Butchers Arms Steam-Up
March 26/27th 2005
by Pat Freeman

This was staged at the 'Butchers Arms' public house at North End on the A130 road between Chelmsford and Dunmow, Essex. This public house, used for evening social meetings by local EATES members on the second Wednesday of every month, except July and August, had reserved its forecourt for engines in steam. However, a large adjacent field was used to accommmodate more engines, including several half-size models, as well as stationary engines, tractors, motorcars, motor cycles and military vehicles. Trade stands and childrens entertainment contributed to the atmosphere of a small-scale rally.
   Initially, two Burrell Showman's Road Loco's were on the forecourt - the 1925

    

Ex-Mayor, No.4000, and the 1923 Margaret, No.3926, but the latter engine, belonging to Keith Honour, soon moved onto the display field where it supplied power to drive a 48-Key Organ 'The Four Seasons', also owned by Keith. This organ was built, in 1941, by Page & Howard and was bought by Keith, together with Margaret, in 2002. Also on site was his Living Van which he acquired from the Culpin brothers, Adrian and Glen. They had bought it in a derelict condition and had refurbished about half of it. Keith completed the work just in time for this event.
   Two rollers, in steam, were side-by-side in the display field. The 1935 Fowler Bonny Lass, No. 19546, owned by Trevor Ellis, and the 1937 Aveling-Barford Lady Helen, No. AC621, belonging to Will Childs.
   The President of the EATES, Robert Pumfrey, and his son, Michael, were there with the family's1914 Ruston Proctor Success, No. 50278.
   Others in steam were Barry Peacock's  R, S & J Garioch Queen, No. 31928, and three Burrell's: the 1909 Princess Royal, No. 3106, owned by Derek Spearman, the 1907 Violet, No.2921, belonging to Eddie Carr, and the 1930 Rosemarie, No. 4088, owned by Jeremy Freeman.

    

    

The latter engine was one of several that took the opportunity to go for a spin along country roads around the 'Butchers Arms'. Another was the 1913 Foden Steam Wagon The Icklingham Flyer of Duncan Marston, a Past-President of the EATES.
   This Easter Steam-Up , which, hopefully, may become an annual event, was appreciated by many, none more so than Peter Ratcliffe and Arthur Clarke, both founder-members of the EATEC exactly 50 years ago.