You’ll be pleased to note the FFA’s fl ag got its initial showing at our Westlock Vintage Tractor & Machinery show, held on the fi rst weekend in June. After a two-year lapse, the show was a reasonable success; the weather cooperated but tractor numbers were down, in part due to a mindset of focusing on pre-1960s models.
   The photograph here shows four of my Fords; a 1953 Ford Jubilee, a 1961

Super Major, a 1975 Ford 8600 and a 1986 Ford 4610. In total, eight Ford/ Fordson models represented the brand but, unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to park them together as a group.
   The weather here is currently a far cry from how it was in 2021. It’s been generally cool and wet since early June. As a result, the crops are at least three weeks behind, and I haven’t been able to

complete the spraying because it’s been too wet. In addition, we had a hailstorm that passed through the local area on Sunday, which set the crops back even further due, primarily, to the defoliation of cereal crops during the pre-flag leaf stage. Recent reports suggest June rainfall is set to be a record for the Edmonton area, with last year being a record drought!
  I was pleased to note in glancing

through the other articles, that the Malvern Three Counties event will revert back to March next year, so perhaps we’ll be able to attend. In the meantime, our holiday trailer stays parked, hay fields need cutting and a trip to Ireland for a family wedding beckons, assuming all the stars align in the meantime!

Ian West, FFA rep, Canada

A very nice pair of narrow-winged Fordson Ns, both with Isle of Wight registration marks.

This event, which took place on June 25th-26th and used to boast the patronage of Queen Victoria, saw about 38 tractors and their enthusiastic owners in attendance.
    Our group included more than a dozen Fordson exhibits, among which were a very nice pair of wartime Standards, a range of Fordson Majors and a 1960s Super Dexter. The majority of the tractors on show are Isle of Wightregistered (DL), illustrating the fact that many haven’t strayed far from home during their long lives.
    We paraded in the main arena each day, and it was great to be back on show in front of a crowd that evidently appreciated our display.

Ian Rann

The West Bay Vintage Rally (June 10th- 12th) was bathed in glorious sunshine, which swelled the numbers of exhibitors, participants and visitors. This event’s idyllic location – about 300 yards from West Bay’s classic West Country harbour – is also a big draw for visitors.
  There were 51 tractors and 90 stationary engines listed in the programme but, as is usually the case, the number of machines actually present was far higher. Commentary in the arena was provided by Somerset folklore hero, Ivor James, who is famous for his appearances on Channel 5’s Tractor World. He did an excellent job, offering an

enjoyable mix of factual information and his own brand of West Country humour.
   Among the interesting tractor exhibits, I spotted everything from a tiny, 1926 Austin Light Tractor to a concours, 1981 Roadless, complete with Howard rotovator. The working section was of particular interest for many, with a Marshall thresher with reed comber working away, and a late Power Major driving a 1900s saw bench that’s believed to have been used on Earl Spencer’s estate at Althorp.
   The Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show (July 2nd-3rd) didn’t attract anything like the 100 tractors that it had been

A pair of P6-engined tractors; an English E27N and one back from Down Under.

Rumoured were going to attend. Instead, I counted about 28 and, for some reason, none were listed in the programme.

A Roadless 9804 built by Jewelltrack, with a Howard rotovator.

The 1926 Austin ‘Light’ tractor that John admired at the West Bay Rally; a little gem!

A Ford 9000 still in its working clothes, at Chickerell.

Grey clouds hovered above the showground – near Weymouth – for much of Saturday, delivering some light rain. Nevertheless, the attendance was good, as was the number of steam and transport exhibitors present. Many of the tractors present belonged to the usual West Dorset exhibitors, with some interesting, rustic quality on show as always. There were some nice, blue machines with a splash of grey and orange, and I couldn’t help noticing a beast of a CAT 3408-engined

Major (love them or hate them?) plus a lovely Roadless 120 and a Ford 9000.
   Finally, the Pilford Transport Heritage Show at Wimborne (July 9th-10th) was a great event, despite the dust! This was the first show here since 2019 and it’s just a shame that the farmer hadn’t sown the grass a few months earlier so that the area could have benefited from a thicker covering and less dust.
   Although only 38 tractors made the programme there was, in fact, a great turnout of 80, of all colours. A full-blown Ford 8700 tractor puller was idling and towed around the arena by Ricky Bailey on his Major. Unfortunately, he broke down, so both had to be towed away together by a nearby Ploughmaster!
   The parade of tractors filled the arena on both days and Robson James (son of Ivor James) provided the commentary, during which he interviewed me about the attributes of the Ford & Fordson Association.
   We were certainly glad to be based upwind of the arena when the military vehicles – including Scorpion light tanks and other tracked vehicles – started kicking-up the dust! All-in-all, it was a great and enjoyable weekend, despite the dust!

John Maiden, FFA Dorset rep

Super Dextas at the Devon County Show. The one on the right is an unusual narrow version.

The sun has been shining and we’re well and truly into summer as I write. Compared with other areas, we haven’t experienced the high temperatures, but we’re now very dry, and the combines are poised for wheat harvesting. I should say that the thatching boys were cutting wheats here about three weeks ago, and the stooked fields look a picture. These will soon be carried. My late father used to say that the sheaves need to hear the church bells on at least two Sundays, so I guess their time must nearly be up. Hands up anyone who has heard the bells on a Sunday morning!
   Of course, this summer weather is a delight for the show season. I went

to the Mid-Devon Show recently and there seemed to be a very good crowd there. Since my last visit, parts of the show had been reorganised and the whole atmosphere seemed to have benefited. There was a great tractor entry and parade this year in the main ring. For me, as a Ford and Fordson fan, the highlight was a lovely and very original Roadless Ploughmaster 75; still a very tidy working tractor, and one that would be great to have in the barn! The other attraction was that it still carried the original Devon dealer’s plate, from Norringtons. In its heyday that company had several branches, and at least four of our current Devon FFA members used to work at them!
   The Devon County Show took place early in July, and there was a great buzz about the Westpoint arena despite the sometimes heavy showers (well, it is Devon!). We call it ‘Liquid sunshine’ but it’s what normally keeps our countryside so green! We had a great entry of tractors and, in particular, the blue boys were very strong as this year’s tractor parade theme was Ford and Ford conversions.
   There were some lovely tractors on show, alongside the goats, and it was a thrill to see two – yes, two – Doe Triple Ds in one place. Other notables included a

This Roadless Ploughmaster 75 was looking good at the Mid-Devon Show; just as they should be!

County 1474, a Silver Jubilee 7810 and a County 1174, all from one exhibitor… wow! Looking ahead, I hope to resume our late autumn and winter evening meetings. However, it’s always difficult to find interesting topics to keep attendees amused so, if anyone’s got any bright ideas to make my life a little easier, please get in touch. Well, that’s all for now, so look after your loved ones, take good care and KBO. Please keep in touch with me at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Andrew Green, FFA Devon rep

Jane Broomhall, a stalwart of the Pink Ladies Road Run, setting off on this year’s run.

While we await the result of fund-raising for the 2022 Pink Ladies Annual Run for breast cancer, the indications are that another major step will have been achieved in reaching our £1million target.
  An amazing 110 women – including a record 29 new drivers – took to the roads on the Sunday, July 3rd, and were cheered through the Suffolk lanes. It was an emotional but also a joyful day for everyone.

Jane Broomhall, FFA general secretary

Pete Summers with his 1944 Fordson on the FFA stand at this year’s Welland Steam & Country Rally

The FFA’s stand at this year’s Welland Steam & Country Rally (July 29th- 31st) was manned by FFA stalwarts, Derek and Margaret Badham, and had been moved to a new position. In fact, the whole show had a very different

layout this time, with the tractor club stands being positioned at the top of the hill and separated from the parked tractors and the main arena, by the stationary engine display. The heavy haulage ‘play area’ was next to them, with that enclosure running down to the craft, farmers’ market and model marquees. However, most of the remaining layout was largely unchanged.       Temperatures were high on Friday but, being higher up, it was cooler on the FFA stand than down in the ‘bowl’ below, where the majority of the action took place. The working area seemed strangely quiet, probably due to the difficulty involved in getting to it from the static display area and the stationary engines – for so long a real feature of the show – had a much-reduced entry. Trade stall numbers were down, as well,

although this has been noticeable at other events this year, too.
  The tractor entry was oversubscribed, but more than 180 machines were accepted, and there were certainly some interesting models among them. It was also a pleasure to see FFA member Pete Summers’ 1944 Fordson N being exhibited on the club’s stand; his grandfather bought it new during WW2.
   Elsewhere other highlights included Bernard Lobb’s County Four Drive which looked splendid, as did James Hardstaff’s P6 County Full track. Finally, we should point out that there were only four tractor club stands at this show, so we should all be extremely grateful for the tireless dedication and hard work that Derek and Margaret have given to the FFA over so many years; it’s much appreciated.

This 1904 Humber-engined Sharp tractor was built in York and really is something special.

A week after the Welland show, Derek and Margaret were to be found on a very different site, running the FFA’s stand at the increasingly popular Old Timer Tractor Rally (August 6th-7th).
   This event, held on a flat, grassy site at Woofferton, in Shropshire, saw lower temperatures although the new working area still produced a lot of dust due to the dry conditions.
   This rally is aimed at enthusiasts interested in pre-1950s tractors, and there was an amazing variety of fascinating machines on show. Entry No.1 was a Sharp built in York in 1904, powered by a four-cylinder Humber engine and owned by well-known collector and rally organiser, Kevin Watson
  Under Margaret‘s wing on the club stand visitors could enjoy a splendid selection of machines, including Phil

Jonathan Boaz parking his Fordson F Rowcrop. This tractor runs as well as it looks!

Semmen’s 1920 and Derek Lloyd’s 1923 Fordson Fs, Julie Browning’s very early and lovely Ford N (with aluminium hood and 32-inch rear wheels), plus Margaret’s own 1942 Industrial N. Ed Price and Chris Tranter, the event

organisers, wish to particularly thank the Hyde family for providing the site, the commentator, Andy Johnson and all exhibitors and helpers. The date for next year’s rally has already been set for August 5th-6th.