Having A Blast

Welcome to an anonymous grassy field, just north of the Fenland village of Haddenham. We were in the Fens for my last post, discussing matters relating to conservation - and we're doing something similar, but very different, today. For two days every year this meadow becomes a temporary encampment for a group of cheerful and slightly grubby enthusiasts and their gleaming, smokey machines. Welcome to Haddenham Steam Rally!

These ancient machines are being conserved too, though not by any national charity founded by Victorian intellectuals, and not with any support from government departments. This conservation is being carried out in old barns, sheds and garages by men in greasy overalls. 

Even when they've resuscitated these ailing beasts and got them purring sweetly, the work is never done; maintenance and polishing needs endless dedication.

I'd never even thought about it before, but obviously the brass bit at the top of the smoke stack won't stay shiny without regular attention. I think it's called a "spark arrestor" - I bet these young engineers would be able to tell me.....

Start 'em young!

As usual at this steam rally there are far more diesel tractors than steam-powered machines, though it's all part of the same grass-roots conservation movement. And don't let the tatty appearance fool you; there's still a lot of work involved in keeping these beauties on the road - or "in the furrow", if you prefer. Sourcing spare parts alone can be a major headache, even for a Fordson like the one above.

But there's also a number of rarer agricultural exhibits, like this Cletrac, built by the Cleveland Tractor Company in the USA during the 1930s. (I've just emerged from an internet rabbit hole - I entered in hot pursuit of whether Cletrac crawlers were ever imported to the UK, and came out with the fact that there's a mountain in Antarctica called Cletrac Peak, apparently in honour of the sterling work they did on one of Byrd's polar expeditions).

This grizzled warrior was part of the display about life in the Fens in the 1940s.

I love these working scale models; they must take years to complete.

But many things appeal to my photographic eye, though I'm sure the owner of this machine was puzzled as he returned to find me aiming my lens at the very place that usually cradles the seat of his trousers.

Time for lunch - we went with the Cornish pasties, saving the ice-cream for later.

Time for the commercial vehicles to enter the main ring. Each one enters in turn and is introduced by the commentator - a local man with a fine turn of phrase - before lining up across the arena.

"Travel in Style" in this Bedford OB Duple coach from just after WW2. Bedford built the chassis and the elegant coachwork was added by Duple. There are still about 70 of these on the road.

"Abels" are regular visitors to these shows and advertise "World-Wide Removals" - "and all sorts of other places!" as our friendly commentator cheerfully added.

Cars like this Daimler made their way to the main ring.

A Morris Minor. These were the British answer to the Volkswagen - there are still plenty of them on the British roads. Not many lilac ones though!

Now where did that AMC Rambler appear from? Just down the road in Haddenham, according to the programme. Despite the large number of exhibits in each category** most are based within an hour or so's drive from the showground.

(** 44 full-size steam engines, 209 vintage lorries, cars and motorbikes, 181 tractors)

As we watched the line up of Traction Engines, Steamrollers, Road Locomotives and Fairground Engines, my mind was wandering to the huge numbers of people involved in what I shall call "grass-roots conservation". Most of these vehicles belong to individual enthusiasts who devote enormous amounts of time, energy and money into preserving a little piece of the past.

But it doesn't end there; across the country there are dozens of small steam railways that are kept going by volunteers - and of course the large number of people willing to pay for a historic ride. Then there are those who pour their energies into windmills and watermills. And canals, of course.

The Ramblers' Association keep our footpath network open for all. Every village seems to have just enough volunteers to ensure the survival of our ancient churches. Then there are those who choose to pay premium prices to live in and maintain thatched cottages or old manor houses. People volunteer to work in the gardens of National Trust properties while others maintain their own gardens - you don't consider that conservation? All I can say is that without their efforts the towns and countryside would be far less attractive places.

Still others keep alive the handicraft skills which the industrial revolution all but destroyed. I'm thinking of the hand knitters, lacemakers, quilt makers, potters, wood-turners, weavers and spinners....and those who cling on to older technologies - film cameras, vinyl records, paper maps....

All this seems to have happened with little fanfare or recognition. And speaking of a "little fanfare".....our man on the mike is organising all the drivers of the engines in the main arena to give a simultaneous blast on their steam whistles.....

Not quite simultaneous perhaps, but as near as you'll get from such a band of individualists intent on "having a blast!"

Take care.