The 2014 Annual Members Weekend and AGM
Successfully concluded, a summary of the weekend is below:-
2014 Event held at South View Park Hotel – Skegness
The weekend was well attended by many familiar faces from all corners of the UK and we were so pleased to see several new people too. Skegness and the surrounding area did us proud.
On Friday evening Gary Naylor spoke about farming on the marsh from the 1960s up to now. The Mayor and Mayoress opened the AGM and stayed with us most of the day.
Many visited two tractor collections on Saturday afternoon and were buzzing when they returned to Southview Park Hotel.
When last in Lincolnshire we were entertained by Trudie in Holbeach St Johns village hall. Well, we asked her to entertain us again, and she certainly did!! Please ask Peter Aston what his new name is when you see him out and about this summer. Our retiring Chairman was caught out too, but for a very good cause. The magnificent sum of £440.50 was raised for the South Holland Branch of the Macmillan Nurses.
Even though people did not go to bed very early Saturday we had an early start Sunday morning and travelled to Bell Brothers Nurseries near Boston. It was amazing how many questions were asked as the groups toured the site which has 22acres of glass houses.
65 people had lunch on the outskirts of Boston at a traditional Garden Centre and we said our goodbyes late afternoon.
We hope we have shown everyone who attended what a productive area of the country Lincolnshire is even though we are so flat, and they enjoyed their stick of Skegness rock too! (a couple of pictures below are from the weekend)
-Judy Jeffries (General Secretary)
Planned venues for next AMW/AGM’s
2015 AGM/AWM
Preston/Lancashire – Mid April
2016 AGM/AWM
Gary Downes has offered to organise at the Coventry Motor Museum – Mid April
Ferguson Club wins best National Club Stand at the Annual 2014 Tractor World Event – Malvern, March 2014
The Ferguson Club won best club stand for the second year in a row. In 2013 the Club won with the famous “Airfix Ferguson” and in 2014 the subject was narrow/orchard/vineyard tractors.
Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire Area Reps Gary and Wendy Downes were the organisers. A big thank you to them and their team for keeping the Ferguson Club at the top of the league!
Events News…..
Ferguson Club AGM & Members Weekend 2015
Lancashire: Friday 17 April to Sunday 19 April 2015
Jim Hall – Lancashire Representative – 01772 690196
We will be staying at the Preston Marriott Hotel. This is situated just off junction 32, M6. Members can book a room anytime from now by calling 01772 864087 and choosing option 1 for reservations. We have negotiated special rates so please quote the code FE2 to take advantage of this. Alternatively, if you wish to book online you will need to follow the link (below) which will take you directly to our Club’s booking page where you should enter the code FE2FE2a if prompted. Double room B&B prices are £75pn, single room B&B is £70pn.
The AGM will be held at Myerscough College, formerly known as The Lancashire College of Agriculture. The college estate extends to 605 hectares. Including several local farms and extensive gardens, grounds and accommodation. The college has over 7000 students. 2500 full time, studying Arboriculture, Agriculture, Motorsports, Mechanisation, Sports and Leisure, Golf, Landscape Design, Animal Care, Equine Studies, Horticulture, Sportsturf, Photography and Farriery/ Metalwork.
More to follow about our 2015 AGM & Members Weekend!
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“The 2015 YVA show at Newby Hall, between Boroughbridge and Ripon, North Yorks. will be held on 6.7th June and will feature Ferguson, Massey Ferguson and makes such as Massey Harris and Wallis who make up the history of MF. Particular emphasis will be on Ferguson implements. Lets make this a great gathering of Ferguson Club members and friends.
Contact Brian Pickering (01423 323177) or any of the YVA committee for further details”.
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from Enid & Richard Hunt. Ferguson Club Suffolk Branch Summer BBQ – Thursday 22nd May 2014.
We held our summer BBQ at Rookey Farm Drinkstone by kind permission of Mr&Mrs R&P Baker We had two trailer loads and a mini bus of members and guests one of the trailers was pulled by J Proctor lovely mark1 65 still on the same farm. We were treated to some lovely wildlife, birds singing and wild flowers. In meadows that had no fertilizer or spray on them and four breeds of cattle Belted Galloway,Long Horns, South Devons, and Red-Poll, all with calves. What a fantastic sight and the bulls, Mrs Baker even scratched one of their backs. To finish the evening, the BBQ. It was all supplied by Elmswell butchers. and the puddings supplied by the Proctor family. Stephen Proctor presented Mrs Baker with bouquet & Mr Baker with a bottle of wine on behalf of the club for the wonderfull evening on their land.
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………..and the following three events from Henry Pirie – Scotland
The NE Scotland branch of the Ferguson Club are very pleased to have a Ferguson Brown belonging to Brian & Neil Forbes as a regular visitor on the stand. It creates a lot of interest and lots of comments as they are a rather rare tractor
BA Stores Weekend Rally. 17/18th May.The weather was fine and the Club stand had a very busy day.
“Fergie Day” organised by Colin & Sylvia Pike on 11th May. A great day was had by all even though the weather was damp.
Pictures from 4th May successful Forres Rally
At the Goodwood Festival of Speed 0n 27th June Bonhams auctioned the 1966 Felday-BRM 4 Group 7 sports-racing prototype car, raced by Mac Daghorn, and also by twice Formula 1 World Champion, Jim Clark.
The car was built by Peter Westbury and Mac at Felday Engineering in Surrey. Peter Westbury was himself an accomplished circuit racer who had previously won the British Hill Cimb Championship using the ex Stirling Moss front engined four wheel drive Ferguson-Climax P99.
The remains of the Felday 4 car are now in a pretty neglected and incomplete state, but it is undoubtedly an iconic milestone in motor racing history and a major restoration challenge awaits someone, with a guide price of £5-7,000.
There are in fact two cars built by Felday and originally using the FF system in the auction, lots 306 & 307. Refer to these links for final prices:-
Vintage Tractor Road Runs/Events
Two recent road runs have raised good sums of money for charities.
1. The Old Newton Tractor Road Run raised £210 for the fabulous MacMillan Care Nurses. Don Sapsford from Suffolk was the organiser and he wishes to thank all those that took part, despite the Cloud Burst!
2. The Chiltern Vintage Tractor Charity Run. 54 Vintage tractors of all makes took part. Many pulling trailers with family and friends. The whole day event was conducted mostly off road through some of the most picturesque scenery in England. A record breaking total of £4,395.97 was raised for the local Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance.
3. Ellon fire Station Open Day ; Gary Norrie organised this event in Aberdeenshire. The objective was to raise money for charity and amass a collection of vintage tractors from the local area. The Ferguson Club was a big supporter.
We managed to get from a 1939 Ford Ferguson 9N right the way up to a Massey Ferguson 6495. Going through the stage of TEA, TED, FE35, MF35, MF135,MF575
We had a fantastic turn out to our small town open day.
As always it is a great opportunity to fly the Ferguson Club Flag whilst on the small run through the town then followed by the parade.
I would like to thank my fellow member Henry Pire for helping on the day and Ellon Fire Station would like to thank the Ferguson Club for their very kind donation.
A few pictures follow of the event……
Tractor Bumble 2014
I am organising a sponsored tractor expedition, to commence on 9th August. Naming it, “Tractor Bumble 2014″, I plan to drive from John O’Groats to Lands End) via Essex, then to head for Dover, where I’ll head up through Scandinavia to Nordkapp..and witness the Aurora Borealis. Then to return via Finland and back to John O’Groats, via Lands End…!
I have personally funded the purchase of the tractor, a vintage 1972 Massey Ferguson 135, aka ‘Annie’ (without a cab!) and a 28ft caravan, ‘Michelle’!! I imagine the trip will take three/four months…my apologies to all those stuck behind me!!
Back in the heady days of the 1980’s, I was in Young Farmers in Colchester, Essex…and it was during those years, two of my YFC friends in Colchester began dating, leading to them getting married..and having two children, Emma and Tom. Sadly, after a year’s battle, Tom died from cancer last year, aged just 19yrs. Therefore, my charities are fighting teenage cancer, through the Tom Bowdidge Foundation…and also UNICEF.
I have a son, Alistair, who is blessed with good health, I can’t imagine what my friends have and are still going through.
My faithful Labrador, Amber, will be keeping me company, and will naturally draw additional interest. On more temperate and dry days, she’ll occupy a cage fixed behind me, the tractor driver, furthering the attraction and attention! The driver of the tractor won’t get the luxury of avoiding the varieties of weather, come rain, snow or shine!
I hope there will be great interest in this hair brained idea!! I have arranged livery for all the vehicles, and I’ll be delighted for all support!! The caravan will also act as my ‘mobile billboard’, promoting all those who are supporting me during this venture. I intend visiting as many promotional opportunities as I can, including shows en route, Young Farmers’ Clubs, caravan parks, popular tourist areas and tv and local/national radio..to name but a few. I have already featured on Daily Mail online (22nd July) and the interest will surely grow. I hope to raise £100,000…
And anyone wanting to join I me to do a spot of driving, will be made very welcome! There’s the tractor AND Land Rover that needs piloting!!
Thank you for taking the time to read this…
With kind regards,
Peter (Matheson)
0750 811 5901
peter.matheson63@gmail.com
Web: www.tractorbumble.com
Facebook page: Tractor Bumble 2014
The Vale of Glamorgan Show, Cowbridge (2014)
As I get older it seems the years go by that bit quicker. On 13 August I did the annual trip to Fonmon Castle for the Cowbridge Show. I arrived at 7.30am to find the Tractor Boys from Aberthin set up and bushy-tailed. Their site was large enough to hold upwards of 30 tractors and implements on show and the flower arrangements were even better than last year. There was a large number of T.20 and M/F tractors on the stand, some in their working clothes and others looking as if they had just come out of the factory.
The Ferguson Club decided not to erect a stand this year because the fee requested for the area needed was far too high. Of all the shows we attend, as well as other events, we are never asked to pay a fee and I feel we are part of the heritage of farming throughout the country.
They say that behind every good man there is a good woman and the Aberthin Boys have a very good group who work very hard in the background, so we had to drag them out for a team photograph – well done all.
I am a longstanding member of the Glamorgan Iron Horse Vintage Society, but I must admit I am not a very active member. Quite a number of their members are also members of the Ferguson Club. Their stand this year had been reduced in size but they put on a first class display.
One of our club members, Tom Thomas, was missing this year due to ill health. However, his very good friend, Mr I Barwick, aged 89 and who recently came out of hospital had his display of vintage brass items which seems to be growing year on year. The polishing of his collection must keep him very fit!
Basil George (Ferguson Club Rep. Wales (South)
Ferguson Club at Scone Palace – 13/14th September 2014
Here is some photos from a recent rally at Scone Palace. The Ferguson Club stand was nearly filled to capacity with tractors ranging from a Ferguson Brown to a
MF135 plus a range of implements. The Club was delighted to welcome Philippa with her pink & gold TE-F & her friend Shane with his Ford 2N. Another very pleasant surprise was a visit, completely out of the blue, of our esteemed Chairman Brian Pickering & his “guardian angel” Jo Pickering our Membership Secretary.
The Ferguson Club won a trophy for “Best Stand”
The Ferguson Club European T.20 Ploughing Championship 2014
On Sunday 14 September, the second European T.20 Tractor and GP Plough Championship was held at Tyn y Caeau Farm, Marcross, Vale of Glamorgan by kind permission of John Evans and family.
Weather conditions were perfect, albeit that the top 3” of the field were as dry as a bone. However, all the ploughs handled the conditions first class.
Seventeen entries were submitted from across Wales and the southern parts of England for the draw. However, two entries pulled out before the event and so 15 competitors took part on the day.
The two judges were David Bowyer (Devon) and Bill Isaac (Wilts) and the results of the championship were:
Champion – for the second year: Keith Williams (Hereford), 2nd Will John (Pembs), 3rd John S Evans (Pembs), 4th Graham L Jones (Flint), 5th Roy Jury (Devon)
International Team Wales: Will John (Pembs), John S Evans (Pembs)
Best Junior & Winner of the Ian Ferguson Shield: Sam Ritchie (Powys)
Highest Scoring Welshman: Will John (Pembs)
Best turned out T.20 Ferguson & Plough: Basil George (Glam)
Peterhead Rotary Club Charity Ploughing Match
On Saturday the 18th. October a few of our Club members attended the annual charity ploughing match organized by the Peterhead Rotary Club. After a wet and windy morning it turned out a lovely sunny day. Three of our members featured in the prize list by doing a great job, they were, Douglas Scott, Bob Milne and Bob Shepherd.
Cheers, Henry Pirie.
The East Anglia Ploughing Championship.
The weekend of 4th and 5th October was The East Anglia Ploughing Match Championship. On Saturday morning the weather was lovely, but then the heavens opened, 10mls was deposited! Fortunately Sunday was fine and very sunny, the ground dried up and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day, producing some very fine work. The event was held at Hall Farm Fornham St Martin, Bury St Edmund by kind permission of Mr Andrew Long and organised by club members Henry Castle and Don Sapsford.
In all 65 vintage and classic tractors took part, including members of the Ford Fordson Association and 6 lady drivers. Each tractor driver received a plaque kindly sponsored by Silver Fox Tractor Spares. Thanks were given to the 4 Society of Ploughmen judges who awarded points for each ploughed area. The results were:-
Lady champion. Carole Cage, 2nd. Gemma Arbon and 3rd. Diane Buddle.
Ferguson champion. Jim Mawer, 2nd. Richard Daff and 3rd. Steve Arbon.
Open Class. 1st. Richard Parrott, 2nd. Bob Callaby and 3rd. David Curtis.
Best tractor and plough. Sarah Tween.
£450 was sent to The East Anglian Air Ambulance
Next year this event will be held on the 3rd and 4th October 2015 when it will assume the mantle of The Ferguson TE20 European Championship, an event previously so ably run by Basil George.
Pictures show a 1937 McCormick Deering whose driver ploughed happily all day!
Henry Castle presenting Sarah Tween with the shield for the best turned out Tractor and Plough. Her M-F 35X was restored in memory of her granddad.
Proceedings were being observed by aliens!
Newark Show November 2014
The Ferguson Club once again had a successful and enjoyable time at the recent Newark Vintage Show.
There were tractors and implements on the stand from Ireland, Essex, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, along with Club Merchandise.
Two of the tractors and a plough were awarded trophies as follow:
John McGann, from Ireland, won The Best Massey Ferguson 135 in Show- a new trophy for 2014 presented by The Ferguson Club;
Mark Andrew won the Swindells Trophy for Best Ferguson TE20 Continental;
Mick Webster was awarded The Best Ferguson Implement in Show.
There was a steady flow of members and visitors to the stand over the two days. John Jeffries and his team ensured our ‘Friendly Club’ ethos was followed by offering a warm welcome, tea and biscuits, advice and a good old fashioned natter.
We are already looking forward to next year’s show and hope you will be there too.
A Book by Ferguson Enthusiast and Club Rep. Mike Thorne
Ferguson Club members can order from Mike Thorne at £30 per book including postage. Please contact Mike directly on 01769-540233 and he will send you the book directly….
This book is a real gem detailing all aspects of the MF35 and MF65. From MH and Ferguson origins all the way through to the implements and accessories plus special variants. The famous MF detailed literature is also included specific to these tractors. Written in Mike Thorne’s relaxed but professional and informative style. Those of us who have read Mike’s TE20 in detail will enjoy this follow on publication, the similarities of these more advanced tractors to the TE20 are featured throughout.
Ferguson club member and long time employee of Ferguson/MF – Bob Dickman – has a section in the book towards the end which also makes lovely reading.
