NEWS

 

Gerald Bailey

An Obituary from Michael Pumfrey.

It is with sadness that we report the passing of steam stalwart and EATES Life Member Gerald Bailey. Gerald, a true fenman and son of the soil was Wicken born and bred. One of two children of Sam and Ann Elizabeth Bailey, Gerald was born in 1917 at Pear Tree Cottage, Chapel Lane, Wicken, when his father was serving in the Great War, growing up in a time of great hardship.

   His father left the army suffering from shellshock and the family moved to Coveney where his mother took up the position of housekeeper to the vicar, and Sam the post of gardener.

   After a short time the family moved back to Wicken where they took over the Maids Head, and Gerald’s schooling was at Wicken. After his Grandfather, John Shop Bailey, died they moved to Vicarage Farm, where Gerald spent many years.

   On leaving school he went to work at Guinea and Hundred Acre fruit farm where due to the heavy work he strained his heart and this kept him out of the forces. While working there the horse he was using ate a plum tree and this was stopped out of his wages

He moved on to work for Wilfred Barton and then in the building trade laying runways where he purchased his first car, an Austin Ruby. When the War Agricultural Executive Committee (known as the War-Ag.) began, Gerald worked first as a mechanic at Stretham and then had a mobile workshop carrying out repairs on site in the fens. We have been told many stories about this period of his life and no doubt these stories improved with the telling! Gerald then set up a Threshing and Contracting business, later combining and sugar beet harvesting.

   When the sewer came to Wicken, Gerald hired a tractor and trailer to H.A. Human and would accept the offer of a cup of tea from Alice Delph in Lode lane, things moved on from there and they married in 1975. Sadly, Alice died in 1995 and Gerald was alone again.

   As a younger man Gerald played in the Wicken band and liked to hear them play whenever he could.  No resumé of Gerald's  life would be complete without a mention of Neddy the donkey who came to Vicarage Farm as a foal and spent many years with Gerald, possibly a love hate relationship, especially when Gerald wanted to trim Neddy’s feet!

   He had a great love of all things old, especially steam engines and it is appropriate that he made his final journey behind Dreadnought , brought along by Richard Parrott for whom Gerald had driven engines for many years. Gerald was a founder committee member of both the Haddenham and Weeting Rallies, and served on the committee of the East Anglian Traction Engine Club and was made a life member.

   We can only hope that some of his knowledge about Wicken, steam and agricultural equipment has been passed on. A man who lived his life well and had a life well lived. His passing leaves a gap in many lives that will be difficult to fill. God bless you Gerald, may you be at peace.

 

A Queen Returns Home

by EATEC member, Alex Bareham.

After undergoing a major refit, including repairing a cracked cylinder block at the workshop of EATEC member, Jonathan Wheeler in Diss, Norfolk, The Clacton Queen, as she is known locally, recently returned back to her base.

    'The Queen' is a 10 ton 1922 Garrett Road Roller, No. 31465, and was used in the years before the war to maintain roads in the seaside town. In 1955, she was found in a delapidated state rusting away in a field. With the help of funding from the Tendring District Council, a group of enthusiasts restored the roller to working condition and has for the past ten years visited local carnivals and fetes. Although owned by the council, it's up to the Clacton Queen Preservation Society to run and maintain her under the leadership of Chairman Peter Williams.

 

    

 

New Road Run

Plans are afoot for an exciting new Road Run across Norfolk in 2009. Approaches have been made to Thursford and the North Norfolk Railway at Holt and favourable responses have been received. For further information contact Ollie Owen on 07775 508067.

 

Thursford Founders Day  March 16th

A number of EATES members attended the 7th Thursford Founders Day, taking the opportunity to inspect the derelict engines brought in from the cold. A good time was had by all and Thursford should be commended for its efforts. The next Founders Day will be on April 5th 2009.

 

Thurlow and Haverhill Steam and Country

Following the passing of our dedicated organiser, Don Loveday, the EATES committee have been working hard to put the show together, to celebrate his memory and also to continue raising money for the many local charities we have supported over the years. If anyone can offer help with sponsoring or running the event, please contact Michael Pumfrey on mrpumfrey@tractionengines.com  It is hoped that, with EATES help, the working area of the event can be enlarged this year and Michael will be delighted to hear from anyone who can assist with this.

 

Carlton Colville Transport Museum
from Terry Fleet
We at Carlton Colville Transport Museum are going for some Heritage Lottery Funding to put together a building to display our Armstrong Whitworth Roller along with a living van and tar boiler etc.
   There will be a video made of life on the road living in a van acted by the Lowestoft Seagull theatre group which will be showing, along with all of the artefacts that were used both to live on the road and for road building.
   What we are short of is somebody who did work and live in that fashion years ago and who would be willing to answer questions and record on tape anything they can tell us about that way of life. The tape would be played for Museum visitors including of course the visually impaired. A copy of this oral record would be given to the person or persons involved, with a copy for the Society archives. It would not involve any expense for the volunteers as we would come to you and your help would be fully acknowledged.
   Anybody who would be willing to help us can contact me at 9 Marsh Lane, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, Suffolk. NR33 8BW. Tel: 01506 565349
  Thank You.

 

Assistance with Laying New Road and Yard

EATES member Tim Hall from North Ings Farm Museum near Lincoln is offering the chance to any members that are roller owners or drivers to assist with the laying of a new roadway and yard at his premises at Dorrington. He can supply coal and water plus lowloader and/or caravan parking. This will hopefully take place in early March 2008. 
   If any members feel they could be of service, whether with a roller or just to visit to drive the museum’s own Aveling Barford Mastor Pavor 10 ton roll, get in touch with Tim on 01562 833100 or 07759 181668.

 

Marshall Engine

Can anyone help to identify this Marshall engine? It stands rusting beside the A130 road at the Battlesbridge Antiques Centre. Please email information to George Ottley on fgott@tinyworld.co.uk

 

 

Second-hand Books, Magazines and Periodicals
Large quantities of these items have become available. Click Sales for details.