The brilliant Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show

Posted by Chris Graham on 17th October 2023

We report on the brilliant Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show, which took place near Weymouth, in Dorset, back at the beginning of July.

The 1924 Robey 6-ton tandem roller Bullet was making a first appearance at the Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show. Wartime damage is still visible on this engine. Under the most recent ownership of Steve Parrott, a new set of boiler tubes have been fitted.

The 2023 Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show was held on Moor Farm, at the amazingly-named Knights in the Bottom that’s near Weymouth in Dorset. The event took place on 1st-2nd July and this year, was run in memory of Katie ‘Blondie’ Miller, with thanks to land owners Stephen Vine and John Hollins.

The Wickens family from Bath used to own a 6in Burrell, but they couldn’t get everyone onto it! A Foden C Type Steam Traction World Kit completed after 18 months was the answer, and it had its first outing at the 2023 Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show. The doors and a Scottish distillery livery are still to be added.

The event was spread across three fields, and Field One hosted the steam, tractor and commercial vehicle sections. About 30 full-sized steam engines were on show, together with 40 miniature steamers, all presided over by steward, Steve Rodd.

Russell Green used to own a 4½in Foden, and acquired this Savage ‘as seen’ in March 2023.

Field Two, situated to the right of the main field, housed a splendid collection of models, with everything from trains, boats and tanks to fairground rides to be found among the exhibits. We were particularly impressed by the intriguing array of fairground models and rural setting dioramas on display.

This 2016 4½in Foden was a major project but not finished by the previous owner. Stuart Richards, from Cornwall, purchased it in February 2023 for something different after a 4in scale Burrell showman’s.

Among the many vehicle highlights at the event was the 1924 Robey 6-ton tandem roller Bullet, which was making its first visit to the site. Bullet was new to R Dingle & Sons Contractors from Stoke Climsland, in Cornwall. Registered in Cornwall, the Robey received an ‘RL’ number plate as opposed to ‘FE’ plates for Lincoln-registered vehicles.

Peter Bowles from Dartford, Kent, was one of the furthest-travelled with his 6in Burrell built from scratch in 2014.

The engine was shot at by a German aircraft while working for the War Office during World War II, and suffered shrapnel damage to its coal bunkers, dashboard, oilers and steam fittings – some of which is still visible today. In 2019, Bullet was bought by Steve Parrott and moved to the Robey Trust after that year’s Great Dorset Steam Fair. In 2020, she received a new set of boiler tubes and can now be regularly seen operating around Tavistock, in Devon.

This 3in Fowler TE2 gun tractor and 3in scale model of a Mk 1-5 Howitzer was a real star attraction.

Another long-distance traveller was James Crawley who came from Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, with his 2009-built 6in Tasker A2 tractor. James’ grandfather, John Crawley, brought Fowler SRL Iron Maiden into preservation.