The special commemorative theme of the 13th Holbeach Vintage rally was "Made in Lincolnshire". The county has a rich agricultural heritage with several steam engine, stationary engine and tractor companies, plus numerous smaller machinery manufacturers originally based in the county.

As with last year's celebration of 60 years of the Ferguson TE20 tractor, the authentic show marquee was pitched opposite the stationary engine line and contained a selection of hand ploughs, hoes, ridger, etc made by the local firm of Frank Wright & Sons, toolmakers of Holbeach, exhibited by Steve Woollas. No collection in this area is complete without a Wright's hand plough or similar, and ours is no exception.

On the opposite side of the marquee was an example of each of the three stages of evolution of the Barford Atom garden tractor, manufactured by Barford Agricultural of Grantham. Alan Thacker showed the original style with lawnmower attachment, and our own Atom 15 with steerage-hoe and Atom 30 rotorvator kept it company. Outside on the horticultural line, there were at least another three examples on show.

Also in the marquee was my Ruston Hornsby PT stationary engine, made in Lincoln, and an example of a Geest market gardener's barrow, made in Spalding. We also have a Geest hand-truck but that has been converted to go behind the Barford Atoms so is not original. On the tables were copies and the odd original leaflet of other local firms' offerings including Pettit's, Martin Markham, Blackstone's, Bettinson's, etc.

Ranged outside across the front of the marquee were eventually six tractors, namely a Field Marshall, a Fordson E27N with Bettinson's single front wheel conversion, a pair of Allis Chalmers ED40s made at Essendine, one with Bettinson's cage wheels fitted, a Track Marshall 55 and a Track Marshall 90. A local owner of a rare Martin Markham Colt tractor had been invited to attend but was unfortunately not able to do so.

At the back of the plot were a trio of trailers, namely a Martin Markham 3-ton hydraulic tipper, a 4-ton hydraulic tipper made by T&F Equipment of Sutterton, near Boston, and finally a larger twin-axle high-sided tipper made by Pettit's of Spalding.

Between these and the tractors were a selection of harrows and other machinery, all made in the county.

Opposite on the stationary engine line, additional examples of Ruston Hornsby PT and PB stationary engines were on show, but unfortunately, neither the two open-crank engines made it to the show.