Beat the winter blues – enjoy a golden heritage
Before succumbing to the dark cold days of winter, Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society's Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show (8 and 9 November) will provide a bright weekend of entertainment for anyone interested in our historical agricultural machinery and vintage vehicles. Entry and camping is free to registered exhibitors.
With the majority of over 400 exhibits under cover inside permanent halls, centre of attraction will be the Marshall and Turner displays in the Lady Eastwood Pavilion while three new marquees will feature specific makes of tractor, celebrating their unique contribution to this country's heritage.
Celebrating Land Rover's 60 years will be the growing exhibition of this agricultural icon featuring vehicles from Series 1, 2 and 3.
Regular exhibitors at the show include F R Gray's Border Fine Arts and George McAleer's Speed Assembly – where a Ferguson T20 is rebuilt in double-quick time – plus a host of trade stands while new attractions will include a display of heritage commercial and WWII military vehicles.
In the year in which the women of the Land Army have at last been honoured for their sterling and invaluable war service, the organisers will be admitting free of charge any lady wearing her Land Army Service badge to the event. Her companion will also be granted free admission. Free admittance is also extended to genuine war veterans and their companions attending the show on Sunday 9 November, Remembrance Sunday. A service will be held on the showground at 11.00 a.m. and veterans are encouraged to wear their medals.
Another reminder of farming history will be the anticipated visit by some heavy horses, used throughout the industry prior to mechanisation, and a display of rare breed farm animals.
The annual Brown & Co auction with around 250 selected vintage machines will take place on Saturday while another new attraction, Old Sodbury's Sort Out - a paradise for those seeking "treasure" among machinery parts on offer that are no longer manufactured – will take place on the Sunday.
Such is the popularity of the show – over 10,000 visitors came through the gates in 2007 – that it has prompted the addition of even more catering facilities.
Tickets to the Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show may be purchased in advance, saving £2.00 on the price of the normal adult entry of £7.00 and £4.00 for children aged 5-16. Discounted tickets are also available for the Saturday night Presentation Dinner. Caravan space needs to be pre-booked for the weekend.
For advance tickets and/or further information on the show, contact the Showground office on 0870 224 1035 or visit the online shop at: www.newarkshowground.com.
