Tractor Time

It's time once again for the vintage tractors of Cambridgeshire to take to the road 

to raise money for the National Health Service

 - and to delight boys and girls of all ages.

We met up with them in the nearby village of Barrington

 where we saw them passing the church.

Here comes the convoy!

All very nice on a sunny day at the end of June

but not so much fun ploughing in winter. 

Somebody remarked, when I visited a steam show last year

that they never saw any women driving the machines.

These two photos show that they enjoy the old machines

just as much as the menfolk.

I like it that many of the tractors look as though they've just come off the farm.

A happy young man.

"Now woss that big owd bit o' tackle then?"

The puttering procession continues through the village.

Hey, that's cheating - having a cab!

Our Dad used to drive one like this on the farm,

though with a muck scraper on the back rather than a union flag.

Of course he drove other tractors, 

but somehow the little red Fergie was always called "Ted's tractor"

Dad passed away in 2010, but today 29th June 2024 would have been his 100th birthday.

Carrying on past the village green.

Down to the far end where they will park up on the green for their lunch break.

There were around a hundred tractors, as well as support vehicles,

but somehow there was space for everyone.

Then you can all gather round and talk about tractors!

Or just relax and enjoy the sunshine.

Meanwhile the photographer can wander about and notice those little details

that aren't obvious when they're rattling by along the road.

 

Or poke their lenses at greasy engines 

and pretend they understand what they're looking at.

And you can meet a real live bear

collecting money for Addenbrooke's Hospital!

*******

Ted Hagger,

our Dad.

Take care.