Rallies, trips and interesting things . . . .
We visited some friends who were steaming their portable. She came back from Africa and is complete with a shute for feeding sugar cane. The fire hole door has a flap which allows the can through and then closes. Or you can open the door in the usual way
Just this week got my copy of 'Rolling'. Our 'Murphy' stars on the front cover. Photo by Derek Rayner.
The Road Roller Association website can be found using the links page.
We took our Buffalo-Springfield and Aveling 'Murphy' to the Gloucestershire Steam and Vintage Extravaganza. This was held at kemble airfield and was a great weekend. Here are a few photos. I saw David of 'Steam Scenes' fame both on Saturday and Sunday so I'm sure he'll be putting photos on his site soon. Follow the link on the 'links' page.
Two road rollers I liked . . firstly Armstrong Whitworth 10R2 of 1923. There are not many of these in preservation.
Secondly a very good looking Aveling but I didn't get the details. E-mail me if you know and I'll add them.
And now some portables . .
Robey 4hp 25961 of 1906 and 8hp 38818 of 1920.
Clayton & Shuttleworth 500004 of 1929.
Marshall 84480 of 1929.
David and I spent some time with Gerry and Anne Stonemans' Stanley, Albert of 1911. He is some machine ! Beautiful.
Just look at his controls.
David was having 'lighting up' instructions - petrol and a blowlamp - perfect.
Jean Hirst and her family visited us on Saturday 4th July in her Foden which was a pleasant surprise. Here is 'Samantha' in the evening sunshine.
June 20th was the Lister Tynedale rally. Below is a nice shot of the Shiptons' Fowler DNA roller 'Elsie' 15813 with her display of road making equipment.
Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies 31066 'Hooky' was given a wonderful demonstration in the working area.
Here is the Bicknell family taking a well earned rest from their sawing duties.
Chris Woods' Mann patching roller 'Miss Mann' was returning home after her visit to us for the RRA AGM open day. Before she went Chris and his brother Paul took her out for a short run to the pub.
Following the visit of the Road Roller Association in early March an article has appeared in this months Classic Plant and Machinery magazine.
Our local village held a ploughing match to raise money for the charity Dorothy House. James took his Aveling 14174. This picture is with organisor Jim Butler on the footplate. 
Link to the Dorothy House Hospice website HERE.
On Sunday 8th March the Road Roller Association member visited our home as part of their AGM 'weekend'. Thank you to those you came and made out day enjoyable and to those of you who helped beforehand moving things around to make everything accessible, cleaning and making some display boards.
NEWS See the 'Outings & Visits' Gallery for more pictures from the day.
Sam driving Aveling & Porter 12023 'Murphy' on the newly laid stone.
Here are a couple of photos taken by Miss Sam Jones. See the link to her own photography web page on the links page.
Chris Wood brought his Mann patching roller 'Miss Mann' over to our home. This was her first time in steam for the 'public'. She is unique - being the only one in preservation.
More to follow shortly on the gallery page of photos of the day and the days leading up to it!
James Cummins and I 'stole' 1915 Burrell 3665 for a quick run round the playpen at the kemble show.
Here, a rare photo of father and son with Garrett 32122 'The Greyhound'.
These next few photos were on Sunday 12th October.
Sam is very keen on ploughing engines and tries to get the chance, when he can to get on the footplate. Here he is on the Marriner families' engine 16646 encouraging his dad to be Fowler keen also ! Thanks to James for making it possible . . and the photo too.
There is a road run that meets at the Wheat Down PH just outside Andover. Several engines were there and this year it seemed like many more vintage cars than normal. Again, the weekend had wonderful weather.
These photos were taken on Saturday 16th August. It was meant to be the Fairford Rally, however the field was too wet and alas the event was cancelled. Many engines had already collected so there was a chance to extract them from their yard and have a run to the pub and then press on towards the trip home.
James and Daniel Cummins and their 1934 A & P 14174, with David catching a ride.
Nigel Keene with his 1904 A & P 5590 outside The George. Behind is a long distance visitor from Chatham in Kent, Michael Fuller with 14044. A little run to the pub and then back to Fairford for collection home. A few more miles for his journey since he roaded from Chatham to the Kemble event.
Looking splendid in the carpark was Paul West and his ex-playground roller from Seagry. This was his first trip out on the road after a long restoration. Again the West family seem to know about paint she looked just glistening. The West family owned my Burrell roller and she too has great paint!
Marshall 71837 of 1919 owned by Mr John Plaister arrived. She too has been off the rally field for 3 or so years while receiving some work to her gears.
Nigels' engine again with his son and Colin Hatch in the living van behind.
Mclaren 757 owned by Carl Brown with Ian Hatch also on the footplate.
James and Dan later in the day.
Thanks to Carl and his family too for providing tea and great cake. Just what I needed.
At 'Kemble', early August, Sam was helping Graham Vincent on 'Ephraim', Burrell 2351. He had an enjoyable weekend - thank you.
