Interesting commercials at the Bath & West Show

Posted by Chris Graham on 27th August 2024

Joseph Lewis visits Shepton Mallet, in Somerset, to report on the interesting commercial vehicles he spotted at this year’s Bath & West Show.

Bath & West Show: The Empress of England is a 1946 Scammell Showman’s Tractor chain-drive and was restored by its second owner, Colin Evans, in 1972. The Scammell is now exhibited by Colin’s daughter, Jayne.

The Power of the Past show ring featured a variety of tractors, steam and commercials plus a small selection of military vehicles.

Alan Mowlam, Chickerell Rally Commercials section leader, has fitted a new body on his 1984 Ford Cargo Fire Recovery.

Commercial vehicle entries ranged from a Ford Model T truck to a 1994 Seddon Atkinson Strato, which was new to Norman Offer Transport, of Southampton, and is now owned by Malcolm Gray from Poole, in Dorset.

Tony Lodge, from Berwick St John, was awarded the Weelen Sugg Cup for Best Commercial 2024, for his 1960 Commer two-stroke. From left, Robin Weelen, Royal Bath & West Show Society, Tony Lodge and Tom Martin, Commercial Section leader.

In between was a 1946 Scammell Showman’s tractor 45-ton chain-drive, powered by a Gardner GLW 108hp engine. The Empress of England was new to Showman Bernard Hill who used it to pull a dodgem set around the West Country fairs. The second owner was Colin Evans and he carried out the restoration in 1972. Colin used the Scammell to tow the steam plant of Bryan Donkin engines around. Colin’s daughter, Jayne Evans, now enjoys exhibiting her father’s Scammell.

A general view of some of the commercials at this event.

Classic interest was held by the 1984 Ford Cargo Fire Recovery six-cylinder with five-speed ‘box, owned by Chickerell Rally Commercials section leader, Alan Mowlam. Alan has recently fitted a new body.

Visitors enjoyed seeing two Ford Model T trucks. One of these was owned by Stephen Hirst from Coombe Bissett, in Wiltshire. Stephen’s 1926 two-speed example, new to a large estate in the New Forest, was acquired via an online auction. A star of the small screen, the six-volt system was recently converted to 12-volt.

This 1926 Ford Model T truck two-speed example, owned by Stephen Hirst from Coombe Bissett, was registered new to a large estate in the New Forest.

Tony Lodge, from Berwick St John, was awarded the Best Commercial prize for his 1960 Commer two-stroke. This vehicle spent its working life transporting horses from Stranraer, in Scotland, to Liverpool docks, from where they were shipped to Ireland.

A personal thank you to the Pennys Group for our discussion of their lorries past and present.

Gratitude to The Royal Bath & West Show and the Press Room.

This feature comes from the latest issue of Heritage Commercials, and you can get a money-saving subscription to this magazine simply by clicking HERE