The LTX Tractor Book – Why do it ?
David Walker

As described in Journal 108, purchase details on Club Merchandise page.

Northern Ireland Area Rep for almost 20 years; Norman Kerr

It is with a deep heart that we have to announce the passing of Norman Kerr today (30th Dec 2023). He was a Ferguson enthusiast and the Area representative in Northern Irleland for the Ferguson Club for almost 20 years. Norman was a devoted and dearly loved husband of Esther for 60 years, a loving father of Allison, John and James, father in law of Will and Tracy also a treasured grandad of Laura her husband Stephen, Stuart, Haydn, Willow and Keelan.

A service of thanksgiving will be held on Wednesday (3rd Jan) at 2pm in Bannside Presbyterian Church.
Family flowers only please. Donations for the benefit of Air Ambulance NI www.milnefuneralservices.co.uk/donate or cheques made payable to Air Ambulance NI c/o Milne Funeral Services, 5 Newry Road, Banbridge, BT32 3HF.

Our thoughts from all at the Ferguson Club at this sad time are towards his family

 Mike Thorne – Ferguson Enthusiast and Club Rep.

Mike sadly passed away on Tuesday 19th September. A Memorial service was held in Coldridge Parish Church on Wednesday 22nd November 2023.

Mike was a great friend to all of us who shared his passion for Vintage tractors, particularly Ferguson and Massey Ferguson. His famous Coldridge Collection of rare MF and Ferguson types is second to none in the vintage tractor World.

He was a prolific writer of books and specialist articles on our tractors. Mike will be fondly remembered and his legacy will continue for the next generation.

The position of Merchandise Co-ordinator has become available for the Club.

The person involved would become a member of the Club’s committee, would be responsible for ordering new stock, selling the Club’s merchandise on-line and by telephone to members and would also be responsible for distributing merchandise to a limited number of area reps for selling on at shows.

If you think that you would like to take up this position then
please contact our chairman, Kevin Britton e-mail: chairman@fergusonclub.com
or our vice-chairman John Jeffries e-mail: vice-chairman@fergusonclub.com.

Chiltern Vintage Tractor Run Newsletter 

Supported by the Ferguson Club and in aid of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance (TVAA)

As we move rapidly through 2023 well into the 21^st Century, would Harry Ferguson ever dreamt that his little grey fergie and later red MF’s would still excite and amaze children, and even their parents. Our vintage tractors still today, when they are presented to the public, create smiles all round.

This was the biggest take away from the recent Chiltern Vintage Tractor Charity Run held on Sunday 21^st May. It followed a successful plan that is now in its 17^th year. The theme of the Kings Coronation meant that the red, white, and blue pennants, flags banners were adorned across the magnificent machinery. Even the drivers and many passengers were all decorated accordingly.

The morning started with traditional bacon rolls and hot drinks and amazing warm, sunny weather. The Hambleden Valley Church Priest (Rev. Sue Morton), could not raise a choir that morning but she did not have to worry. A massed volunteer choir consisting of the drivers and passengers more than made up for it as the tractor blessing was carried out.

Once the convoy of 70 tractors and trailers set off, the hum of all the old engines filled the air and was a relaxing beat to the steady “train” as it trundled away on its well-planned mostly off-road route.  A few early steep hills tested the old engines well and as you could guess a couple of them were overcome by fuel flow issues. We all know how these old fuel tanks can attract sediment and over the years the build-up can be obvious. Luckily it seemed that every other driver was a tractor mechanic. As soon as there were any signs of trouble, team spirit took over and many hands made light work of getting the engines running again.

Going through the local Buckinghamshire village of Lane End on an early Sunday morning brought many families out to wave and cheer as they chugged past. A charity collecting pot was soon filled. The Chiltern Vintage Tractor Run is very lucky to have many land owners and farmers fully supporting the event and allowing access to the most amazing countryside the Chiltern Hills has to offer.

The morning run through these Estates and farms was pure bliss except for a couple of tractors which decided they wanted to go no further. Unfortunately, these two tractors were filled up with diesel only the day before but from a tank that was clearly contaminated. There was no quick fix but to put them “on tow” to at least get to lunch. Lunch was by kind permission of Mr Mark Getty and his family at the remarkable Wormsley Estate.

Once at Wormsley we all lined up next to the most amazing private cricket pitch in the world and two local cricket teams were in full play. What better entertainment as we savoured a delicious BBQ and home made cakes laid on by the great caterng team. Some of the cricketers could not resist coming over to admire the vintage tractor lines and have a burger!

As part of the money raising, we always hold a raffle and provide “entertainment.” This year was no exception with a busy raffle and the real coronation took place. After a couple hours of fun, we all trundled in convoy back to the starting/finish field, where even more cakes and drinks were waiting.

The success of any charity fund raising event must be measured in the money collected. For this one fun day we are always overcome with the total amount through across the community and it is another record breaker this year with £10,319.53 total raised (Cumulative since the event started now £83,226.03 to the TVAA) – which is truly astonishing.

THANK YOU to everyone, but of course nothing would be possible without the support of the Land Owners and Volunteer Marshalling and Catering teams.

JOHN O’GROATS TO LANDS END VIA THE COLDRIDGE COLLECTION – DRIVING A LITTLE GREY FERGIE

Pete Burdass, a Yorkshire lad, now living in Perthshire, Scotland has just completed this incredible journey between the 4^th and 15^th June, driving his Ferguson TED 20, which he has totally rebuilt over the last two years. This tractor came off the production line at Banner Lane on 25^th August 1949 and was first registered in the November of that year. The trip was in memory of his mother who died from Motor Neurone Disease a few years ago, on her 60^th birthday, and to date he has raised an amazing amount, in the region of £25,000 to support the work of the MND Association. The journey required massive organisation. The route was planned to avoid really major roads (but he did go through the centre of Edinburgh), split up into daily 100-mile sections, over only 12 days, yet taking in significant Ferguson sites, such as the old Banner Lane factory and the Coldridge Collection. The all important back up was provided by a necessarily large team of seven relatives and friends including Pete’s brother Mike.

The tractor towed a specially adapted trailer containing all their kit plus a full range of spares and tools and displayed the adverts of sponsoring companies. As was to be expected the Little Fergie ran almost faultlessly. The only minor problems, a fractured original steel fuel pipe and a small bracket which needed welding. A thought – this little tractor is TVO – who stocks this fuel now?

He was met on the way by many supporters both of the Charity and the tractor world. ln Devon this was organised by the Mid Devon Tractor and Machinery group at Mole Avon in Crediton and from there he was accompanied to Coldridge by Member, Eddie Vigars on his 1951 TE 20. Arriving at the Collection, Pete hopped off his tractor and gave me an enormous bear hug (yes, he is a big man!). By this time, it was after five o’clock and still several miles to the night stop – so a good deal of chat was packed into the next hour. Also on hand was my friend, Club Member, Dr Mike Oakins – I refer to him as my head curator- a duty which he always carries out with style and enthusiasm; it was Mike who took the photographs.

Pete and his support team only had time for a quick look at the extensive collection, but he particularly wanted to see the doors and clocks that I had rescued from the Banner Lane Ferguson Headquarters and was especially interested to see the Salesman’s Demonstration Model devised by Harry himself.

This epic journey was completed successfully the next day. WELL DONE to PETE and HIS TEAM.

Mike Thorne, published in Journal No.106, Autumn 2023.

The Ferguson Club’s Gary Anderson’s tractors are featured in in a front page article in the May/June 2023 edition of Classic Massey magazine.

Journalist and magazine editor Chris Graham visited and interviewed Gary and took many excellent photographs of Gary’s tractors.

A copy of the article is on the Club website:The little Grey Fergie

Advance Notice ; The Ferguson Club AGM/AMW 20^th April 2024

 Leonardo Hotel East Midlands Airport ; Castle Donington, Derby, DE74 2SH 

We will be holding the 2024 AGM at the Leonardo Hotel East Midlands Airport. The hotel have reserved rooms for the Friday and Saturday (B&B). Bookings can be taken immediately using the details below.

Reference code – THEFER190424 ; To book please call – 01617741926

Any guest will be able to book a room through this block until 6 weeks prior which is the 8^th March 2024

Just to confirm there are 25 bedrooms on the 19^th and 20^th on hold; Single Occupancy B+B – £110.00

Double Occupancy B+B – £125.00 ;

**********We would like to arrange a visit to a collection in the area on the Saturday afternoon within a 20-30 minutes drive from the hotel. If you have a collection or know of someone who might be willing to host a visit please email j.jeffries2@sky.com****************************

Introducing the Ferguson Club Members Area

Commencing with Journal No.105, the Summer 2023 issue of the Ferguson Club Journal, we have launched a new password protected Ferguson Club Members Area on the website. The purpose is to add value for subscribed Club Members.

Included in the Members Area are the Club Journals back to No.1 in 1986, and Technical Notes written or selected from previous Club journals by the Club’s Technical Team, and other content restricted to club members.  Articles restricted to Club Members are indicated by a 🔑 icon after the article title.

For non-members who may be interested in joining the Ferguson Club, Journal 100 is available here as a sample of the quality and content of the Club Journals, which are issued four times a year to club members.

An updated Members Area password will be published in each new journal. Once the password has been entered to Login to the Members Area, the password should be remembered by your web browser in a Cookie (see Note: below), until a new password is published in the next issue of the club journal. The new password will be implemented on the website around the middle of the month, when all journal recipients should have received their new journal, including overseas subscribers.

Note on Cookies to remember your password:
Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers remember your password and log you in automatically. Firefox remembers your password, and takes you to the Login page, with the saved password already entered in the Password box, at the start of each new browsing session.

If you have any suggestions about what might be other password protected content for club members, please contact us at website@fergusonclub.com