2005 Show review

Belvoir Castle: Duke of Rutland meets Duke of Rutland

MAKING a welcome return to the rally field after several years’ absence while undergoing full restoration, Fowler showman’s road locomotive No 9475 of 1902 Duke of Rutland was united with its namesake, the host of the second Belvoir Castle Steam Rally, held on 21-22 May.

The event saw a line-up of 39 full-size engines and just as many miniatures in an atmospheric weekend – if Saturday night’s rainstorms are discounted! Vehicle movement restriction on the Sunday morning did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm, and the ensuing sunshine and breeze saw the event fully up and running again for a glorious afternoon.

Making the farthest distance north from Kent was Terry and Val Maynard’s Burrell scenic showman’s road locomotive No 3865 of 1920 No 1 – ex-Pat Collins and purchased by the present owners at the Fred Coupland sale. Travelling together with No 1 was P Retman’s Clayton & Shuttleworth Colonial traction engine No 8920, which spent its life in Eastern Australia and recently returned to the UK.

Belvoir was the first ‘rally proper’ for the Howard Brothers’ Fowler showman’s road locomotive
No 15653 of 1920 Renown since full completion of restoration following damage in the disastrous fire of October 2003. It had just been to the Coors Museum and the Llandudno Victorian Street Fair prior to this event. It was also the first outing for Renown’s new enclosed trailer, painted in the style of a huge packing crate ‘from Fowler, Leeds to Derbyshire’! (below)

241 Fordson line-up

The Ford & Fordson Association met for their major gathering of the year with its members bringing 241 tractor exhibits to Belvoir.
Despite being in existence for only 14 months, the association now boasts more than 2000 members. Aside from the major event at Belvoir, its members also have an indoor summer and winter meeting. A total of 22 area representatives met at the show, including one who had travelled from Belgium especially! As a ‘theme within a theme’, the association was celebrating 60 years of the Fordson Major E27N and, in the event, 70 examples turned up at Belvoir.

The Fordson story was brought up to date with examples ranging from 1918 Fordson Fs to this year’s latest blue New Holland tractors, which continue the story of this famous company now owned by CNH and not the Ford Motor Co.
However, many of the New Holland tractor products are still manufactured at Basildon, Essex. Old Glory sponsors’ trophies were presented to the Howard Brothers for completing Renown and to Billy Wood of Enfield for his 1945-built Fordson E27N, a machine that also turned the judge’s eye by winning most original tractor from the Ford & Fordson Association. Best commercial was awarded to Mr Lynn Pestell’s Bristol MW Midland General bus.



Report from Old Glory Magazine, July 2005 issue. [Buy this back issue] - [Visit Old Glory Magazine]