Haddenham Steam Rally
September 7/8th 2007
by Michael Pumfrey
The event was blessed with fine weather and good attendance from the
public.
Among the many things to see at the Rally was a selection
of 40 steam engines of all types. New to this years event was Stuart Ritchie
from Co. Durham, with his Foden C Type tractor, which was supplied new
as a "Flexible six-wheeler". Another long distance visitor was the Burrell
Taz,
an eight horsepower traction engine that spent its working life in Tazmania
and is owned by the Goddard family from Wiltshire. Kevin Rayner from St.
Neots was also attending for the first time with his Wallis traction engine
Forager,
as was Derek Spearman with Fowler Roller
Arfur. Further interest
was provided by the Missen family’s Marshall Portable, returning to Haddenham
after several years and reaching the end of a heavy restoration, though
not in steam yet. Another portable was the unrestored 4nhp Brittania type,
never before seen at any Rally having been imported from Chile this year.
Ollie Owen exhibited this. It was also good to see Matt Peacock’s Marshall
Traction Engine Iron Horse which is still undergoing restoration.
Matt was awarded the new "Stan Burgess Shield" in recognition of his restoration
efforts so far.
Among the regulars at Haddenham are a number of engines
that attended the first event in 1971. These include Aveling Roller Aquarius,
formerly owned by the Leys School Steam Club, then by Brian Camps of Cambridge
and now with Harry Cheeseman from Market Harborough. The Foster Tractor
Lord
of the Isles was exhibited by the Waling Family, and came to the rally
under its own steam towing a Brayshaw Showman’s Wagon formerly owned by
Stan Burgess. Another engine that attended the 1971 event was EATES President
Robert Pumfrey’s Ruston Success, which this year was in the care
of Ian and Sarah Durling.
Working demonstrations are a popular feature of the rally.
This year, steam cultivating was carried out using Fowler ploughing engines
Linkey
(Owned by Mark Jones from Droitwich) and Sevington (Owned locally
by Colin Piggott and John Mann) and the Fowler harrow owned by Richard
Parrott. Richard also used his own Burrell Spitfire to drive his
Blake Marsden stone crusher. The Middleton family from Holcot were busy
sawing wood with their Marshall Jimmy B and Barry Peacock and Peter
Hatton were once again busy providing the threshing demonstration.
Working horses and tractors could also be seen, and on
Sunday the ever-popular heavy horse show took place.
There was also a wide selection of vintage vehicles and tractors to be
seen, as well as bygones, organs and stationary engines. The Fair featured
Rule’s Steam Gallopers as usual, and this year there was the added attraction
of Ken Fox’s Wall of Death show, as seen on the BBC, which proved extremely
popular with visitors to the Rally.
Entertainment was provided by Graham Atkinson’s Gavioli
organ and stage show, with the Julie Hatton Dancers. Unfortunately Graham
only had enough crew to bring one engine this 
year,
the Burrell His Lordship. Allan Marchington brought his big Fowler
Showman’s Girlie along to the event however, and Willem Middlemiss
steamed his Burrell Nero from Godmanchester. Keith Honour’s Burrell
Margaret
was in attendance and was put to work on Saturday evening driving the lights
on the gallopers.
Among the other attractions at the rally were the Fenland
Marine Model Group, and the Cambs. Sub Aqua Club giving displays on the
lake and the Cambs. Fire & Rescue Service from Sutton. There was also
a dragline excavator at work in one of the site’s ponds, and a Heavy Horse
Demonstration Area, featuring Shoeing etc.
For pictures and a detailed list of steam engines at the
event, click http://www.steamscenes.org.uk/?pc=/events/2007/haddenham-steam-rally/
All had a good time and it is hoped a good sum will have
been raised for local causes. Next year’s rally takes place on 6/7th September
2008.
