Steam and showers greet visitors to Wessex Midsummer Vintage Show

The two-day event at Greenhill Farm, on the Bradley Road, was organised by Wessex Stationary Engine Club but was nearly cancelled on Saturday morning because of the rain.

But in true showman’s form the event went ahead with a large selection of vintage machines from engines in full steam, cars and commercials from yesteryear, and more than 50 examples of stationary engines and static displays and craft bygones.

Show and shine: Laura and Chris Lawson with their 1911 Marshal steam agricultural machine. Image: Trevor Porter 77132-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Chairman Eric Gay said: “It’s difficult to stage a show like ours in finding suitable venues so we were not allowing the prediction of rain to cause us to cancel our midsummer show.

“It’s been a lot of work and expense in getting the show on, so I am delighted the weather over the two days was not a washout.”

Retired chemist Chris Wood, from Beckington, had his nine-year-old grandson Sacha helping him at the show with a Manna steam-driven patching roadroller.

Chris said: “He is a really good assistant and is now very knowledgeable about the workings of this 1911 steam roller.”

Similarly, another Chris was showing his 1911 Marshal steam agricultural engine which he had completely renovated with his wife Laura who he met at a gathering of steam apprentices many years ago.

Engineer Chris, along with secretary wife Laura, like nothing more than spending time at vintage steam shows and spend weekends at events from May to September.

Laura said: “This agricultural steam machine has a great history. It had an early life working in haulage with a gemstone mining project in the outback of Australia. 

“Since we bought her, we have done extensive work replacing many parts including a new boiler, running parts and finishing her with new paintwork.”

Mark Andrews with his generator powered by a Lister stationary engine. Image: Trevor Porter 77132-3 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Mark Andrews was showing a 1923 Lister stationary engine that he had built on a trolley coupled to an electrical generator. The machine was built by his father Stan in Market Lavington and has been exhibited at various shows.

Mark said: “He had to give up his collection of vintage engines for financial reasons in the 1980s, so the engine went out of the family and recently, I set about trying to track it down. I eventually found it in a state of disrepair and now am back on a show field with my father’s project that he built in the early 1960s.

"It was a nice surprise for him when I got it back in the family."

The two-day show was supporting the club’s chosen charity, the Children’s Hospice South West.