HISTORY
HISTORY
The Club was formed in October 1987 following an appeal in the local press by Brian Smith of Withington. Ninety people turned up at the inaugaral meeting with more than 50 of those joining on the first night. It was agreed very early on that the Club would raise funds for local charities and after 34 years the amount raised exceeds £160,000 with many charities having benefited, particularly the local Hospices.
The first Rally was held on Sunday 19 June 1988 at Home Farm, Attingham near Shrewsbury and was opened by the well known personality Blaster Bates. This was followed by a Club Ploughing Match in the Autumn of 1988 and both these events have become firm favourites in the Club's calendar. The following year the event moved over the road to Berwick Grove Farm by kind permission of John and Beryl Home, where is was held for the next four years.
The success of the Rally meant that it soon outgrew its original site so it moved to the permanent West Midlands Agricultural Showground in nearby Shrewsbury and also became a two day event.
At the second Rally in 1989 Brian Smith introduced a special display of Ford/Ferguson Tractors celebrating 50 years of that model. The "Special Feature" became so popular that it has become a permanent part of the Rally. The Ploughing Match has also become very popular, partly because the Club was lucky to be advised by Mr J.B. (Sonny) Smith, a Champion Ploughman of many years standing, until his untimely death a few years ago.
Another event that has become a regular feature in the Club's calendar is the Annual Road Run when around 30 tractors (some with trailers carrying supporters) travel a pre-planned route around the country lanes of Shropshire, stopping en route to enjoy a pub lunch.
Each year many of our members attend the Shropshire County Show where we have become a regularly requested feature. We also run trips to other events, to machinery museums and to machinery manufacturers around the country.
The Club first held its meetings at Withington Village Hall but in 1994, having outgrown this venue, it moved to Upton Magna Village Hall where the meetings are now held on the third Wednesday of every month starting at 7.30pm with talks and/or videos on a wide range of topics. The Club now has around 150 members and between 40 and 50 attend the meetings each month.
We are regularly told by visitors and exhibitors at our events what a friendly Club this is. Why not come and find out for yourself?