2011 October
- Hits: 765
Words & Photo's - Andrew Green - FFA Devon Area Rep
When the FFA marquee was all organized and we had all had our cups of t, it was off for a wander around the show site. As we left the tractor area and headed towards the show ring, it became clear how big and how many other exhibitors & clubs were at this show.
There were vintage & classic cars, vintage commercial, motorcycles, stationery engines,Landrovers, caravans, trade stalls, model & local craft marquees, a small tracked steam railway, push bikes, miniature steam engines aswell as the big boy’s steam engines in the bottom field. Which some had pulled sleeping wagons behind them.One had even low loaded his steam engine from Somerset.
During our stay in Anglesey, we stayed at the Bull Bay Hotel over on the other side of the island. The views from this hotel of the bay were breath taking & the food was superb, when Charlie the chef had finished making the breakfasts he was out in his boat, collecting lobster and shell fish from his pots for that evenings meals. Now thats what you call "fresh"
In the front garden was a tree with a face carved into it. Calvin told us this had been carved during one of their festivals by an artist using a chainsaw. Thank you to Calvin and your staff for making our stay with you one to be remembered for a long time.
Saturday morning Ernie and Hazel were out early, sorting in which order the tractors were parked and staking their entry numbers in the ground. This worked well as there wasn’t too much confusion and exhibitors found their places easily.
It was then back to the marquee to start signing the exhibitors all in, this was a continuous flow and before we knew it we had over 70 + tractors signed in and parked.
Saturday & Sunday weather was sunny with rain for most of the day. Gwilyn told me for the last 3 weeks there had been beautiful weather there. The weather didn’t put anyone off as the show areas were full with exhibitors and the show ground was buzzing with people.
Next to the tractor area was "Tractor Pulling" Anglsey style.This event was organized by Bryn Evans & Andrew Buckley.It was fantastic and drew a large crowd during the whole of the weekend.
12:15pm was vintage cars in the display arena. Again a good turn out of these lovely old cars.
12-30pm was "start your tractor engines time" as the Fordsons Expo tractors were in the ring for 12.45pm. AVES & FFA marshals lined the route from the tractor area to the ring to help get the tractors in & out quickly and every thing flowed very smoothly.
Once the tractors were in the centre of the display ring they were lined up by models. When Peter Love began his commentary that certain model of tractor that he was commenting on drove around the ring, First was N's then E27N's, Dexta, Majors, 1000,s.. This worked very well as the crowds could see the tractor models that Peter Love was commenting on, instead of tractors of all ages going around together.
Two laps of the display ring, then as they went out the next model started off around the ring.
This beautifully restored 1939 Industrial Chaseside with loading shovel owned by Steve Richards from Pentraeth, Anglesey.Used it's pulleys & cables to raised and lowered it's shovel whilst going around the display ring - it was fantastic to watch.
Next into the area were the big steam boys, what a fantastic sight. Once they had parked in the centre of the ring the crowds were invited in to have a closer look, this proved very popular with every body.
Our thank's go to “ALL” who helped ,our FFA Area Rep Gwilyn Jones plus the Chairman and Committee of the Anglesey Vintage Equipment Society - FFA helpers Margaret & Morris Kirk, Peter Godwin, Margaret & Derek Badham, Rodney & Wendy Gibson, Ernie & Hazel Clark, to name but a few.
There were also many other machines and ages here to make this an excellent show in a superb setting at Newby Hall, Ripon, East Yorkshire.
The weather was excellent on Saturday 12th June, it rained heavily in the night but stopped in time for the punters to come through the gate on Sunday 13th June.
Again the Ford and Fordson Association had the biggest show of tractors with over a 100, including one or two new restorations. Thanks to the efforts of Roger Ingram the FFA stand was manned well. However for 2011, "We need to have more helpers here please".
It was appropriate that on display was the ex John Moffett MOM Fordson F, thought to be the second oldest in the UK today. Belonging to John Metcalfe it ran a treat, as did Philip Ireland’s 1919 example that came from the neighbouring county of Lancashire. Tom Lowther and his Northrop 5004 was also part of the display aswell as Ron Hughes and his lovely Roadless Dexta. There were some lovely tractors from Kenneth Bell and his many friends, even a couple debuting at the event.
In fact the 1000 series line was superb with two 2000; seven 3000; three; 4000 and three 5000’s besides two 7810 Jubilees.
Newby Hall are to have a special ‘blue’ tractor theme in 2011, which takes place on 11-12th June and is to be run by our FFA ploughing suprememo Roger Ingham. Full details are shown in the SHOWS & EVENTS section of this website.
There were also many other machines and ages here to make this an excellent show in a superb setting at Newby Hall, Ripon, East Yorkshire.
The weather was excellent on Saturday 12th June, it rained heavily in the night but stopped in time for the punters to come through the gate on Sunday 13th June.
Again the Ford and Fordson Association had the biggest show of tractors with over a 100, including one or two new restorations. Thanks to the efforts of Roger Ingram the FFA stand was manned well. However for 2011, "We need to have more helpers here please".
It was appropriate that on display was the ex John Moffett MOM Fordson F, thought to be the second oldest in the UK today. Belonging to John Metcalfe it ran a treat, as did Philip Ireland’s 1919 example that came from the neighbouring county of Lancashire. Tom Lowther and his Northrop 5004 was also part of the display aswell as Ron Hughes and his lovely Roadless Dexta. There were some lovely tractors from Kenneth Bell and his many friends, even a couple debuting at the event.
In fact the 1000 series line was superb with two 2000; seven 3000; three; 4000 and three 5000’s besides two 7810 Jubilees.
Newby Hall are to have a special ‘blue’ tractor theme in 2011, which takes place on 11-12th June and is to be run by our FFA ploughing suprememo Roger Ingham. Full details are shown in the SHOWS & EVENTS section of this website.
Our Fordson Club gathering at Barham on the weekend 22nd & 23rd May 2010 was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. It was wonderful to see so many people (75 Adults and 5 Children) from S. Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. This has turned out to be our largest gathering of all time. It was a very busy weekend in Barham as not only was it to host the ‘Fordson Club Gathering’ but also a ‘Country Music festival’, so the town was alive with people. Friday afternoon saw many of the Fordson enthusiasts arriving, with a few gathering at one of the local hotels for the evening meal.
Saturday turned out to be fine and sunny. As the time ticked away towards 1pm, people started to gather at the clock in the gardens by Main Street. Our friends met up with each other and new members welcomed. It was great to see our two club members John and Lorraine Wake who had driven down from Bunderberg in Queensland.
With everyone eager for the weekend to commence, we all headed towards Colin and Yvonne Lloyd's property on East Barham Road to see Colin’s ever increasing collection of old tractors, trucks & machinery, which included fifteen Fordson tractors.
In Colin’s collection there are several Fordson E27N petrol/kero on steel wheels and rubber tyres, Fordson with P6 Perkins, Super Major, as well as E27N with Muir Hill Loader, a County crawler (minus its engine) and a lot of farming implement, including a Malcolm Moore Rabbit Ripper.
Apart from Fordson tractors there were Massey Harris tractors, Ferguson Loader, Hough loader, Marshall Crawler. Many old trucks, including a very tidy Austin Lodestar, F600 Ford, Jailbar Ford, Leyland 12C Comet and a 1418 Benz. Club members wandered through the rows of machinery, picking out the various differences between the tractors.
Just after 2:15pm members and guests were invited to make their way down to the back of the house, where Yvonne and her helpers had a delicious Afternoon Tea spread out on trestles. The sandwiches, savouries, cakes, scones and slices were all very tempting. As we sat under pergola covered with grape vines in their autumn colours, the warm sun a cup of tea and a delicious slice of cake, very relaxing. But all to soon it was time to move everyone across to the big shed to be seated for the business part of the afternoon.
Firstly, we had our General Meeting, at which the Club's new lapel badges were given to members. The Annual General Meeting followed with the election of members to the board and the setting of membership fees for 2010/2011. After the Meeting there was enough time to have another look around Colin's collection before heading back into town.
Saturday night at the Barham football club rooms came alive as everyone arrived there about 7pm. With a large wood fire going, it was very cosy inside. On one long table, Club photo albums were displayed for people to look through, as well as the binders of Fordson service letters, supplements, folders of sales brochures and many other manuals that had been donated to the Club. Other members brought along memorabilia to look at. Dennis Greenwood displayed three carved wooden Fordson models, an E27N with a plough, a Fordson Dexta and a Doe Triple D.
Members and guests seated at the long tables were treated to an excellent meal of Roast Chicken or Roast lamb with vegetables, followed by fruit salad or hot steam pudding, both with ice cream. After the meal the traditional raffle was held. This is our only major fund raiser of the year and again we had over 70 prizes to be won. A big thanks to all the members who brought along prizes for the raffle. Club president, Geoff Beattie, presented the Fordson Club plates to our hosts, Colin and Yvonne Lloyd, and Bruce Campbell. A presentation was also made to Joanne and Richard Edwards, who were our hosts for the next day. It was a wonderful evening with most people relaxing and enjoying friendly chat before saying their goodbyes for the night.
Sunday morning was a cold frosty start as we all gathered again at the football ground car park. With everyone following, we all set off towards Kerang, about a 25 minute trip. As we pulled up at Tim Scriven's Military collection, the first thing that everyone saw was Dennis Greenwood's Aussie Doe. Members couldn't get out of their cars quick enough to go over and give it the big inspection.
Dennis drove it around on the grassed area and some members were lucky enough to be allowed to drive it. Dennis had coupled together a couple of Majors with a kit that was made by a foundry in Bendigo, Victoria. This kit had previously been fitted to a pair of Nuffield tractors. The conversion had not been completely finished yet, but Dennis promised us it would be.
Tim's collection included A Blitz F60L with a 1941 2 Pounder Anti Tank Gun, a 1943 M20 BSA 500cc motorcycle, a 1943
Bren Gun carrier manufactured in West Australia, a 1942 Dodge WC56 Command car, an M3 Half track, a 1943 Willy’s Jeep with 1945 trailer and a 1941 Stuart Light Tank.
It was a very interesting collection and Tim certainly got everyone’s attention when he started up the Stuart tank and drove it away in a haze of thick smoke.
Club President Geoff Beattie thanked Tim for allowing us to see his collection and presented him with a Fordson Club Plate.
We then returned to Barham and drove out on the Moulamein Road to visit Joanne and Richard Edwards collection. On arrival we were all invited to morning tea and again the spread of sandwiches, freshly baked scones with jam and cream were very tempting. For the ladies there was a display of old china, old craft & knitting books, while Richard had books on earth moving machinery out for all to browse through.
Morning tea over, it was time for a play. Firstly, Richard gave a demonstration with his Old Stone Crusher, which resulted in a neat pile of stones. He then showed how his Jaques Dragline could load his Aveling-Barford Dumper with the stones that had been freshly crushed.
Looking around we saw a Caterpillar D6 Dozer, an old face shovel fitted with a Fordson Model N power unit and a Grader fitted to an International tractor. The men finally made their way back to the lawns where the ladies were sitting around chatting.
The call of “time to move” got everyone moving again and it was back into Barham to the Border Flywheels Museum. It is a very interesting museum with extensive collections on show, covering household articles and goods, stationary engines, tractors, trucks, vintage cars and machinery. Based in the Old Brick Works it was an ideal location for a museum of this kind to be. The Fordson tractors were lined up at the back of the museum and this included a Cork model and several E27Ns.
One tractor that created interest was an old Fordson which had been donated and was mounted on top of a large tree stump.
The Border Flywheelers Club ladies catered for a sit down lunch of BBQ meats with served salads followed by fruit salad and ice cream. Local craft ladies also had a stall in the museum, which the ladies in our group supported well.
After lunch we had the drawing for the three Lucky Ticket prizes. These were a gift pack of three Fordson Mugs donated by Rocklyn Ceramics, a Hino Truck gift bag donated by Bendigo truck center and a Fordson tractor cushion made and donated by Club Secretary, Dawn Milsom. Club President Geoff Beattie then thanked The Border Flywheelers and presented their President Bruce Campbell with a Fordson club plate. It was then time for everyone to have their last look around the museum and have a chat to friends before some members headed off home. For the Club members who stayed in Barham for Sunday night there was a meal that evening at the Barham Club.
Thank you to our hosts over the weekend, for all the organising and catering. it was very much appreciated.
During the Sunday afternoon a reporter from the local newspaper ‘The Bridge’ arrived to take some photos and interviews. This resulted in a full front page featuring a very large colored photo under the heading ‘Fordson Fantastics’. Well, this group of ‘Fordson Fantastics’ certainly enjoyed themselves and look forward to meeting up again at our next ‘Fordson Club Gathering’.
Read more ...2022 Shows October