Steamy Sunday at Powderham.
Sunday 8 July 2007.
Michael Cannon writes...
In the picturesque village of Kenton on
the west bank of the Exe estuary lies the home of the Earl and
Countess of Devon, Powderham Castle. Every year at the beginning
of July the grounds become the venue for a vintage rally where all
forms of classic, vintage and veteran transport from all over the
south west gather for the weekend. There is always an excellent
display of steam engines of all types - road rollers, lorries,
tractions engines, ploughing engines, road locomotives and of
course the highly decorated Showman's engines and this year was no
exception.
Michael Cannon, one of the steam
fraternity, discovered that there were a number of steam engine
owners, including himself, who were also bellringers at this
year's rally. Not just one or two but over the weekend there were
8 ringers on the rallyfield and so it was decided that it would be
a good idea if we all exchanged oily rags and shovels for ropes
and sallies for a while.
At 10.15 we met at Powderham church and
rang the 10cwt 6 for the 11am service. The sound of the bells and
the unusual Cornish accents were a delight to the locals and we
all agreed that the bells were very pleasant to ring. We returned
to the rally field and our engines and wondered if this was the
first time that a traction engine rally had supplied ringers for
Sunday service ringing.
For those interested in steam, of which
there seems to be a number in ringing circles, after we rang at
Powderham, 7 traction engines of various types positioned
themselves along the lane between the church and Kenton village
adjacent to the west of England main railway line where a steam
hauled charter train, hauled by ex GWR King class locomotive
number 6024 King Edward 1st, was on its way from Bristol to
Kingswear. As the steam hauled train passed its road going
relatives at great speed much sounding of whistles and waving took
place! Also, one of the ringers, John Atkinson, had just driven
his Burrell Gold Medal steam tractor from John O' Groats to Lands
End in record time, for a steam powered vehicle, to raise money
for the renal unit at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital.
From left to right:
back row:- Barry Christopher, Steve Freeman, David Goodwin, Carol
Syms.
front row:- Michael Cannon, John Atkinson, Emma Goodwin, Steven
Syms.
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