THE THURLOW STEAM AND 
COUNTRY SHOW
AUGUST 2nd/3rd, 2003

The 24th Show, held at the rally site close to Haverhill, Suffolk, was notable for an important 'first' for the EATEC.
For the past few years the Club has owned a very strongly built Sales Tent which has a big drawback - it is very heavy and bulky to transport and requires several people to erect and dismantle it. This has precluded the Club from having a Sales presence at a number of rallies, especially some of the smaller ones and those outside East Anglia.
Terry Taberer, the Sales Officer, decided that the Club should have a much more manageable tent, with which the Committee agreed. He therefore bought a Gazebo- type tent that folds up for easy transport, which he can erect by himself when necessary.

   

Thurlow was its first outing and it should be a great asset to the Club as it covers about 5m by 3m thereby giving adequate display space. It was deemed a great success by those who visited the stand.
One of the visitors turned out to be Patrick Neville, brother of our late President, Steve Neville. Patrick emigrated to Australia in 1968 and did not know that Steve had written the book "The Heavy Gang" which he had seen on the sales table. This had been written by Steve in the late 1960’s and was up-dated in 1997 by Pat Freeman who was standing next to Patrick when he spotted the book.
A welcome engine-owner on site was Eve Nevard with her 1924 Garrett Steam Tractor Evelyn, No. 34539. This engine had been out of the rally circuit for the last two years and has recently had a new belly tank fitted. This had been made by Mervyn Mayes of Yaxham, Norfolk.The engine was steamed to Thurlow and back, from Great Bentley, hauling a heavy trailer which was well stocked with logs of wood as Eve does not use coal!

     

Keith Honour of Stansted, Essex, was there with his 1922 Burrell Showmans Engine Margaret, No. 3926, which was driving the Honour family’s Page & Howard 48 Key Fairground Organ "Four Seasons". This, although a new organ, has been built on the lines of a traditional 1900’s Fairground Organ.
Paul Brown of Cressing, near Braintree, Essex, had brought along his first engine, a 1924 Marshall Traction Engine Rob Roy, No.78312, which he purchased this year from Scotland where it had been all its life.

     

Another proud first-time owner was Darren Swain of Chrishall, Herts, who, last October, bought the 1914 Aveling & Porter Steam Roller Little Lucy, No.8361. It is kept in Taylor’s Yard at Wimbish, Essex, and was re-tubed during last winter. Darren would be pleased to receive any information about the history of his roller.
Chris and Cheryl Brighty of Newmarket were present with their1927 Aveling & Porter D type Steam Roller, No.11804, which they bought last July. It was making its first rally appearance since repairs to its boiler barrel had been completed. Last year this engine was unofficially named The Dodger but since then it has been renamed, initially to Dodgy Lady and then to Emerald Rose.

     

It had been expected for some time that the rally would be the last on this site as it was due to be ploughed up and would not be made available again for rallies. However, at the Sunday Awards Ceremony, the owner of the site announced that next year’s show could go ahead there - relief all round.