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With the Crank Up only a week away now, preparations are well under way!  Today, a number of committee members were at work patching and improving roadways around the site.  Then, in the early afternoon the first two steam exhibits arrived on site, being the Pumfrey family’s Ruston “Success”, and Dan Chidgey’s Aveling roller “George”, both of which had stopped for lunch at the Fighting Cocks, a nearby pub which is very supportive of our event.

 

http://www.thefightingcocks.biz/

 

 

 

 

 

 

George was soon put to work rolling the roadways around the site.  Then two more rollers came along, Aveling “William”, owned by Nick Allen, and the Reid family with their newly acquired Clayton roller.

Photos by M. Pumfrey, D. Chidgey and J. Jennings.

Foden “D” Type tractor “Perseverance” is joining us at the Crank Up, this engine also attended the East Anglian Club’s first rally at Saling in 1955, and the anniversary event held there in 1980.   She was formerly owned by Edgar Shone of Cricklewood and is now owned by Peter Richardson, was driven by the late Roy Swain for many years and is a regular at events in East Anglia and beyond.

We’re pleased to be able to offer some traditional children’s amusements at the Crank Up this year.  Local showman Joseph Rule will be presenting his Toytown ride, which dates back to 1910 and features a fantastic selection of restored cars, steam roller, horses and other period toys, and a set of children’s “High Flying Swingboats”

For further information on these, and other fairground equipment available from this family firm, visit www.traditionalsteamfair.co.uk

We are delighted to announce another three steam entries for the Crank Up – all engines that are appearing at a show for the first time with their current owners!

Alistair Cook will be bringing along his delightful miniature Savage Engine, which he has just finished building (Photo: A. Cook)

 

The Reid Family from Orwell, Cambs, are attending with their Clayton steam roller, which they purchased late last year (Photo C. Flack)

And Jenny Baxter, who edits the EATES magazine “Steam Preservation”  will be presenting her Fowler T3 steam roller “Firefly”.  Jenny is no stranger to steam, having owned and built miniatures, but this is her first full size engine. (Photo J. Baxter)

We’re delighted that these engines are debuting at our event and we hope the owners have an enjoyable and memorable weekend with us.

Look out around the local area for our bright yellow advertising boards!  Our Publicity Team have been busy today putting the first of them up, and more are set to appear in the following days!

We’re pleased to announce that among the steam engines attending the event will be the Burrell Traction Engine “Princess Royal”, which is now owned by East Anglian Traction Engine Society Life Member, Richard Parrott of Weeting.  This engine attended the very first East Anglian Traction Engine Club rally at Saling in Essex in 1955, so it is very nice that she can join us to mark the 60th anniversary of the Society.

She is seen below at Saling in 1955, and in her natural habitat at Weeting.

  

This time next month, exhibitors will be busy getting their pride and joy ready for the second day of our Show!

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

 

David Cameron today went to see the Queen, to dissolve Parliament ahead of a General Election on May 7th.  That means it is 38 days to Election Day…

However, far, far more importantly, it is 40 days til the Saffron Walden Crank Up!

 

We’re pleased to announce that the Pell fairground organ “Fenlander II”, owned by the Froment family will be attending our event, providing traditional musical entertainment to you all.  The organ was seen at Little Downham, where it was also advertising us!

Ruston Traction Engine “Success” was out near Ely today, at the Little Downham Organ and Bygone Extravaganza, advertising our forthcoming event!