White Horse Steam-Up
September 29/30th 2007
by Pat Freeman

A consideration for choosing The White Horse, Pleshey, to hold Social Evenings was thhe possibility of organising a steam-up of engines in the car park.
   This duly took place and was deemed a success by its organisers, Trevor Ellis and Pat Freeman, by the landlord, Mike Smail, and the engine crews in attendance. There was also a steady trickle of steam enthusiasts to this two-day event and a good gathering on the Saturday evening to hear the 'Just Friends Jazz'  trio playing whilst having a sit-down two-course meal laid on entirely by Mike Smail and his helpers.
In total, eight engines were at the steam-up: a showman's engine, a traction engine, two rollers, two steam waggons and two scale models. All were in steam except one of the scale models.
   The model in steam was a 6" scale Atkinson Steam Wagon Louise, acquired in July 2006 by Bruce Rice of Chelmsford from its builder John Doyle from the Coventry area. The other model, a 4½" scale Burrell, owned by the Clarke family of Felstead and recently repainted, was built by the late Paul Nightingale, father of Stuart.
   The showman's engine, a 1912 Burrell Pride of Essex, No. 13036, owned by Wally Hicks and driven by Stuart Nightingale, both from the Chelmsford area.
   The 1926 Aveling & Porter Tractor Nippy, No. 11705, owned by Richard Murphy of East Bergholt, was crewed by Philip and Tim Clarke of Felstead.

     

     

      The 1937 Aveling-Barford Roller Lady Helen, No. AC 621, owned by Will Childs of Braintree, was crewed by Jim Thompson and Gordon Blackett. The other roller was the 1930 Aveling & Porter Josephine, No.14089, owned and crewed by Simon and Adrian Fox of Colchester.
   Sue Doncaster's Standard Sentinel Waggon The Old Man, No.1170, was driven by John Smith whilst Arthur Bullman's Standard Sentinel Waggon Unrepeatable, No. 1716, was driven to the White Horse by Arthur's son, Steve, with fireman Mitchell Curnick and on the return journey, again driven by Steve with his mother, Betty, doing the firing. Arthur acquired this waggon in 1973, then undertook a complete rebuild which took four years.
   Click Alex for more pictures taken at this event by Alex Bareham, an EATEC member from Clacton, Essex.
   As mentioned earlier the steam-up was a complete success, much to the delight of 'mine host' who must be thanked for allowing the Club to use his car-park and watering facility, for staging the Saturday evening events and providing food and drinks throughout the weekend.
   It's expected that another such steam-up will be held next year with, perhaps, another engine or two and a steam car in attendance.