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A lovely sunny day on 17 April saw some 70 members and friends gather for
the 43rd Annual General Meeting at Willoughby, near Rugby, Warks.
A feature of the gathering was that the clubs archives and artefacts were
gathered for members to see together with some outstanding models.
The meeting commenced promptly at 3 pm with Roger Hales in the chair.
All those on the top table reported on a very satisfactory year for the club
with membership levels stable and the treasurer reporting on a healthy
financial position.
After his three years in office Mike Goodman stood down as president and was
succeeded by the election of Jonathan Garman. Jonathan has a lifetime
of steam ploughing behind him and was welcomed in his new role.
After 28 years in the job John Billard did not seek re-election as secretary
and Dick Eastwood was elected in his place. Congratulating him on his
outstanding term of office the Roger Hales presented him with the Steam
Plough Cup and life chairman Robert Oliver on behalf of the club presented
him with a watch and a planter of flowers for Sheila Billard. In reply
John Billard briefly recounted the highlights of his work for the club.
The meeting was pleased to welcome Julie Chick as a committee member and
John Billard and Mike Goodman was also elected.
Following the meeting members enjoyed a splendid tea prepared by Sandra and
Peter Ware assisted by Helen Oliver. After this was over Kim Gibbard
showed some archive films of particular interest.
Thanks should be recorded to Peter Longfoot who arranged the archive display
and to all those who brought models. Special mention should be given
to Jan Huijgen who travelled from near Rotterdam specially to exhibit his
splendid 1 ˝” scale Fowler BB1. We are grateful also to the Reading Museum
of English Rural Life for the loan of the two Fowler Patents deposited at
the museum by SPC in 2005.
John Billard
Dick Eastwood adds the following
Steam in Miniature & Models
The previous Secretary made reference in SPT Issue 168 to the Club’s desire
for someone to look after this section. The AGM was an opportunity to see
some fine examples of creative engineering that demonstrated both the skills
and attention to detail necessary to produce a high quality model.
Each of the exhibitors had worked from available drawings to create engines
and agricultural implements that not only replicated existing plough engines
to scale but re-created possibly the only contemporary examples of equipment
that has long since disappeared.
H. A. Williams’ 2” scale Kitson & Hewitson slanting-shaft engine featuring
the Burton Patent Clip Winding Drum is a masterpiece of research and
engineering. Having built the first Clip Winding Drum from 520 individual
parts, he then completed a second Drum and the ploughing engine to which
this is attached!
The 1:8 scale BB1 model by Jan Huijgen was constructed using
photographs of the full size engine, many Fowler works drawings from MERL
and a Wheeler print. He did not want to compromise with
out-of-scale pressure components so finished the engine as an exhibition
model.
Alan Beasley 2” scale Fowler Z7S of 1910 was finished in 1991 after 5-6
years’ work. This superheated example was started from John Haining’s
drawings.
Bob Fawcett’s 2” scale Fowler BB1 “Lady Sarah” was modelled on No. 15335
when owned by Richard Vernon. It has two-speed plough gear he spent 21 years
in construction. This engine is in its 4th year in steam.
Steve Elliott’s 3”scale Fowler Z7 “Winston” was modelled on No. 15508 and
built from Reading original drawings. It has two-speed plough gear and a
mechanical water pump. It took 10 years to completion in 2000.
Scale models of a 4-wheel disc harrow, 6-furrow plough and a mole drainer
were on show, and, last but not least Barry Evans presented his large
collection of agricultural implements and carts. Barry was able to explain -
with his current model - that a ‘Hermaphrodite’ is not a farm-hand with the
tackle of both a male and female but a two/four wheel cart!
So come on, there must be someone out there who would enjoy reporting on
steam in miniature and models that demonstrate all the Club represents?
Club archives on display
Roger Hales addresses the meeting
Bob Fawcett’s 2” scale Fowler BB1 “Lady Sarah” and
Alan Beasley's 2” scale
Fowler Z7S |
