Now we will look back at our British 150th Anniversary Show in May of 1997.
There are many collectors and preservationists to remember who were instumental in this event happening 25 years ago, sadly many of them are no longer with us, some will be seen on photo's and I will try and mention other names.
The first one must be John Burge, who was a Director of Ferguson Heritage at the time and still working in the M-F factory at Banner Lane, Coventry, England. He called and asked if I would put on a show at my place for the 150th Anniversary of M-H, after a lot of thought my decision was to integrate this Anniversary Special within my local "Steam Engine Rally" at Carrington near Boston, at that time the tractor section was organised by the late Brian Pickwell, he guided me through his process and the UK M-H 150th was born and a great success, the rest is history as I became more involved wihin the organisation of this annual event now being run for 61 years.
Also the late Derek Hackett from Ross-On-Wye, Herefordshire gave me great enthusiasm and encouragement, he too brought a display of memorabilia, cast iron seats and signs to the event together with John Farnworth's excellent memorabilia and cast iron nameplate boards display from Wales, between the three of us we put together a great diverse show of M-H memorabilia.
The late Mr Robert Crawford Senior who at that time remembered vividly being a M-H agent in the 1950's, the event was on his farm so his enthusiasm brought out many rare items from his collection of implements, tractors and his original dealer signs, also his original embossed M-H Dealer's agreement and salesman lapel badge turned up to be seen, (the first ones of those I had seen in my earlier days of collecting M-H).
All the above and many others who are still in the hobby today were the support I needed to pull the event together, we had visitors from all corners of the UK, many from Europe and a few who travelled across from the USA.
The first photo is the late Ron Knight on his M-H 21 combine, Ron over the years became know as "The Combine King" here in UK restoring and working many different makes and models.
The late Alan Priestley on his British M-H 745 and 701 baler, a new restoration of both for this event, also Alan is seen on his 102 Junior Rowcrop widefront, another local traactor rescued from an early scrapyard in the Lincolnshire Fenlands.
The late Brian Chester with is M-H 101 Junior and grass mower.
The late Jiim Stephenson and his Australian import Sunshine 102 Junior.
The late Robert Crawford Senior, standing beside one of his favourite tractors "The 1898 Hornsby Oil Tractor" built in Lincoln England.
Malcolm