Bloxham (Banbury) Steam and Country Fair, (28th - 29th June, 2025)
This is one of a series of pages I have uploaded to illustrate facets of the steam rallies we have attended in the UK. Click here for the 2025 introduction and overall index.
Bloxham (Banbury is history) 2025 was a revelation. After quite a few years of near misses, the organisers finally got their act together and turned out 49 steam engines (OK one was a table engine albeit unique) with a full supporting cast of ring events etc. and I'm pleased to report that it was well supported. There were a fair number of 'John Allen' associated engines present although you would have had to listen carefully to the grand parade commentary to know as there was no proper programme and afterwards they were 'scattered to the winds'. The fact that I recorded 6 'new engines' is a tribute to the work put in by the organisers. There didn't seem to be many gricers present, the recent shows would not have suggested it was worth coming some distance. Fortunately Rod Smith was in attendance and he has let me use five of his pictures which were a distinct improvement on my efforts.
Sunday was very hot and the sun took a long time to appear, hence the patchy picture quality. Despite what the weather men had had to say, I suspect that there would have been better light on Saturday. Roughly speaking, it usually takes an hour for our weather here in the Forest of Dean to get to Bloxham and I guessed by mid-morning on Saturday that once again the meterologists had shown that they were overpaid.
Parked among the showman's engines was the unique Lampitt 1887 traction engine, making its first public appearance in many years.
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John Allen of Oxford was a contractor with a fleet of engines and also assembled them and carried out repairs etc. This plate is carried by Marshall 49725
This plate is carried by Fowler 8111.
The organisers had hoped that Avelling and Porter roller 2317/1887 which had been seen here in 2019 would be able to attend but it hadn't worked out.