I am quite prepared to continue to help with the Club pages for a while if requested.
 
At the Club's AGM at the Yorkshire Museum of Framing in October 2013 members present adopted a revised constitution.  One of the important changes was to the chairman's term of office and election.  The chairman is elected by the committee at the first committee meeting after the AGM and remains in post until the first meeting following the next AGM.  In short the chair is held for a year and the incumbent can stand for re-election if they so choose.  Previously the chairman had been elected for a fixed three year term at the AGM, but could stand for re-election when the term expired they wished.

Read more ...2018 July

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2018 May

From the Chair: Issue 84 -April / May 2018 

Firstly I must apologise that an old advertising page appeared in error in the last issue, quite how this happened I really don't know, it wasn't even the page from the previous issue. Just to be quite clear we are not having a Club display at the Great Dorset Steam Fair this year and the British Ploughing Championships will be at Orton-on-the Hill in Warwickshire on 13 and 14 October.
I apologise to those members who called me asking to enter tractors for Dorset but I confess I hadn't got round to reading the magazine and only found the mistake when one of them drew my attention to it.
 

 
DVLA & VOSA Matters:
Confusion about driving licences mentioned in the last two issues continues.  I must say that when I wrote about my experience of being pulled over by VOSA, on my way to the Gt Dorset Steam Fair last year, I didn't realise the size of the problem.
I hope that the remarks in the last issue have clarified the situation somewhat, but, before going any further, I must stress that the views I express are my own and that if you are in any doubt, you should seek proper professional advice.
 
I do get quite a number of 'phone calls from both members and others: registration enquiries make up the bulk of them but a significant number are about vehicle licensing, insurance, driving licences and related issues.  (I would be grateful if people would call me in the evening between say 7 and 8 p.m. if possible).
However the DVLA and VOSA announcements never seem to be out of the news at the moment.  Most of the recent guidance from the Department for Transport (DfT) concerns MOT testing Vehicles of Historic Interest, and here's another nice little acronym to add to the ever-growing list (VHI). 
 
The guidance states as from 20th May 2018 a VHI, that is defined a vehicle first registered over forty years ago and has NOT been substantially changed, will be exempt from periodic testing.  Large Goods Vehicles (maximum laden weight over 3.5 tonnes) and buses (with 8 or more seats) used commercially will not be exempt.
There is not space to detail what is considered a substantial change in this note but it is the responsibility of the keeper to both make a declaration that the vehicle qualifies as a VHI and that it meets the necessary criteria when applying to renew the vehicle's tax.
 
As far as commercial vehicles :
There really are two main points that may affect members.  The first is the withdrawal of the existing concession that exempts recovery vehicles from annual inspection.  I have always thought this nonsense, I have owned a 1989 Ford Cargo, built as a recovery vehicle, for nearly twenty years and have always submitted it for annual test. 
I have no wish to put my, or anyone else's life at risk and do not believe that the exemption ever applied for any truck that is used to take tractors or anything else to shows, rallies or the like.  The concession clearly stated that it only applied for use recovering broken down vehicles.
It would certainly have made for an interesting conversation had I been playing the exempt card and towing a caravan when stopped on my way to Dorset last year!
 
Incidentally, just as an example of how unsafe some of these vehicles were, when I started looking for a recovery type lorry the owners always stressed that they were MOT exempt as a major selling point. Nearly all the ones I looked at were in use, mostly for transporting tractors or cars to shows and meets rather than genuine recovery work and several were so obviously unsafe or rotten that I wouldn't even get in the cab let alone take a test drive in it.
 
The second is in the wording concerning commercial use; the guidance is clear and applies to both buses and commercial vehicles.  The position affecting pre 1960 commercially used vehicles remains unchanged as long as they have not been substantially changed.  Buses and large goods vehicles over forty years will be exempt from 20th May 2018 providing they have not been substantially changed and are used unladen.
 
Other changes will mean that some classes of vehicles previously exempt from annual testing will now require testing mostly recovery vehicles, mentioned earlier, and engineering plant that includes cranes and the like but is unlikely to affect members to any great extent.
 
The Federation of British Vehicle Clubs sum this all up rather neatly- to quote:
Major points of note are:
 
a.The process is one of self-declaration.
 
b.Owners will only be required to declare their vehicle to be a VHI if they wish to be exempted from an annual MOT Test.
 
c.All vehicles will still be able to be tested if their owners wish
 
d.The criteria are generic and permit changes made, less than 30 years prior to the declaration, which improve efficiency, safety, preservation or environmental performance.
 
e.Those vehicles registered on a Q plate, as kits or built up classics are not entitled to be declared as VHIs until forty years after they were registered.
 
f.For motorcycles only the criteria of Q plates, kits and built up classics prevent declaration as a VHI.
 
The Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency: 
"DVSA" yet another acronym from yet another government agency.  While writing this in early February an email arrived from the DVSA: politicians keep telling us that red tape will be cut, regulations reduced and quangos  (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation) abolished.  The list of what they are going to do is unending but the reverse appears to be truth, at least it is from where I am sitting. 
Anyway the DVSA have announced that as from the 5th March, which is I am afraid before you read this warning, traffic examiners will start to issue on the spot fines for drivers hours offences committed that day of up to £300 per infringement and be able to issue fines for up to five offences over the previous twenty eight days to a maximum of £1500.  So be warned and if likely to be affected take the trouble to check all the offences covered; for more information go to Drivers' hours: changes to fines for commercial drivers - GOV.UK
 

 
From around the Country:
 
Isle of Wight Classic Tractors Annual Charity Road Run: 
On 27th December 2017 David Lemonius reports: the day dawned with north westerly gales and on some higher ground driving sleet or snow.  However by the start time of the Run at 10.30am the tractors had assembled and the rain had thankfully stopped. There was a good collection of Fordson/Ford/New Holland, John Deere, International and McCormick, David Brown, JCB, MF and T20s. 
 
The guys with cabs were all feeling quite smug and obviously spared a thought for those without cabs!
 
The route took us up Carisbrooke High Street turning south to run under Carisbrooke Castle out to the Whitecroft area turning down Sandy Lane to join up briefly with Blackwater Shute.  A good off-road run down Birchmore Lane to join up with the highway again at Pagham.  A short run down through Rookley at which point most of the fleet seemed to take a wrong turn with a little bit of confusion ensuing.  We continued south past the Chequers Inn to Leechmore Cross and turned up through North Appleford for another off-road run to Cridmore Farm where we stopped for a short break.  Carrying on towards Berry Shute and thence to Chale Lane and Pyle Shute running up through Atherfield Green back to Shorwell.  The fleet then dispersed in the vicinity of Cheverton Farm no doubt quite pleased to get home and thaw out.
 
Some 32 tractors and their drivers took part in this popular run and we are happy to be able to donate £250 to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and a further £250 to the Alzheimer's Café, Newport.
 
The organisers would like to thank all those who took part in the run, the Eight Bells Pub Carisbrooke for the use of their car park, the Police and the landowners over whose ground we passed.  The date for this year's run is set provisionally at Thursday 27th December 2018 with the Working Day set for Saturday March 10th.
 
Somerset Vintage & Classic Tractor Show: Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th January.  Amongst the Shepton Mallet rain at the first show of the year there was a good selection of Fordson and Ford tractors following the centenary theme last year. The early end was well supported with Nick Bryne's 1927 'F' winning first in the Veteran class and a 1931 Irish 'N' owned by Matt Bryne, both restorations only
finished last year.
 
Next was a nice original older restoration land utility 1934 tractor owned by Malcolm Trott who also had a 1939 harvest gold tractor in similar condition on display.  It wasn't all restored tractors at the show, Simon Hobbs, known for original tractors had his very original 1944 'N' which has a nice local Dorset reg.
 
Jake Hooper of Shaftesbury had his Fordson standard with 4D engine conversion and Lambourn cab exhibited, which he uses in a lot of ploughing matches, including previous National Ploughing matches. E27Ns did well in the Vintage class with a TVO model recently bought by Oliver Bown coming 3rd and a Perkins P6 powered one owned by Graham Farmer, both of these tractors were quite high spec having full lighting, hydraulic lift and pto and in very nice condition. Robin Hatcher exhibited a Ford on the Ferguson Club stand in the form of a 1951 8N.
 
The E1A range was also well supported with a good selection of tractors, including Tom Bryne's Roadless J17 crawler which is now nearing completion after a very long restoration from a poor state. Oliver Bown also had his 1963 New Performance Super Major with Roadless 4wd, this is another tractor that has received a very high class of restoration with a lot of genuine parts where possible.
 
Anthony Dibble brought his 1963 Dexta well matched with trip buckrake.
 
Keith Selway had his very early Pre-Force Ford 3000 Super Dexta in original condition and also in original condition was his cabbed Force 5000, and in the same styling was Mike Mitchell's recently finished 7000. Roadless tractors are always well supported at this show, highlights including Mike Sheppard's well restored Ploughmaster 75 and Mike Mitchell's S-Series 980 which was originally an equal wheeled tractor when new and was converted by Roadless when sold.
Mike's tractors brought up the newer end of the range with his TW-15 and recently purchased New Holland 7840.
 
The H J Pugh auction on the Saturday is getting bigger every year and had some good spares even including some cabs, weights and everything else. There was a nice older restoration orange 'N' and an 'off farm' condition Pre-Force 5000 with Duncan cab among the Ford and Fordson tractors.
This year's show raised over £8,000 for local charities including: £4,000 to the SURE (Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment), £1,500 to Yeovil Heartbeat and £1,00 each to the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and Yeovil Freewheelers.
 
I am indebted to Matt Bryne for this excellent report and photographs. I had intended to be at the show, which we first attended last year, but unfortunately was unable to make it.
 

 
Looking Forward
 
Road Run on Sunday 1st April: 
A sponsored Road Run will be held from Goodrich Park, Palgrave IP22 1BA starting at 10.30 in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital.  There promises to be a good contingent of Ford and Fordson tractors taking part; for details contact Robert Pratt on 07789 995851.
 
Heritage & Transport Show - Saturday 7th April - Kent Showground, Detling, Nr Maidstone, ME14 3JF
 
Eastern Counties Tractor & Vintage Spectacular 
21st and 22nd April Once again there will be a wide range of exhibits including vintage and classic tractors, vintage, veteran and classic cars, vintage and classic commercials, stationery engines, miniature steam engines and a heavy horse display.
 
We plan to have a special feature celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Dexta but all Ford and Fordson tractors are welcome. For entry forms go to www.easterncountiesvintageshow.co.uk/
 
For Ford and Fordson enquiries please contact Keith Broomhall on 07831 130005 and, for general enquiries, Mike Curtis on 07753 182065/01508 550293.
 
FFA Working Day - 1st & 2nd September
will be held at Rix Farm Langham, Nr Colchester CO4 5NJ.  Bring your plough and practice or an implement and put your tractor to work. Entries will be limited to 35 tractors so don/t delay, contact Ken Bailey on 07702202311 or Roger Starling on 07860745249 entry £10 proceeds to Essex Air Ambulance.
 
Southern Area FFA Ploughing Match 
is on 6th and 7th October by kind invitation of Henry Castle of Friends of Ferguson at Hall Farm, Fornham St. Martin, for details contact Ken Bailey 07702 202311 or Henry Castle 01824 728422.  Entry forms may be downloaded from our website.
 
British Ploughing Championships 
13th and 14th October at Orton-on-the Hill, Nr Atherstone Warwickshire CV9 3ED.  In the last two years the Club has successfully held our Championships at this prestigious event.  We have been allocated plots again this year that are open to ploughmen that have previously qualified.  Will interested entrants please contact Jane Broomhall on 01379 677886 or 07884 115089 for further details.  I should warn members that numbers will again be limited.
 
Tractor Shows and Rallies for the coming year, are listed below, it is still early days and final decisions as to the shows that the Club will have a stand are still being finalised.  We simply do not have enough committee members to attend all the shows we are invited to.
I do bring this problem to your attention on a very regular basis and to put simply it is your Club and if you want a presence at your favourite show then sometimes you must do something about it yourself. 
Some members do absolutely splendid work and we are very grateful to them for their support and will do what we can to assist them.
But just look at the list below take July for example there is an event every weekend and of course lots more not listed here - we just can't have a stand at every one.  (Those rallies where a stand is already planned are marked FFA in the listing but it is not yet set in stone, updates will be available on the website and in forthcoming issues of the magazine.)
 

 
Some shows & Rallies for 2018:
 
APRIL
7th Kent Heritage Transport Show, Detling FFA
21st - 22nd Eastern Counties Vintage Show, Norwich FFA
 
MAY
6th  - 7th Stradsett Vintage Rally, Nr Downham Market. FFA
12th - 13th Saffron Walden crank up, Newport, Nr Saffron Walden Essex
17th, 18th & 19th Devon County Show. Contact Andrew Green on  01363 83791 FFA
26th, 27th & 28th Strumpshaw Hall Steam Rally, Nr Norwich
27th - 28th Carrington Steam and Heritage Show, Boston, Lincs
 
JUNE
2nd - 3rd Woolpit Steam Rally, Stowmarket
2nd - 3rd Tinkers Park Steam Rally, Hadlow Down, Uckfield, East Sussex
2nd - 3rd Grantham Steam and Country show, Colsterworth
9th - 10th Aldham Old Time Rally, Whites Colne, Essex
9th - 10th Tractor Fest, Newby Hall, Ripon, FFA
16th - 17th Journey Through The Ages, Palgrave, Nr Diss FFA
 
JULY 
7th - 8th Hollowell Steam and Heavy Horse Show, Hollowell, Northampton
7th - 8th F.M.P.S. Melford Rally, FFA
14th - 15th Cambridgeshire Steam and Vintage Vehicle Rally, Stow- Cum- Quy, Nr Newmarket FFA
20th, 21st & 22nd Weeting Steam Engine Rally and Country Show, Weeting, Nr Brandon.
27th, 28th & 29th Welland Steam Rally, Nr Upton - upon - Severn FFA
28th - 29th Kedington Steam and Vintage Show, Kedington, Haverhill, Suffolk
28th - 29th Dacorum steam and Country Fair, Hemel Hempstead FFA (John Worley)
 
AUGUST
3rd, 4th, 5th Gloucestershire Vintage and Country Extravaganza, South Cerney Airfield, Nr Cirencester
4th - 5th Weald of Kent Steam Rally, Woodchurch, FFA 
11th - 12th Starting Handle Summer Show, Marsham, Norwich  FFA
18th - 19th Lincolnshire Steam and Vintage rally, Lincoln show ground
26th - 27th Shrewsbury Steam Rally, Onslow Park, Shrewsbury
23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th & 27th Great Dorset Steam Fair FFA
 
SEPTEMBER
1st - 2nd Working Day at Langham airfield FFA
8th - 9th Haddenham Steam Rally, Nr Ely FFA
14th, 15th& 16th. Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fair
15th - 16th Grand Henham Steam Rally
 
OCTOBER
6th-7th Tractor World, Newbury FFA Ian to book FFA stand. Ian and Lin attending
6th-7th FFA Southern area ploughing match
13th -14th British Ploughing Championships, Austrey, Nr Atherstone, Warks, CV9 3ED
 
NOVEMBER
10th - 11th Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show, FFA
 

 
Finally,
Life is full of little surprises, unfortunately not all of them pleasant, but one the other day was.  A lad I used to work with, but we lost touch when he left years ago, happened upon the magazine and there was a photo of yours truly on the Club pages.  He was a fitter and machine man and a good one at that anyway to cut a long story short he gave me a call and as a result, as he hails from Norfolk, we plan to meet up at a rally this year.  It must be well over twenty years since I last saw him and I'm looking forward to meeting him again.  As I keep saying its not really about the tractors it's the people and the crack that matters.
 

 
I have made no secret of my intention to relinquish my roll as Chairman of the Club, and a rally or event does not pass by without my being asked, usually several times about it.  I have enjoyed my time but I'm afraid my answer is yes I do mean to retire from the Chair but have no intention of putting unnecessary pressure on the committee.  I am happy to remain on the committee if re-elected at the AGM at Malvern in February and plan to continue to assist members to register their tractors with the DVLA. I will do whatever I can to support the new chairman or woman, for example I am quite prepared to continue to help with the Club pages for a while if requested.
 
At the Club's AGM at the Yorkshire Museum of Framing in October 2013 members present adopted a revised constitution.  One of the important changes was to the chairman's term of office and election.  The chairman is elected by the committee at the first committee meeting after the AGM and remains in post until the first meeting following the next AGM.  In short the chair is held for a year and the incumbent can stand for re-election if they so choose.  Previously the chairman had been elected for a fixed three year term at the AGM, but could stand for re-election when the term expired they wished.

Read more ...2018 May

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2018 March

From the Chair: Issue 83 February / March 2018

Judging from the feed back I have received about the opening remarks in the last issue, which concerned what those with category C1E driving licences could legally drive, they really did touch a raw nerve.  They were about those who passed their driving test in a car and not about those of you who have passed an HGV test or acquired such a licence under 'grandfather's rights' who may have category CE as they are unaffected.  What follows is about those with a photo card licence that has the entitlement to drive categories C1 or C1E on the reverse, but do note that any codes in column 12 by the C1E entitlement that limit trailer weights or other restrictions.   There are a few of you who still hold the old paper licence and have not yet had to replace it so may also be affected.
 
Category C1 entitles you to drive vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kgs with no more than eight passengers (plus yourself, of course) and a trailer up to 750kgs. If your licence has C1E it is as C1 with the addition of permitting a trailer over 750kgs if the combined vehicle and trailer weight does not exceed 8,500kgs, but It is important to understand that the restriction codes 79 or 107 will still limit the combined weight of the vehicle to 8250 kgs, unless, as is my understanding, you passed your test prior to January 1997.  If you did so the effect of this, depending on the restriction on your licence will be to allow a trailer heavier than 750kgs to be towed but the plated weight of the towing vehicle must be reduced by a similar amount so that the maximum 8250kgs is not exceeded.
 
The DVLA also state that the weight of the towing vehicle is the Gross weight as shown on the ministry plate, regardless of the actual weight of the vehicle and load when inspected, so for most of us that will be 7500kgs whether laden or not.  The same logic is applied to the weight of the trailer, so most caravans will exceed the 750kgs allowance.
 
Last time I said that I had written to Ian Edmunds of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs for assistance as to the definitive answer to our entitlements. He has always been very helpful and I have received a very clear if not entirely welcome response, the relevant section of is reproduced below:
"The Drivers Policy section of DVLA advise that it is the Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) i.e. the total weight of the vehicle plus the maximum load it can carry, that is relevant when determining the correct driving entitlement of a vehicle and not its actual weight on the day.
So in that respect the DVLA inspector was correct, however we believe he was incorrect with regard to the trailer weight. Your friend was entitled to tow a trailer that exceeded 750kg provided the total MAM of the combination did not exceed 8.25 tons.
It has also been pointed out to me that road traffic offences are almost all strict liability offences, that means that it is quite irrelevant whether or not you intended to commit the offence, if you did it quite unintentionally you are just as guilty as someone who deliberately committed it."
If this affects you there appears to be two possible ways to go depending on the weight of the unladen lorry, the caravan and that of the load to be carried.  Either take a 'trailer' test that then allows you to achieve a category C1+E licence giving the entitlement to drive a vehicle over 3500kgs but not exceeding 7,500kgs and a trailer over 750kgs up to a maximum combined weight of 12,000kgs.  Or if your lorry's load is sufficiently light consider down rating the gross weight of the lorry so that its gross weight when added to that of the caravan is under the 8,250kgs that you are entitled to drive.
 
This is my understanding of the position and I hope it makes matters clearer but I fear that towing trailers with cars and duel purpose vehicles will continue to be an on going problem.  So do make sure you neither exceed the manufacturer's recommended towing weight for your vehicle nor the maximum combined weight of the combination you are entitled to tow.

Registrations:

I have received notification from the DVLA regarding Q registration numbers. These were introduced in 1983 and there was a limited period of one year in which the registered keeper could appeal against the registration's issue. This time limit was relaxed over the years but appeals are now being made for vehicles that were allocated a 'Q plate' twenty or thirty years ago.

With immediate effect appeals will now only be considered if made by the first keeper within twelve months of the registration's allocation. The DVLA will not consider requests for an age related number for vehicles issued with a Q registration that fall outside these criteria.

From around the Country:

 
Autumn Tractor World: 
Held on 7th and 8th October at Newbury Show Ground:- Lin Prince reports.  There is one large indoor area at the show. This was filled with tractor clubs, concourse tractors, horticultural machines, farmyard model displays, tractor spares sales and some other types of sales to add variety.
The FFA had two areas inside, one for Peter Nutley's Land Army display that included a Wartime Fordson Standard. The other area had the FFA sales stand and three different Dexta models; a Narrow, a Super and a 1961 Roadless imported from Italy in May this year by Tony Wyslocky and has now found a new home in West Wales. This tractor was judged highly commended.
Tony Wyslocky's lovely unrestored Roadless Dexta at Newbury

Read more ...2018 March

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2018 January

From the Chair: Issue 82 December 2017 & Jan 2018

Chickens come home to roost and when mentioning roadside vehicle checks in the last issue, little did I imagine that by the time my comments appeared in print, I would be pulled over for one.  I can't really complain after all the last time I was stopped must be over thirty years ago, so perhaps a check was overdue?
 
I was on my way to Great Dorset on the Sunday afternoon before the show opened, travelling from Salisbury about six miles from the show ground with a friend following, when we were both directed into a layby. On this occasion tachographs were hardly mentioned, the bee in this particular VOSA official's bonnet was driving licences, specifically those bearing the C1E entitlement.  The police were very fair and more interested in stolen caravans; indeed one was recovered while we were being detained.
The upshot was that Ken was made to leave his caravan, although he is entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to a combined weight of eight and a quarter tons and on this occasion his total vehicles weight was under seven and a half tons.  Nevertheless we were eventually allowed to continue to the show ground where I left my caravan and then returned to fetch Ken's.  No great harm done save a delay of well over an hour and the consequent inconvenience of having to put awnings up in the rain as the weather had deteriorated.
Mr VOSA really was not clear as to the meaning of the symbols on the back of the licence as he told me that because my licence has C1E on it that I did not have the appropriate entitlement although it also has CE clearly printed on it and had only just been renewed following my annual medical.
 
The fundamental question here is what one's entitlement actually is ???
 
  The classes of both vehicles and weights of vehicle trailer combinations you are legally licenced to drive depend on when you passed your test and on your medical fitness. For the older amongst us, who passed their test say in the sixties, in the heady days before the introduction of HGV licences let alone a separate HGV test; at a time when to legally drive any lorry you only needed to pass your driving test in a car and then, at twenty-one, the world became your oyster.  HGV licences came later, issued in a smart black gold embossed hard backed booklet but no further test was required providing the "grand father's rights" exemption could be met, indeed I had a class 2 licence as a result and only acquired my group 1 qualification in the early eighties, now known as CE.  If a test was taken back then what can now be driven?
 
  The right to upgrade to the old class 1, 2 or 3 HGV licence has long expired but my understanding is that the entitlement to drive a vehicle and trailer up to the combined weight of 8.25 tons, with no specific limit as to the trailer's weight, remains but this was not Mr VOSA's contention. He merely inspected the vehicle's ministry plate giving the gross weight of the towing vehicle and the MVW on the caravan's drawbar added the two together and as these were 7.5 tons and 1.4 tons pronounced judgement making 8.9 tons. The C1E licence, according to him, only permits a trailer weight of up to 750 kgs whatever the actual weight of the towing vehicle.  This does seem a nonsense when one can legally tow the same caravan behind a car but not behind a small lorry even if the combined weight of the two does not exceed 8.25 tons.
 
This problem needs to be sorted as it affects several members and I have written to Ian Edmunds of the Federation of British Federation of Historic Vehicle Clubs who has in the past given guidance on DVLA matters for definitive advice on this issue.  As space precludes its inclusion here the text of the letter may be seen on our Website, I will report the outcome as soon as it is to hand.

'Whitlock Brothers', is a new book just published that gives a detailed account of the family's, farms, forage works, foundry and factory at Great Yeldham, written by Adrian Corder-Birch with the help and assistance given by surviving members of the Whitlock family.  Great Yeldham is a village close to where I live and I knew many former Whitlock employees who were drawn from a wide local area and have owned both Whitlock diggers and the later Hy-Mac machines myself.
 
Whitlocks built a range of farm and earth moving machinery but are best remembered for the first hydraulically operated tractor mounted excavators called "Dinkum Diggers".  Many of their products were powered by Ford components and they were leading wheeled excavator loader manufacturers for many years.  Whitlock Bros was founded in 1899, incorporated in 1941 and became part of London and Midland Industries in 1967 where it was allowed to operate autonomously.  They were sold to Powell Duffryn in 1972, which explains the later Hy-Mac connection.  It is well written and will be of great interest to those interested in Whitlock machines, diggers and Ford powered machinery alike.
It is priced at £14.95 plus postage of £2.90, cheques payable to A Corder-Birch, Rustlings, How Drive, Halstead, Essex, CO9 2QL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Read more ...2018 January

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