Weeting Steam Engine Rally and Country Show
15/16/17th July 2005 
by Pat Freeman

The 37th Weeting Rally was held at Fengate Farm, Weeting, Norfolk, owned by Richard Norman Parrott.
   Richard is the great grandson of Richard Harrison Parrott who started threshing with a chain-driven Burrell engine in 1872. He built a threshing contracting fleet of three sets, all driven by Burrell engines. The last new engine was No.2244, a 7nhp single crank compound built in 1899. The move from using Burrell threshing drums  to Clayton & Shuttleworth was in 1911/12 and the threshing round stretched from Methwold to Icklingham. After his death in 1933, at the height of the farming depression, his son sold most of the tackle, but steam threshing continued at Fengate Farm until 1950. Field Marshall tractors then drove the drums until 1963 when  Richard, the present owner, bought an 8nhp Burrell Dreadnought, No.2948. Steam threshing has taken place every year since then, not only at Fengate Farm but at other locations in Norfolk and Suffolk. Richard hopes that steam threshing will continue at Fengate Farm for some years to come. 
   At the rally, Richard provided several engines including the oldest Burrell shown in the Traction Engine Register. This is Century, No.748, built in 1877, and is believed to be the oldest Burrell traction engine in the world.
  Another of Rchard's engines which is known to be the only one of its type in existence is the John Collins No. 2 Tandem Compound, built in 1910. This engine was rescued from near dereliction by that well-known author of steam engine books, the late Ronald Clark, and was used by him until the late 1970's. It was returned to steam in 1999 and is still undergoing restoration work. It could be seen at the rally working in the Timberyard area.
   He also had working, driving a small Roller Corn Plant, a tiny 1nhp Tuxford Portable, No. 1283, built in 1888.
   Many EATEC members were at the rally, including Trevor Ellis with his 1935 Fowler Steam Roller Bonny Lass, No.19546; Dave Dale  with his 1907 Clayton & Shuttleworth, No.39400; Robert Pumfrey  with the family's Ruston, Proctor Success, No. 50278, and Barry Freeman and son, Jeremy, with their respective1922 Burrell Jessie, No. 3923, and 1930 Burrell Rosemarie, No.4088,
   A Mann Steam Wagon, No.1365, built in 1919 had been brought to the rally from Swansea by the owner, Pat Jenkins, and Albert White of Grantham was there with two Fodens: a 1928 Flat Bed Steam Lorry Emerald, No.2876, and a1926 6 ton Steam Lorry King William, No.12388. He also had his 1913 Flat Bed Albion Lorry on view.
   Altogether there were over 50 engines in steam, mostly engaged in cultivating, farmyard, timberyard or roadworks/rolling areas.
   About the same number of models were on view, of which a 6" scale ploughing engine stood out. It had been made by its owner Derek Rushton over a period of 7/8 years and fittingly was named Oddball as it  contained gearing taken from an old crane and its cylinder block was made from a solid block of steel by Derek.

    

    

                     

    

    

                     

    

    

Also on view at the rally were over a dozen fire engines and appliances, over a 100 vintage tractors and commercials as well as a good number of cars and motorcycles. These, together with trade stands and various exhibitions, all contributed to providing an excellent show for enthusiasts and the public alike.
   Next year's date for the event is 14/15/16th July. Please make a note.