Woolpit’s 2009 special theme saw a gathering of Saunderson tractors, equipment & memorabilia to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the death of Herbert Percy Saunderson, late of Elstow Works, Bedfordshire. With wide-ranging interests including wind-pumps, motorcars, engines, aeroplanes, narrow-gauge locomotives and tractors, it is probably the latter for which Saunderson’s best remembered. The Model G was the mainstay of the Saunderson & Mills company towards the end of the First World War and for a few years afterwards and these formed the majority of machines on show this weekend, including a built-under-licence Scemia example.

Elsewhere, other veteran tractors included Cletrac, Fowler, Moline, Case, Overtime, Renault, IH Mogul & Titans. Ferguson, John Deere, Fordson, Nuffield, Allis Chalmers, David Brown, Porsche, Allgaier, Ferguson Brown, Massey Harris & Field Marshall all contributed to the remaining displays together with Ransomes, BMB, Gunsmith, Trusty, British Anzani & Martin Markham Colt in the horticultural line-up.

The addition of the next-door field for both exhibitor camping and overflow car-parking had facilitated the extra display area for both working demonstrations and the special theme, plus extra space for stationary engines which has already been filled. This is definitely a show to see horizontal engines with examples of Ruston Hornsby, International, Jumbo, Waterloo Boy, Hudson, Bentall, Amanco, Witte, Alamo, Empire, Keats & Bexon, Crossley, Powell, Fairbanks Morse, Tangye, Wiscona, De Laval, Bamford, John Deere, Bull Pup (as opposed to Bulldog) & Ideal all listed in the programme. Even the verticals are a little unusual with two different examples of pre-WD-type Wolseleys on show as well as Blackstone.

As usual, there was a small but representative collection of commercials and a very good display of military vehicles atop the hill. The cars were also very good with a 1920s Renault and Hudson Terraplane the most unusual. Motorbike exhibitors put on an excellent show with just enough room in-between each machine to get a reasonable photo. The Long Sutton Vintage Cycle Club also attended with a large display of pedal cycles.

To quote the official website, “We endeavour to stage a small friendly show but with a variety of exhibits that would be unusual even in larger events. By keeping the show to a manageable size, and through the generosity of the landowner and local businesses as well as the hard work of a dedicated team of volunteers, we manage to keep our costs low. We are thus able to make sizeable donations to local charities and organisations, which themselves make an important contribution to the local community.” The 2008 show raised approximately £11,000 for local good causes.

More-often-than-not the weather is usually good, and this weekend was no exception, so hopefully the organisers can continue to support the local community as a result of an excellent turnout this year. We hope for more of the same in 2010.