My Passion with Tim Richardson: MD who now has time to tinker with old machinery

I think my interest in tractors and farm machinery can be traced back to childhood; from the age of nine I was brought up on my grandmother's farm at Swinefleet, near Goole.

From being young, I was driving around on tractors and I've probably been a frustrated farmer ever since. I think it's in your blood, but I also enjoy doing anything mechanical, as well as joinery and gardening.

My passion for tractors really took off about 10 years ago, when we moved to our present home, as I now have the space and facilities to store them, plus I needed a tractor to maintain the garden.

I bought a 1978 Massey Ferguson 135 from a local guy and that really kick-started my interest. I then invested in a 1960 Massey Ferguson 65, which had to be stripped down to the last nut and bolt, and completely rebuilt.

I started to use the workshop at Glews, where our team of mechanics and painters took a keen interest. As time went on, I involved them more and more – the older mechanics drool over the tractors and the younger guys stand there scratching their heads saying "how does this work?"

I now have five tractors, including a 1942 John Deere (Model B), an early 1960s Fordson Dexta and Fordson Major.

My latest project is an early 1950s Bedford O Series truck that has been owned and run locally all its life, but had been in a shed for 30 years. It had to be stripped down, repainted and the engine was rebuilt. I'm now doing the joinery work on the body.

Some of the tractors I've worked on have been nothing but rust, so it's a big challenge but gives a great sense of inward satisfaction to see them looking their best and back in use. I take them along to Howden Show and other local events as its good to introduce them to people with little knowledge of this type of machinery.

I've sourced most of them locally as I like to know their history, rather than buy an anonymous lump of metal at auction. It has also had an impact on the business as we now do a fair amount of paintwork for other people with an interest in restoring machinery.

My shed is rather full now so I'm not looking for any more tractors just yet.

Now that my son, Joseph, has joined the family business, I have scaled down my work duties and have more time to do what I enjoy most – tinkering around with old machinery.