Masham Steam Fair - N Yorks.

July 2006

A lovely Yorkshire town, two competing breweries, a large steam fair and fantastic weather. What more could anyone want? Well how about some water to fill the Aquaroll? The steam fair organisers had failed to deliver the promised supply to our field. The nearest water was a short drive away and that was just one tap for the whole event. Oh, and car access was restricted at busy times! If all that wasn't bad enough this was a 3 night rally with more than 40 vans attending.

Now those who know Colin Patterson, our marshal, know that he's a pretty resourceful chap, and so he proved. I don't know where he got it from but he rolled up with a 1000 litre water bowser on a trailer. Of course it's one thing having a bowser but something else altogether having it full of fresh water. It was going to take forever to fill it from that one tap and he would not be popular with the steam fair crowd. So, off he set at the dead of night, each night, and returned minutes later with it magically filled. He wouldn't say how he did it but I did hear Yorkshire water nearly sent out a team to investigate a suspected leak!

The weekend was exceptional for Colin in other ways too as he and Betty were celebrating their 300th rally. To mark the occasion Club Chairman John Brailsford, made a special presentation at Flag on the Saturday evening. Afterwards we all enjoyed cake and drinks and, courtesy the steam fair, a firework show.

This report would not be complete without a mention of the hard work put in by the co-marshals Martin & Margaret Dixon. Martin must have covered many miles as he rode up and down on his bike siting vans and making sure we were all ok. 

Many thanks for a great weekend.

Techtel

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