Villa Wrea Autumn Steam Fair

Sue Ogden reports from the first Villa Wrea Autumn Steam Fair, which turned out to be an outstanding success.

Held in excellent weather, the first Villa Wrea Autumn Steam Fair, organised by Paul Quigley and Sentinel S4 waggon owner, Peter Waring, together with The Rotary Club of Kirkham & Rural Fylde, was an outstanding success, raising an amazing £22,000 for local charities.

Besides the 12 steam engines that were on show, visitors also enjoyed seeing about 60 tractors, assorted commercial vehicles and much else besides at this great well-organised event. The major feature was ‘Wurzel’ Mike Wilkinson’s belated 60th birthday celebrations and the debut of his 1914 Foden No. 4752 6hp road locomotive Sandy Macnab, and the recently finished unique 1910 Foden No. 2104 showman’s Prospector.

Mike also had his two Foden steam wagons at the event, including George No.13266 which worked in Kent with Sandy Macnab during the 1940s and ’50s, and later rallied together in a fine brown livery similar to what Sandy Macnab carries today. Plant contractor Mike also had his Foden STG timber tractor on display as well.

The furthest-travelled exhibitor was the Searles family from Horsham, in West Sussex, with their 1920 Burrell 6hp showman’s engine Princes Marina. It was also good to see Simon Priestner in attendance with Frank Lythgoe’s 1909 Burrell DCC 8hp No. 3093 showman’s engine Dreadnought. Simon does a wonderful job with this engine, thanks to skills learnt from his grandfather.         

Congratulations to everyone who helped with raising so much money, and for getting this new event in Lancashire off the ground so successfully.

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