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The season ended with the Riccall
Vintage Rally on December 27th. There were lots of working tractors
ploughing as well as stationery engines, vintage wagons, bikes, mopeds,
Swinging Sisters fair organ and military & vintage cars.
The day was well attended and was held in aid of Cancer Research &
British Heart Foundation. |
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Despite heavy rain all day Saturday the Brighouse
& Halifax Model Engineering Club Santa Special weekend drew in about
600 people. All enjoyed a ride on the railway to see Santa in his grotto.
Then a cuppa & something to eat. Three Santa Special trains were
running all day on the large track with numerous small gauge trains
running around the upper track. I had Swinging Sisters playing outside the
Grotto and the small pipe organ playing in the refreshment tent. |
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| Saturday 1st December was the first
weekend for Christmas events. The morning was taken up at St. Andrews
Church Hall in Bishopthorpe, York playing the hand turned pipe organ for
the Wilberforce Trust Christmas Fayre. |
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The afternoon was taken up with another
Christmas Fayre at Holy Redeemer Church in Acomb, York. Both events were
well supported and luckily it was a fine and bright day for both. |
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The
Truckstop at J1 of the M18 was the venue for the final weekend of this
years circuit. There was a mixed gathering of motorbikes, a few classic
cars, half a dozen traders and a couple of stationery engines and
miniature steam engines. There was a good selection of organs playing with
'Swinging Sisters' and five small hand turned ones. Also there was one
concertina being played.
Watch out for this event next Easter as it's the start of the New
2008 season. |
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Carnfield Hall was the
setting for the new show that replaced Ashover, run by Dave Hoyles. This
venue is also going to replace Long Eaton next year. It's a good site with
plenty of scope but the rally was lacking public. There was a light-up on
Saturday evening and a good firework display. |
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Widnes once again hosted
the FOPS gathering this year. Although there were not as many larger
organs there there was a good selection of hand-turned ones. Also the
number of stationery engines was down.
The fun fair did a brisk trade but the noise did drown out some of the
smaller organs. The usual concert on Saturday evening didn't take place
either. |
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My thanks go to Karl Davies from Widnes, who helped me with the organ
for both days. Hopefully the interest will develop and he may be seen
helping me again in the future.
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9th September saw me at the Pennine Working Day at
Upton. There was a display of stationery engines, a few cars & bikes
and a few trade stands but most of the action was out in the field where
the vintage ploughing took place.
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1st September saw me up on the moors at
Lealhome village fete. This was a village sports day and social gathering
and was very well attended. There were children's sports, painting, cakes,
vegetables etc.. on display and a lot of local stalls. Stape Silver Band
were there and I had both Swinging Sisters and the 21 Keyless Pipe organ
playing in different areas. |
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Leeds Traction Engine
Club held it's annual rally at Harewood House over Bank Holiday Weekend.
This was held together with a kite festival.
There was the usual display of engines, bikes, cars, five organs, rollers
and the usual fun fair and trade stalls.
For once the weather held and Sunday was quite busy with people. |
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Ribble Valley Vintage
Club held their rally on 18th & 19th August at Guisburn cattle market
as the field was too wet. Despite it raining both days, there were plenty
of exhibits of all kinds. The motorbikes were housed in the cattle stalls
with the stationery engines in a separate yard. There was even the local
brass band playing on Sunday. |
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August 11th saw the organ make it's first ever trip
into York city centre where it entertained the public during the
Scriveners
Yard of Ale charity day in aid of four local charities.
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| On the
driest, warmest weekend of the year so far, Pickering Steam Fair was held
at the start of August. With the usual road run into Pickering town centre
on Saturday evening giving the locals a taste of years gone by. The show
had extended over an additional 34 acres this year to accommodate the
large number of exhibits. These included cars, tractors, commercials, the
usual miniature & full size steam, organs, trade stands and shows. Not
to mention the auto-jumble, tractor pulling, fireworks & large modern
fun fair. |
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A fine weekend at the
end of July greeted us for the Withernsea Seaside Steam. Set along the promenade
there was a good selection of organs, engines, commercials and miniatures.
The main parade was held on Saturday afternoon around the town.
Dot (pictured below) was kept busy talking to the children about the local
area and showing them various grains and how to grind corn. |
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Riccall Vintage Rally
was affected by overcast sky's and showers but went ahead the 3rd Weekend
in July. There were the usual assortment of Stationery Engines, Tractors
& Vintage vehicles.
The event raises money for Cancer Research & The British Heart
Foundation. The next rally will be 27th December 2007. |
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Crayke Carnival was held
on 15th July on the wettest day of the month so far. This meant the organ
stayed on the car park with the toy set. The Air Cadet band marched and
there were dancers & jugglers who braved the arena. There was quite a
good attendance despite the rain. Maybe it was the hog roast that drew
them in. |
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Duncombe Park Steam
& Vintage Rally got off to a wet start with most vehicles being towed
on & off the field. Despite lower exhibitor numbers the rally went
ahead and Saturday evening finally saw a few heavy steam being allowed
onto the field. They had been parked on the roads all day. There were the
usual attractions and visitors did attend between showers. |
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Due to the cancellation
of Catton Hall in Derbyshire I ended up at West Bank Park in Acomb on
Sunday 24th June.
The event was the annual Family Fun Day Organised by City Of York
Council.
I took the hand turned organ & was playing outside the cafe,
drawing a large number of children to have a go at turning the organ.
Other attractions were birds of prey, bands, charity stalls & dog
show. |
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Yorkshire Vintage
Society held there rally at Newby Hall near Ripon the 9th & 10th of
June. The event proved very popular with over 1000 exhibits and fine
weather drawing in the crowds.
There was a large display of tractors & quite a few children had
a go at playing the organ as can be seen right. |
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City of York Council held a family fun day on Hob
Moor, York on 2nd June.
Warm weather drew over 700 visitors to enjoy a number of stalls, music,
falconry display and games. |
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Smallwood Vintage Rally
was held over Spring Bank Holiday weekend. With good weather on Saturday
it rained most of Sunday making the field very wet. There was a good
selection of tractors, motorbikes, commercials and cars. There were also a
large number of stationery engines although many were not displayed on
Sunday due to the weather. There were a small number of full and miniature
steam engines and plenty of trade stalls, models & crafts. |
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Nottingham Steam took
place at Wollerton Park over May Bank Holiday weekend. There were plenty
of attractions including a big band, fun fair, steam displays, organs,
animal displays, a large army display and the usual traders. The ring was
also kept busy with dog team, gymnasts, steam, vintage vehicles etc.. The
weather was also kind. |
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Asterdale Sports Club
provided the venue for the pre-season vintage gathering of the Midlands
Events Club.
There were a small collection of stationary engines, motorcycles,
cars and vehicles as well as five different organs playing over the course
of the weekend.
For a change the weather was kind and it was dry throughout.
The Derby Model Boat Club put on a display in the marquee.
Entertainment was provided in the sports club as well as Sunday
lunch which was enjoyed by a number of exhibitors. |
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The Mechanical Organ Owners
Society held their Annual General Meeting
at Teddy Reeds collection at Amersham on Saturday 17th March.
The organs were playing all day and sounded superb.
Although a long drive down from York, it was well worth while to see such
a well presented collection of instruments.
About 60 members & guests were present and enjoyed superb hospitality.
The organs are set out nicely around the room and there was a chance to
look around them all. |
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