The Belvoir Castle Steam Festival & Family Show saw its best weather ever in 2010 so if the organisers can’t make a profit this year, we all might as well give up and go home. Superb hot and sunny weather marked the beginning of summer and brought some changes to the layout, resulting in a fresh appearance to the show for both public and visitors alike.

The stationary engines moved to where the bulk of the bygones used to stand with the classic cars in front of them, then the period caravans and living vans more or less together, the commercials and Road Rescue Recovery Association, who unfortunately had a smaller arena to demonstrate in which looked a bit cluttered. The military section occupied its usual corner but with fewer dioramas set-up this year.

In the central section, the miniature steam lined up from the end of the motorcycle marquee with the bygones and collections facing the puffers across a (thankfully) wide roadway, then behind us the stalls, main ring, food court, fairground, model & craft tents.

At the far end, the Ilkeston Crushers returned to their traditional spot, alongside the Vale of Belvoir Machinery Club working area and display, with the bi-annual display of single-cylinder tractors facing them across the roadway. Behind the Lanzs, Field Marshalls etc, all the other makes of tractors were lined up and down the field and mixed in together which made a far more interesting section, one geared towards the casual visitor rather than the knowledgeable enthusiast.

These led up to the Rutland and Notts NVTEC Groups’ displays, alongside the David Brown Club stall, and then through to the steam engines. At the very far end the Peak Vale Tractor Pulling Club had their track and collection of around a dozen hot-rod tractors, plus a monster-van from Ireland.

There remains two separate parade rings, one for the steam and road vehicles together with the special attractions, and a second agricultural ring for tractors and themes etc, but this year they were placed virtually side-by-side which at least gave family members a choice of what to watch without too many arguments, another example of how the show is getting more visitor friendly.

There will always be a few gripes from exhibitors such as those who recognised the small generating set in the bygones line as both being entered in the wrong section, and also a ticket into the show, as it never ran all weekend, born out by the fact that the owner was whittling on about leaving early from around noon on Sunday. It was perhaps fair that the steward recognised it in his own words as a con and didn't have the plaques available until after the owner finally left around 4.30pm on Sunday.

The organisers were sufficiently confident to have put a date for 2011 in the programme, so all being well, we'll see you there.