Tarrant Hinton Steam Rally Mk 2

This is the second time we have had a rally at the steam fair, the first being in 1996. The “site” was on one of many fields that earlier had had a cereal crop on. It was a huge rally, four or five fields full of tents, caravans and campers of every shape and size.  Out of the 13 units that were there 5 of us had also attend the previous one.

Friday, most of the members of our group started turning up. Our little rally was on one of the sites that had security fences and security patrols, so the gates to our field were locked at 8.00pm.  It was getting towards this time and there was no sign of Maureen and Dave. It must have been about 9…ish when in walked Dave.  They would not let them into the main site, even though they had booked in and we were only just inside the gate.  Poor Maureen and Dave, they had to put the Dandy up on the car park outside for the night.

The weather was pleasant with lots and lots to see, you needed three days just to walk round the exhibits. There was also a large arena with steam engines demonstrating, pulling and pushing large loads up and down the steep incline.  The evening entertainment was an area of steam engines, some producing lots of light while other powered steam organs, fairground rides, bungee rides and many more things. There was even a stage with Can-Can Dancers trying to entice some of the men to get up on stage, wear the dress and do the dance, all this was also lit up with steam power, of course.

The Sunday morning flag meet had a few extra Dandy members popping in. They were camping at a site nearby and had got together to pay us a visit for the flag meet, the raffle, a chat and of course for the usual cuppa.