The Tunstead Tea Party
by Michael Pumfrey

Saturday, May 21st 2005 saw the first Tunstead Tea Party taking place in North Norfolk to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the East Anglian Traction Engine Society. Seven engines left Billy Bird’s yard at Tunstead for the short run to the New Inn at Worstead. Simon and Olly Wyeld had steamed over from Great Melton with their 1913 Foden Road Loco Monarch, No. 3534, towing their Pollit showman’s wagon. John Brice came from nearby Stalham with his 1922 Ruston & Hornsby Roller Veronica, No. 115123, and Andy Potter also took part with the 1924 Foster Agricultural Engine, No. 14422, owned by Ruth Groom. Organiser of the event, Ollie Owen, had worked hard to get the 1891 Burrell Traction Engine The Big A, No. 1563, ready for the event. The day before the event the engine, which Ollie looks after for J. & H. Bunn of Great Yarmouth, was still in pieces after work had been carried out on the crank etc. during the winter. She was finally back together and in steam by the Friday night when Ollie and I drove her over to Tunstead, arriving just after dark (only three miles, but a long three miles as the engine is unsprung and on steel wheels.)
   Other engines had low-loaded into Tunstead, including our own 1914 Ruston, Proctor Success, No. 50278, and Duncan Marston’s 1913 Foden Steam Wagon The Icklingham Flyer, No. 3510. Barry and Matthew Peacock arrived from Ely on the Saturday Morning with their 1920 Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Traction Engine Garioch Queen, No. 31298.
Before the start of the run on Saturday, time was taken for a photo. call outside the pub for the Eastern Daily Press.  The engines then set off for Worstead, the first to arrive being Duncan Marston and Barry Freeman with the Foden Wagon.  Dad and I were second to arrive, before the rain, with our flying Ruston.

     

The weather on the day ranged from bright sunshine to heavy rain, with just about everything in between, but we were given a warm welcome at the New Inn, and while we were there we were joined by the Randell Bros. Marshall Roller from nearby Skeyton, and Steven Plumb with his 9" Scale Foden tractor Lydia.
More photographs were taken and good food was ordered and eaten at Worstead, and while we were there a local Policeman called on us to make sure all was well.

     

   After the engines had taken on water, during which time there was a very heavy cloudburst, the Road Run split into two.  The faster engines, those of Duncan and the Wyelds, went to Dilham to visit the Cross Keys, while the slower ones among us returned to Tunstead via the same route we had used that morning.
   During the trip back, several of us were caught in a thunder storm and got very wet.  Barry and Matthew were lucky enough to be invited to shelter (and drink tea) in some kind person’s house alongside the route.  Dad and I were not so lucky and carried on at a good rate through the pouring rain.
   In the evening, three engines, The Big A, Monarch and Success lined up outside the Horse and Groom, and Rob Wichall brought along his Marenghi organ to provide some entertainment and atmosphere.  This proved quite a draw to passing members of the public.
   Later on Winston the Singing Farmer entertained us, seeming very much at home in the rural Norfolk setting. A large number of people enjoyed a very convivial evening in the pub.
On Sunday, Monarch, Veronica and the Foster, driven by Andy Potter, steamed across to Strumpshaw ready for the following weekend, while the others made their way across by lorry.
   We would like to thank the following people for their assistance with staging the event: Olly Wyeld, Emily Pumfrey and Charlotte Partridge, for organising the Raffle, Paul Blanch, for the loan of his trailer, The Landlords and Staff of the Horse and Groom, the New Inn and the Cross Keys, Billy Bird, for the use of his facilities in Tunstead, and the Norfolk Police.