Turvey Steam Rally (September 15th - 17th, 2023)
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 2023 introduction and overall index.
This was the second Turvey Rally and a chance for the organisers to make a statement about their future direction, the 2022 event having been 'OK' in my book but no more. I haven't been around in this scene too long, but I am certain that Welland 2023 was the best ever and one of the regular exhibitors at Malpas said that he thought Shrewsbury 2023 was the best one he had been to. On this side of England, Turvey and Weeting might be seen as rivals but there are two months between and room for both to flourish. I wasn't at Weeting in either 2022 or 2023, if engine numbers alone count then 2022 was probably better. At the moment I would like to do both in 2024 but the personal family economics may not allow it.
There were apparently 94 engines listed in the programme and 87 attended which was an advance on 2022's 80. The report comes from Paul Gilbey who spent 3 days on site, primarily helping in the RLS tent. He reports that while Friday was again rather quiet, visitor numbers were good on Saturday and again on Sunday before the rain came at 15.00. His impression was that there was a different feel to the rally, more akin to he Old Warden days. Perhaps this was because there was a proper ring programme with parades of vehicles, heavy vehicle recovery, falconry, heavy horses and working sheep dogs. All good traditional stuff in other words as was the music in the beer tent throughout Saturday and Sunday.
It seems working steam is not a high priority, unlike my 'starred' shows mentioned above. There was a single steam sawing demonstration and one threshing machine. It seems that steam ploughing here is not possible, the usual steam yachts were absent and the gallopers were not steam powered. (It seems I was misinformed on the sawing, apparently there were 'two rack benches and one plank bench'. Sorry. RD)
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