Old Glory

It has recently been announced that Cheffins are to stage the late Richard Vernon sale on Saturday 17 June. Cheffins MD Bill King tells us most of the steam and tractors are to be sold except the Fowler BB1 ploughing engines. In our tribute to Richard we see him on the Saturday in the Steam Plough Club section of the National Ploughing Championship in October 2018. Steam ploughing had to be abandoned on the Sunday owing to the rain. The ex-Baldwin Brothers, Perseverance Works, Wadhurst, East Sussex 1876 Howard No. 110 The Farmers Engine roundabout tackle ploughing engine was working so well. In 1928 No. 110 was purchased on behalf of Henry Ford by the much respected and under-credited Sir Percival Lea Dewhurst Perry CBE, KBE, who had recently made up with…

David Reed Editor-at-large - Former York school teacher who has worked with the editor since 1995 and has a wealth of knowledge on steam, commercials and tractors. Derek Rayner Technical and Vintage World Editor - Derek’s knowledge is extensive, a steam roller owner since the 1960s and a world traveller in search of nothing but the best. Bob Moorman Rally Archive Editor - This former engineering inspector is a fount of knowledge and has been rallying since the 70s. His own restos are award winners, as his ex-Kings 1927 Foden will be now that it’s finished! Mike Neale Diecast Models Editor – It’s a great pleasure to welcome this well-known model expert and photographer who is an architect by trade, to the magazine. Nick Baldwin Senior Correspondent - It’s a great pleasure that Nick Baldwin has agreed to write…

I was so sad to hear that long-standing fair organ owner and founder of the Amersham Fair Organ Museum, Teddy Reed, died on the morning of 13 December aged 96. He attended the 6 November open day at Amersham, but went into decline soon after and by the beginning of December he was in a nursing home in Chesham. Following my December news item regarding the Science Museum selling off three tractors, we have received many communications from readers who, like me, are concerned about this course of action by the Science Museum and feel it is totally wrong. However, Paul Evans, the owner/curator of the superb Internal Fire Museum of Power, tells us that the Science Museum (who have not yet been in touch after my enquiries) placed these tractors on…

Early in the morning in the sunshine of a late April day, a number of engines were gathered in the car park of King Edward Mine at Troon, in Cornwall. They were preparing to travel down into Camborne for the 2022 Trevithick Day. Smoke drifted from their chimneys and even at such an early hour the safety valves of some of the engines were lifting, eager to depart. To the side of the car park were a late middle-aged lady and a similar-aged man of smaller stature calmly going about the business of preparing their engine. A nearby onlooker was heard to say: “Not been seen in 42 years.” The engine was a Fowler, an early one judging by its compact appearance and high stance. The gloss green paintwork gleamed;…

Got a story? Contact Old Glory • Email: peterlove@madasafish.com • Tel: 01323 833125 In glorious West Sussex weather the traditional Horsham Steam & Vehicle Gathering took place at The Red Lion, Slingfold and later in the afternoon in the centre of Horsham at the Carfax Centre, where one of the largest crowds ever seen gathered together, says the editor. The exceptional weather not only brought out the crowds, but also brought out ten steamers; the largest number of engines to take part in this event for many a year and it included a number of firsts, making this event even more special. Back on the road after a major engine malfunction in 2020, was Les and Dee Searle’s 1934 Sentinel S4 No. 8933 WV4705 which was new to C Mitchell & Sons, Downton, Wiltshire. In…

Got a story? Contact Old Glory • Email: peterlove@madasafish.com • Tel: 01323 833125 It was good to be back in Norfolk for the biggest tractor road run on Boxing Day, which started at The Angel, Larling, not far from Attleborough and Thetford, held in glorious sunny weather says the editor. For me I had not been back here since 2018 when Gavin and Jack Stammers took over from former National High Cut Champion Shuan Garrod and family who ran the event for a number of years to keep it going. The original creators of the event David Boggia and David Kidd were also here enjoying the atmosphere in the sunshine. The crowds and tractors packed in beside the booking area, opposite The Angel Inn, where they paid their £20 entry fee. The premises were…