Haddenham Steam Rally 2006
by Michael Pumfrey

The 33rd Haddenham Steam Rally took place on 9th & 10th September. Once again held just to the North of the village near Ely in Cambs, by kind permission of AgReserves, the field was full to overflowing with all kinds of vintage and rural exhibits. 
   Unlike the downpours of last year, this year’s event was held under blazing sunshine. With the sad passing of Stan Burgess, who was a founder committee member of the event, it was unusual not to see Burrell 3979 “Earl Haig” in her usual spot at the top of the field. Instead, the space was occupied by a few engines that had received attention in his workshop. Ruston 50278 “Success”, owned by the Pumfrey Family of Little Chesterford and Foster Tractor 14589 “Lord of the Isles”, owned by Walings of Wisbech, were among them, and are also engines that attended the first Haddenham Rally in 1971. They were joined by Foden 3534 “Monarch” which was owned by Stan for many years and is now with the Wyeld family in Norfolk, and the Burrell Ploughing Engine 777, which Stan worked on for Tom Paisley of Holywell and is now owned by the Museum of East Anglian Life.

     

   Elsewhere on the Rally field, new amongst the steam exhibits were the Foden Colonial Wagon 4086 owned by Steve Plumb from Heacham, and the Aveling Roller No. 8753 “Silver Streak” owned by the Barklem Brothers. James Coward from Thorney in Cambs presented his smart Tuxford Portable, driving a corn mill. This was formerly part of the collection of the late Ronald Clark, who had rescued it for preservation from Charles Lack (Engineers) of Cottenham, just down the road from Haddenham. 
   Graham Atkinson once again visited with his showman’s engines, Burrell 3444 “His Lordship”, Fowler 15657 “The Iron Maiden” and Garrett 33284 “Princess Maud.  These were joined by Charles Saunders and Bruce Whatley’s Garrett showman’s road locomotive “British Hero”, flanking the Gavioli Symphonique 110 Key Organ and Stage Show. This featured the Julie Hatton dancers from Scarborough. 
   Burrell 5 nhp showman’s Engine 3926 “Margaret” was in attendance, looking rather different on her straked wheels as owner Keith Honour has removed the rubber tyres in readiness for new ones. She spent the weekend providing power for Keith’s organ “The Four Seasons”, though she did have a break on the Saturday Night to drive Starmer’s Chairoplanes. The other 5 nhp Burrell showman’s was No. 3555 “The Busy Bee” which has been owned for over fifty years by Dr. Middlemiss from Godmanchester and was driven to the Rally by his son Willem.
   An assortment of steam tractors attended, including the Garrett 33296 “Adventurer” owned by Mike Dyson of Haddenham. Aveling tractors were represented by Jonathan Vickery’s convertible “Queen of Herts”, No. 6319 and John Durling with his well known “Morning Star”, No. 11486. Keith Collins came all the way from Goole in North Yorks with his Fowler 14406 “Mtoto” and the Holman family presented their smart Ransomes No. 36220. This engine spent six years as Ransomes’ company demonstrator. 
   There were also two Ransomes products among the agricultural engines, being the 7 nhp “The Leprechaun”, No. 27277 owned by John Garrod, and the 6 nhp 31298 “Garioch Queen” which is owned by Barry Peacock from Wilburton, and was busy thrashing with Peter Hatton’s Marshall drum from Somersham.  Barry’s son Matthew presented his Marshall 52435 “Iron Horse” which is still undergoing restoration. 
Other agricultural engines included the Clayton 48224 “Valiant” owned by Paul Blanch of Family from Taverham, Fowler 10373 “Ada” owned by David Gowlett from Newmarket and the big Burrell 1563 “The Big A” which is owned by J & H Bunn of Great Yarmouth and looked after by Ollie Owen. 
   Richard Parrott attended with his Burrell Devonshire 2626 “Spitfire” driving his Blake Marsden stone crusher and the Fowler BB1 Ploughing Engine15453 “Saucy Sue” which is owned by C.H. Cole & Son of West Tilbury. Unfortunately due to ground conditions in the working field it wasn’t possible to demonstrate steam cultivating as planned but the Middleton Family from Holcot were hard at work sawing wood with their Marshall 34151 “Jimmie B”.. 
  Steam wagons included the Foden 12364 “Tiny”, owned by N. Hemaway and Andy Caldow of Enfield, and the Sentinel tipper 6887 “Vectis Knight” owned by Melvyn Camps of Saffron Walden. Both these engines travelled to the event under their own steam. The roller section this year was nearly entirely made up of Aveling & Porter products. A long time attendee at Haddenham is No. 4757 “Aquarius” owned by Brian Camps of Cambridge. It was something of an end of an era for Brian as it was his last rally with the roller as he has now sold it. Three other ten ton rollers are those of Fran and Trish Earl from Dersingham, No. 10121 “Herta”, Jenny and Pet
Copeman from Gayton with No. 8837 “George” and Maurice Forman from Alford, Lincs with No. 10556. As well as “Silver Streak”, two other eight tonners were present, No. 11804 “Emerald Rose” owned by Chris Brighty and roaded to the event from Saffron Walden and No. 8361 “Tinker Belle” owned by Darren Swain of Chrishall. Both these engines have been repainted over the last winter. The only non-Aveling roller was the very smart Wallis and Steevens Simplicity 7939, owned by Graham Lee, all the way from Tamworth. 
   There was a lot to see besides steam engines. The ever popular horse show took place on Sunday, the Vintage Vehicles put on a fine display, including a special display of Crawlers in the Tractor Section. There were many Stationary Engines and Bygones, as well as craft and trade stalls. There was an extensive funfair with several modern rides in addition to Rule’s Steam Driven Gallopers, which were built by Savage of King’s Lynn in 1893 and feature a Tidman Centre Engine. 
On Sunday the Rally was officially opened by Tim Curtis from Anglia Television, and the public were also entertained by the energetic "Jive Pony" Display and Winston the Singing Farmer with his own brand of light-hearted rural merriment. 
   A dragline excavator was at work in one of the ponds, while the large lake was home to the Fenland Marine Model Club and the Cambridge City Sub-Aqua Club.  The Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service also gave displays during the weekend.
   A good time was had by all and we look forward to next year’s Rally, set to take place on the 8th & 9th September 2007.