Vintage machines at work digging up past

Vintage machinery events have become just as much a part of the rural calendar as agricultural shows, ploughing matches and village fetes in recent years.

The Wolds Vintage Working Day was the latest to join the fold last year and next weekend it will host its second gathering, this time at Cottam Warren Farm in the village of Cottam just north of Driffield on the chalk land of the Yorkshire Wolds.

Ralph Beevers is the third generation to farm here since his grandfather John arrived in 1948 and next Sunday, September 8, 120 acres of his 800 will see all manner of combines, tractors and implements from as much as 70 years ago to current farm machinery working his land. It’s what he believes makes their event unique.

“There’s clearly a lot of nostalgia involved. I grew up with many of these machines and my generation is probably the first to have grown up with such change over the years.

“Technology has moved on rapidly, but the main part of our event is showing both town and country people how food both was and is produced.

“On the day our aim is to actively involve everyone in either working the land or seeing what is done right through from sowing to harvesting.

“Last year was our first event and we were delighted with the public response. Over 1,500 attended and those who came were able to see a threshing machine in action and flour being produced. One chap brought a flour mill and visitors were even able 
to take home a bag of flour that had been produced 
that day.”

Even farming people don’t see that very often these days.

“Our whole emphasis is on showing visitors machinery in action and it provides not just a history lesson but also great education. It is a fantastic way of promoting our industry in the right way.”

Ralph’s farming operation is typical of a traditional Wolds farm. It is mainly arable cropping with some livestock that he has recently reintroduced.

“We have over 700 acres of arable land where we grow predominantly wheat, but also barley, oilseed rape and potatoes.

“My grandfather started with a Massey Harris 21 combine in the 1940s. We moved on to a 780 in 1955. We stayed with Massey for a long while but presently we have a New Holland combine although I’m a Massey man at heart.

“Wolds farms have always been a mix of arable and sheep. The sheep have generally been kept on the steep-sided grass dales that are not suitable for harvesting and we’ve recently entered into a joint venture with Martin (Cole) and have a flock of around 300.”

Martin Cole is the man who came up with the initial idea of the Wolds Vintage Machinery Day. He works with Ralph at Cottam Warren Farm and as an agricultural contractor.

“Originally this event was just going to be a group of friends getting together but how it has developed has amazed me. The feedback we have had has been unbelievable.

“Last year one of the most heart-warming moments was when I saw a grandfather explaining to a young boy that this particular machine was what he used as a young man. It encapsulated all that we had tried to achieve and it was wonderful to see what we had put together was bridging that generation gap.

“We hadn’t known how well it would be accepted as a new event but it really did seem to tick a lot of boxes.

“We provided entertainment for the children by hiring in things like bouncy castles but we found that they had no real interest as the working machinery captivated them.

“I’d say we had a mix of around 50/50 from rural to townspeople in 2012. And we had what was to us an enormous turnout for a first go with around 50 exhibits. This year we look likely to double that.

“What was more important though was that people could see these machines actually doing what they were made to do.

“At other events you just get to see nice shiny lines of tractors and other machinery, but here it’s all about them working.

“We also found that there are a lot of people who have either an old Grey Fergie, Massey 35 or Fordson 3000 who just want to come and work without the pressure of being in a competition. They can do just that here and they are all most welcome.”

The event has also brought home to both Ralph and Martin just how times have changed.

“There was a time when harvest was always in September and often carried over into October. These days it is more or less complete up here during August, and harvest lasts days rather than weeks.

“By the time the Wolds Vintage Machinery Day comes along this year a lot of people around here will have finished harvest completely. Whilst that may bring more people along, it is quite different to years ago.”

One of the main reasons behind that is machinery getting larger, but it has also come at a price and both Martin and Ralph are philosophical about it.

“Going back to my father’s time we had five farm workers. We only have one now,” says Ralph.

“That team spirit and camaraderie has gone from what it used to be,” says Martin. “In those days you were working much more as a team.

“Unfortunately, that’s happening to life in general and is just how things evolve, but at least we can show what it was like back then on our day.”

• The Wolds Vintage Working Day takes place at Cottam Warren Farm on Sunday September 8.