HISTORY

The Following article appeared in the “Somerset County Gazette" at the time.

OVER 10,000 SEE RALLY OF TRACTIONS AND VINTAGE CARS
Taunton steam traction engine and veteran car rally, at Walford Cross, on Saturday provided the biggest sporting attraction of the season. It was the first event of its kind in Somerset, and caught the public imagination beyond all expectation. The attendance exceeded 10,000. Thousands arrived late, including the Mayor of Taunton, Councillor R.F.Winckworth,who performed the opening ceremony, and the Mayoress, because of the chaotic traffic congestion. For most of the afternoon car queues stretched from Taunton to Bridgwater in both directions from the ground. There were 11 entries from all parts of the west for the traction engine competition, the majority of which were built before or during the First World War. The ranged from a comparatively modern Foden tractor, capable of 30 mph, to an 18 ton glittering fair engine which Burrells built more than half a century ago. Thousands lined the ringed arena to see these "gladiators of the road" chug proudly through their paces in a variety of events. They displayed adroit steering qualities and a fine turn of speed in the obstacle and musical chairs events.Leading the traction engine procession was the 1913 Burrell show engine, "Perseverance the Second" owned by Mr Leslie Casely, of Rigg Lane Farm, Trent, near Sherborne. His chief passenger was the Mayor, attired for the occasion in a boiler suit. "It was not too comfortable, as I had to rest on the coal stack," said the Mayor, "but we travelled a jolly sight faster than I did driving from Taunton this afternoon." "Perseverance the Second" won the silver challenge cup presented by the organisers, theTaunton Traction Engine and Veteran Car Committee, for the most elegant engine. Mr Casely, a farmer, has been interested in traction engines all his life. "They are my hobby, and I have two more besides this one", he said, "One of them is still used on the farm." Second prize went to Mr John Chappell, well known for his interest in antiques, with his 1905 Burrell engine, the oldest in the rally. Mr Chappell of Cokerhurst Farm, Wembdon, came across the engine at Langport, in a practically derelict state, put it into working order, and now uses it on the farm.

Following these two early events, further rallies were held at Walford Cross, as well as at Nerrols Farm (now a housing development) and Farm on the outskirts of Taunton. In 1959, the Taunton Traction Engine Rally Committee became The Somerset Traction Engine Club, and, for a few years in the sixties their event moved to Ash Cross at Thornfalcon. The next venue for a few years was the Yeovil Showground at Barwick Park. In 1978, by courtesy of the Cook family, the rally was located at Manor Farm, Low Ham, and this fine site with its picturesque surroundings has been our venue ever since.

Over the years, the format of the event has changed out of all recognition when compared with the simple Saturday afternoon rallies of early days. Club has gained a reputation for innovation, and the first major development came in 1989 when we established our long arena and continuous steam displays, even after dark on occasion. At the same time, for safety reasons we began to use the orange fencing that is now so widespread; we were the pioneers, and after a visit to our rally that year by ‘Mr Dorset’ himself, Michael Oliver, the Great Dorset also began to use the fencing – but after we had come up with the idea!! Notable occasions have been the visit of the late Fred Dibnah in 1989, and our highly successful Reunion of many of the surviving vehicles and steam engines of W J King, the Bishop’s Lydeard Contractors. We even had the ‘stars’ of TV’s ‘Robot Wars’ with us – the first time for any rally, as well as those of ‘Salvage Squad’ both the engines and the people.

So the Club and its rallies continue to thrive. The Club will be celebrating its own Fiftieth Anniversary in 2009, if you have any reminiscences or photographs of past events, let us know.