PLOUGH
SETTING COURSE, REMPSTONE, 6-7 SEPTEMBER 2008
To meet a request by members we are now
running a steam plough setting course in conjunction with the Hands On
during 6-7 September. This will give participants some basic practical
knowledge of the subject and will be separate from the Hands On itself.
We have five places available for this
and the cost for the day will be £50.00. Cheques payable to the Steam
Plough Club should be forwarded to me and places will be allocated on a
first come basis. John Billard
FROM THE SECRETARY - AGM report
I was delighted that the Annual General Meeting at
Inkberrow was such a success with so many members attending. Highlights
were the election of our new vice presidents and stirring addresses by
president Mike Goodman and our chairman Roger Hales. It is good to know
that the club is in such steady hands. That is of course quite aside from
Richard Jackson’s wonderful 40 years as treasurer; a feat that is surely
most unlikely to be repeated.
We have about 400 members and a great deal of work
goes in to keep the records straight and to keep the members informed and we
must thank Sean Symons and Peter Longfoot for that. After what will be 28
years in the job as secretary I have stated my wish to retire at the 2010
AGM. I will probably want to say more about that later except to add now
that it has been a privilege to see the club thrive during that period.
We have produced the Mozambique Adventure and
Mission Impossible! films in DVD format at a cost of £9.99 plus
postage and packing. Please contact Colin Brown, SPC Sales,
90 Devon Road,
Luton,
Bedfordshire, LU2
0RL or
01582 733971 (evenings only).
A further date for your diary is the
2009 AGM which we are planning for 28 March in the east of England with an
interesting visit before hand. Current plans include a Challenge in 2009 to
be held at Christ’s Hospital, near Horsham, on 22-23 August. This will not
be such a large event as the 40th anniversary occasion at
Rempstone. The Challenge has its own “challenge” in the form of diesel and
coal costs as we cannot guarantee reimbursement for those attending with
engines or implements. However invitations have been issued and if you have
not heard from us and wish to take part please contact me.
The Hands On to be held this year at
Rempstone on 6-7 September is now fully subscribed. However we are now
running a plough setting course during the same weekend – see above.
Reg Beeby
We are very sorry to report that Reg Beeby
passed away on 11th March.
News from the
Committee
At its meeting on 23 February
decisions were taken on the following:
-
To pursue a site in Sussex
for a Great Challenge in 2009
-
Confirmed details of the 2008
AGM to be held At St James Hall, Inkberrow
-
Announced plans to relaunch
the films "Mission Impossible" and "Mozambique Adventure" on to DVD.
-
Made plans for a club
attendance at the Great Dorset Steam Fair 27-31 August 2008.
-
Confirmed detailed
arrangements for the Hands On weekend on 6-7 September.
-
Continued work on a proposed
code of practice for cable cultivation demonstrations
-
Considered the possibility of
publishing guidance on steam plough setting
-
Considered how the committee
should work in future
-
Confirmed that the club
luncheon will take place on 6 December 2008 at the Great Northern Hotel
at Peterborough.
-
Considered plans for an
overseas engine list.
Great Challenge 2009
We can announce that planning is
active on two possible locations for a Great Challenge in Sept 2009 with a
preferred choice at Christ's Hospital, near Horsham, Sussex.
London Emission
Zone
From 4th February
diesel lorries constructed between 1st January 1973 and 31st December 2000
will have to pay £200 per day to enter the London Emission Zone. The
Zone is broadly within the M25 but does not include the M25. The
Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs has found the consultation
difficult and Transport for London was only able to agree a pre 1973
historic vehicle exemption. However the Federation is considering
further representation to TfL.
