Sentinel Owners & Drivers Club Memorial Road Run 2nd & 3rd August, 2003
by Kevin Swann
President, East Anglian Traction Engine Society

This road run was in memory of Dan Doncaster and Mick Tuxworth, both  instrumental in founding the club and bringing Sentinel waggons into the limelight of the movement. Dan and Mick were also committee members of  the EATES and had a strong involvement in the organization and running of rallies throughout our region. Dan became known for his expertise in the restoration of a number of waggons when working for Edgar Shone,  including the much renowned DG6.
Mick’s involvement in all things steam started when he came to live at Wimbish, Essex,  where Ben Taylor soon took him under his wing. He drove the Fowler Ploughing Engine Old Guard, ably  assisted by his wife "Wumf". Mick went on to be renowned for his excellent restorations of a number of Sentinel waggons, his first being the DG6 of Jim Hatfield.
The run started from Great Brockholds Farm, Wimbish, with five waggons taking part. These were;-
The S4 of Barry Cousins in the livery of Shadrake Coal Merchant, East Ham, London, the waggon's first owners.
The ex-Unit Africa Co. Super of Malcolm Rogers on pneumatics, now in the livery of a leading theatrical company.
Sue Doncaster's Standard The Old Man, adorned with what appeared to be a makeshift tent/sunshade for her crew and helpers. 
The much-prized DG6 of Jim Hatfield, driven up from Haywards Heath on the Friday, Jim being assisted by Derrick Gransden who is currently restoring another DG6, previously owned by Mick Tuxworth.
The Super of Melvyn Camps, from just down the road at Taylor's Yard, Wimbish, with a somewhat motley crew of Peter Lewis and yours truly - Peter having seen the light and catching our terminal illness "the steam bug". 
Saturday’s route took in many of the picturesque towns and villages of both Essex and Suffolk with a lunch-stop at 'The Cock' public house near Lavenham church, a most photogenic spot. After lunch, Hadleigh and Holton St. Mary were visited on the way to the night stop at Percival Engineering’s yard, Ardleigh. Here, we and local engines and crews who had taken part in their own shorter run of 12 miles were treated to a warm welcome. These included Mathew Garwood with his recently acquired Aveling Roller, Richard Hemington with his Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Traction Engine and Simon Webb with his Burrell Showmans Tractor Peter Pan. Brian Hagen brought along an electric replica traction engine which he built and now belongs to his son Charlie; this caused great interest with young and old alike, many of the very young, being would-be engine men and women drivers of the future, taking a turn at driving.
The run back on Sunday proved to be as interesting as that of the previous day, not only for its route but also for it being the HOTTEST day ever recorded. The temperature inside the Sentinel cabs became almost unbearable, one of the crews had  a thermometer within their cab reading over 130 Degrees F. Both Peter and myself consumed some 9 pints of water throughout the day.  Our directions took us through the pretty village of Dedham and the back-roads to Sudbury, Long Melford and Cavendish, where a welcome lunch-stop had been arranged at 'The Five Bells' public house.  The sight of five waggons adjacent to the green at Cavendish was a photographic opportunity not to be missed - yes, I missed it! Here, all crews and helpers relaxed themselves in the cool of the bar.
After leaving Cavendish, the respective waggons and crews went their own way. Both Barry Cousins' S4 and ourselves with Melvyn Camp's Super had to go only the 20-odd miles back to Wimbish. Jim Hatfield with his DG6 drove the 130 miles back to Haywards Heath, getting home near midnight - a long and tiring day.
My congratulation must go out to Verity Askham and Richard Percival who organised the weekend on behalf of the Sentinel Drivers Club and all who helped and took part. A weekend to recall for years to come.