Interesting exhibits at the Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show

Posted by Chris Graham on 14th August 2024

Joseph Lewis reports on the range of classic commercials he spotted at this year’s Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show, in Dorset.

Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show: Some of the more recent entries included the 1998 Leyland DAF FA 45.130 DAY owned by Phil Lord and the 1999 Volvo FH12 6×2 owned by Stephen Tite.

The 2024 Chickerell Steam & Vintage Show was on July 6th-7th at Moor Farm, Knights in the Bottom, near Weymouth, in Dorset, by kind permission of the land owners, Stephen Vine and John Hollins.

This c1990 GMC pick-up came from the Log Shop Dorset.

Spread across three fields, field one held the steam, tractors and commercials sections. Forty listed commercial entries were presided over by steward Alan Mowlam, with the section sponsored by Dave Bevis Haulage. Listed commercials ranged from a 1949 Austin K4, owned by the Watts Family, to a 1970 MAN 26-510 6×2 (reg. MAN TGX), owned by Dyce Carriers Ltd.

2024 is the first season for this ERF EC6 in Stuarts Transport of Exeter, Devon, colours, owned by former Stuarts Transport driver, Martin Stone, from Honiton, Devon.

The 2024 Commercial prize was awarded to a recently acquired 1946 Austin, owned by Andy Arnold. This straight six-cylinder petrol model was acquired from Wincanton, in Somerset. The Austin is an ex-fire tender, but the tender was taken off and replaced by a flatbed with sides.

This 1946 Austin owned by Andy Arnold was the 2024 Commercial prize winner. This is a former fire tender now fitted with flatbed and sides.

I also enjoyed seeing Martin Stone’s ERF EC6 rigid cattle lorry. This former Vic Haines of Pershore, Worcestershire, 19-tonne GVW was acquired in their familiar light blue colours. Martin has now painted it in the beige and maroon colours of cattle hauliers, Stuarts Transport of Exeter, Devon, for whom he used to drive.

Alan Mowlam’s 1984 Ford Cargo ex-fire service recovery was part of a notable emergency vehicle display.

Field two featured the notable array of models, including fairground and showman’s lorry dioramas.

This 1953 USA amphibious troop carrier or cargo truck from the Castletown D-Day Centre was a star of the show. The DUKW or ‘Duck’ was originally powered by a GMC engine, but now has a Bedford TK 330 motor.