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Asterdale
Easter Vintage Gathering Easter Weekend
Started this season |
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were four large organs and one hand turned at the FOPS AGM which was held
at COORS Visitors Centre at Burton On Trent. |
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Wollerton
Park in Nottingham had a good gathering of Small Hand Turned organs,
together with miniature & full sized steam engines, falconry, wild
bunch wild west show, fun fair and stalls. Although it was a wet start on
Saturday which kept the crowds away, Sunday was very busy but Monday ended
at 3.30pm when the heavens opened and the public vanished. |
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Catton
Hall in Staffordshire was a very busy show with plenty to see. A good
selection on motorcycles. Displays by the Dako Flying Angels and The Wild
Bunch as well as the usual Can Can Dancers.
Weather was very warm and dry. |
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Anglesey
Vintage Rally was spread over three fields and was well supported with
stationery engines, miniatures and full sized steam engines & rollers
and four organs together with Clive's three JS hand turned organs. The
weather was mixed but mainly dry which kept the ring full. Also a large
selection of tractors, commercials, vintage cars and motorcycles. |
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Smallwood
Vintage Rally at May Bank Holiday Weekend saw the first northern outing of
Lady Hamilton Merenghi Organ formally owned by Lord Montague. Also present
was The Piper. There was a large selection of vintage cars, commercials,
tractors and stationery engines as well as full sized steam rollers and
engines. For once the weather was dry albeit a bit cool. |
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Ferrensby
Vintage Rally was resurrected
after an eight year break. Held in aid
of Yorkshire Air Ambulance. There were six full sized steam engines, a
tractor pull & road run. Unfortunately the public was lacking but this
will be another good rally in years to come once word gets round. |
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Cleasby
Village Gala was held on Friday night 24th June. The organ played between
Scottish dancers and Morris men to add a carnival atmosphere. The event
was well attended by local people. |
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Duncombe
Park Steam Fair in early July saw a large gathering of Engines, Six
Organs, Commercials, Cars, Tractors, Bermese Carting Dogs, The Wild
Bunch, Bikes etc.. Following last year it actually stayed fine, dry
& warm after an early shower Saturday morning. A steady flow of people
enjoyed a good weekend. |
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Knaresborough
Community Family Fun Day was held on 9th July and was the hottest day of
the year so far. A very popular and well attended event with Granby
Concert Band, Irish Dancers, Stalls, Games and Fair. There were Police and
a Vintage Fire Engine. |
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Riccall
Vintage Rally was held to raise money (£1,600) for Cancer Research &
British Heart Foundation. The rally was well attended both days with
plenty of stationery engines and tractors.
There was a very good road run on
Saturday evening which lasted three hours and consisted of two wagons, one
coach, two tractors and trailers and about 8 or 9 individual tractors.
There was also a selection of cars,
bikes, a fire engine, organ and bouncy castle to keep the kids amused.
A good time was had by all.
Looking forward to the 27th December
For the Christmas Crank Up.
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Withernsea
the roller finally managed to attend the Seaside Steam in it's home town
after low loader problems on Saturday. The
weekend was combined with a parade through the town by the engines &
lifeboat etc.. on Saturday afternoon and the engines did two more road
runs round town on Sunday. There was a steady flow of people but a brisk
easterly wind kept temperatures down and stopped a lot of people from
sitting around. The town also held a dog show in the Valley Gardens. |
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The
Wolds Vintage Group Rally was held at Bishop Wilton last weekend in July.
A good rally with over 200 exhibits but visitor numbers were down on
Saturday due to a wet day. Very good working area and some interesting
machines on display. Well worth a visit next year and a rally that will
hopefully grow. |
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Pickering
Steam Fair got off to a dramatic start when one of the large organ
generators caught fire. Luckily the organ wasn't damaged. Despite a lot of
smoke and soot, the weekend had plenty to see with all types of steam
& vintage machinery to look at, as well as plenty of trade stands and
2 arena's in use. |
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Ribble
Valley Vintage Rally enjoyed good weather and a dry field after being
cancelled last year due to rain. There was plenty to see and arena events
filled both days. I enjoyed a couple of hours hand-turning H. Slinger's 60
Key Dutch Street Organ (Good practice for Widnes). There was a good
military section and 2 model organs using tapes to play. |
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Despite
a last minute change of venue to Newstead Abbey from Stoke
Bardolph, the Bank Holiday rally was a great success with a large number
of exhibits of all kinds dotted around the field. The main arena events
ran all three days and side events ran alongside on Sunday & Monday.
The miniature engines did a short road run around the estate on Saturday
evening and visitors were able to explore the gardens and Abbey as
well. |
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Hambleton
Vintage Steam Rally was held just north east of Blackpool the 1st weekend
in September. Despite a good sizes fairground, mixed selection of trade
stands, stationery and miniature engines and other attractions, the event
failed to draw in the public which was very disappointing. There was a
large selection of Dormobiles as the club gathered. Owls and birds of
prey. Martial arts display and bouncy castles etc.. for the kids. Proceeds
went to the R.S.P.C.A. animal shelter.
However, as it was the first
event to be held there, the organisers are planning a miniature steam
rally the same weekend next year. Moving to the larger rear field. |
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South
Yorkshire Boat Club open weekend at Great Heck on the Aire & Calder
navigation was the wettest event of the year. It was damp with showers and
drizzle all day Saturday which did spoil the atmosphere a bit. However
there were stalls set around the basin and games and competitions during
the day with a hog roast in the evening. Sunday morning was better and the
organ played until noon when the Huddersfield Youth Ensemble took over. |
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The
F.O.P.S. North West Organ Weekend saw a good attendance of organs large
& small. With the usual fairground, stalls and vintage cars &
stationary engines.
The weekend was the first outing for
both the 48 Keyless & 21 Keyless organs & both played over the two
days although minor teething problems have to be sorted out on both organs
I was happy with the sound they produced. And I have to thank the people
who helped me out over the weekend with hand turning and also for the use
of the generators as mine broke on Friday evening shortly after arriving. |
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Ashover
Finalle & Light Up had a good selection of stationery engines,
commercials, tractors, bikes and organs.
Friday evening was spoilt by heavy
rain but Christmas Eve was celebrated in the beer tent with New Years Eve
being celebrated on Saturday night, which proved to be better attended
despite it being a cold wind.
The stationery engines, commercials
& organs were well lit up with festive lights which added to the
atmosphere.
The event also saw some seven small
organs this year including Peter Trueman, Alan Pell, John Smiths &
David Leach which were in two groups one in each field. |
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The Stockyard Vintage Rally
& Light up was held the last weekend in October. Although it was the
first event to be held at the location it pulled in a good selection of
exhibits. It also had the advantage of being held on tarmac. The venue
served food and refreshments and a good time was had by all. The weather
held on Saturday and the day was rounded off by two stage shows. However
the event finished early on Sunday due to bad weather.
The national sausage linking championship was also held. |
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Wilberforce Trust Christmas Fayre was held in Acomb on 12th November. I
was in the town centre playing the 21 Keyless Trueman organ &
advertising the event.
Despite it being a bit cold it did manage to stay
fine and the organ carried the full length of the pedestrian area.
I was even asked if I was going back again before
Christmas.
This was the first time I had been buskin on the
streets but the response from the public was positive. |
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Kirkby
in Ashfield Christmas Carnival was held on Friday 2nd December. It was a
very busy evening with plenty of organs and steam engines joining the
large fun fair that was set up in the streets.
Unfortunately due to the event being held at night
the other pictures were too dark to show. |
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The
year drew to a close with the Christmas Crank Up at Riccall near Selby,
held on Tuesday 27th December.
Despite a few light snow showers the day drew quite a
large crowd with 20 tractors in the field and numerous stationery engines
on display. We even managed a full sized steam engine. I took the reed
organ for only it's second outing in public. |
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