Welsh National Ploughing & Usk Show – 2021 – more great photos

Welsh National Ploughing USK – September 2021

Ferguson Club at Usk Show – September 2021

Community Spirit – by Gary Anderson

I’m sure there are many different ways to describe “Community Spirit” and everyone of them is correct to that individual.

The Wikipedia definition is “Community spirit finds expression in individual or group activities in which members of a community choose to engage for the benefit of that community. These activities may be locally organised, or informal and spontaneous”.

My own definition of Community Spirit was pleasantly re-awakened recently. For the past 15 years, through the Ferguson Club I have organised the Chiltern Vintage Tractor Charity Run. In the early years the main driver was to raise funds for our local Thames Valley Air Ambulance. So many people in the area also believed that this was a very good cause and it also seemed to fit in too many other regional vintage tractor runs. The support of the event at all different levels from marshalling and catering through to driving a tractor was immense. Donations were so gratefully received and each year to our collective amazement we kept beating the record of monies raised from the previous year. As the years progressed, I realised that the momentum of the event was picking up. So much so that people taking part were looking forward to the following years event almost before completing the current year.

Then came 2020. Community Spirit took on a whole new meaning. Protecting the vulnerable, the NHS and each other.

As we moved into 2021 there were a lot of people asking about the run and whether it would go ahead. We closely tracked Government guidelines to what was possible and Sunday 4^th July 2021 was approved by the Ferguson Club NFU insurance underwriters. The theme Independence Day was thus formed and the 2021 Vintage Tractor Run started to take shape. There was tremendous support from all areas. Particularly the local farm and land owners whose grounds we were planning the route over. The Thames Valley Air Ambulance themselves were providing volunteers to supplement the brilliant core volunteer team that is so pivotal to the success of the event.  Prizes for the raffle were being handcrafted or gifted along with homemade cakes and other delights. Over 60 vintage tractor drivers and their families signed up immediately. One of the tractor drivers being our own Club Chairman – Ian Richings.

An important part of the start of the event over the years has been the unique blessing provided by the Vicar and choir of the Hambleden Valley Churches (same valley as “The Vicar of Dibley”). This year was no different. The Reverend Sue Morton and her amazing team gave a lovely blessing to all those attending. It was gratefully received and after the hymn (We Plough the Fields and Scatter) and dare I say humorous blessing, we all left the field with spirits high for a fabulous day ahead.

The volunteer marshals were sublime in their handling of the serious part of road safety, the volunteer catering team kept the participants stomachs fed from morning bacon rolls, to a Lacey’s (local farm shop) BBQ lunch, through to the end of day tea and cakes. Everybody just loved the whole ambiance of the day and was glad to be doing something “normal”. Donations taken on the day were strong and are still coming in.

It was a very humbling experience. Community Spirit is alive and well and the vintage tractor movement is a key part of this. In fact, more so than ever before. 2020 has taught us all that we should never take things for granted.

PS: Donations can be made through the “Just Giving” website – search for 2021 Chiltern Vintage Tractor Run.

Photo above – The Reverend Sue Morton leading her choir for the 2021 Tractor Blessing

Ferguson Club Members Survey – 2021

The results of the recent successful Ferguson Club Members Survey have been collated and placed in the link below….please click on the link to open in a new window as a PDF file.  (Close the window to return)

Ferguson Club Members Survey Results 2021

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The Club will do all it can to listen to its members and shape the running of the Club accordingly.

Ploughing Opportunity at Stanborough – Hertfordshire

“A Suffolk member of the Club who is a retired Police Officer from Hertfordshire reports that the County Police Headquarters at Stanborough is about to be re-developed. Part of the planning is to convert some of the old sports field into a wildflower meadow and habitat. The surface at the moment is just mown grass which will need ploughing and preparing for seeding – this seems an ideal opportunity for some local Fergy owners to give their machines some exercise.

If you are nearby and would like to help with the project please contact Peter Gibbs on peter.gibbs@talk21.com for more details“.

News from the Southern Hemisphere March 2021

STEAMFEST 2021 – Australia

The 2020 was a great success and it was a happy festival with loads of smiles. 2021 will be even better! On the March long weekend every year, SteamFest brings history to life over three days with one of the biggest collections of working steam machinery in Australia, Steam train rides, exhibitions of pioneering skills showing how things were done in yesteryear, ploughing displays and a full wood chopping competition on Monday. Plenty of kid’s entertainment plus lots and lots of art, craft and food stalls. And, of course, their Krauss steam loco running every half hour, all day long!
Held in the Town of Murals and Home of SteamFest – SHEFFIELD TASMANIA

Here is a link from a local Australian Newspaper…….click to enjoy…

Ferguson tractor lovers celebrate 75 years of the machine that ‘changed the world’ – ABC News
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Visit YouTube to watch SteamFest recordings.

Photos taken by friends of Judy and John Jeffries who have emigrated to Australia and came across preparations for SteamFest 2021 whilst travelling around Tasmania.

The organiser of the tractor section is Gerard Gelston, who was expecting 32 tractors for the section he is co-ordinating. They are trying to make a special effort for the 75^th Anniversary of the ‘Fergie’. Gerard attended the Great Dorset Steam Fair in 2019 and thought it was great.

Hopefully the UK will be back to some shows resembling these photos later this year 😉

John Groves

It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of a longstanding member of the Club, John Groves. He was our Archivist, South Yorkshire area rep and member of the technical team.

Spring Tractor World  – Malvern Showground – 2021

Tractor World Spring.  February 2021.  Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire. Unfortunately, I have been informed by the organisers that due to the ongoing Covid 19 crisis, that next spring’s show is cancelled but will be back in spring 2022.

Any queries, please contact Jonathan Parkes. 07774 111484.

Record pricing for Auction of Brent Thomas’s Ferguson Collection

On Saturday 5th September HJ Pugh & Co. carried out the auction of Brent Thomas’s Ferguson Collection. Brent has been collecting Ferguson tractors and implements for over 30 years. He decided the time was right in his life to sell his entire collection. There were many rare Ferguson items in original condition.

What was really amazing to all those who were there and watching online were the prices being obtained.

Almost all of the original Ferguson items broke all previous pricing records on the hammer. Many of the items were sold with online bids and some will be going overseas. For a full list of hammer prices click on the attached link:-

https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/03547b5d3edb9cf8d09cdb884e7b7fe1/0af8d24542e81eb9357e7ef448a6646f/ferguson-collection-comprising-rare-and-original-tractors-i/ (Opens in new window, close window to return)