Richard Vernon
It is with deep regret that we share the sad news that Richard Vernon of Cotebach, Leicestershire, passed away peacefully at home on the 17th December, 2021, after a long battle with cancer.
Richard was a long serving member of the Club who was held in high regard and who will be fondly remembered by those got to know him. He was a quiet, unassuming person of considerable knowledge and determination, who just got on with his projects and interests. He shared his passion by hosting Hands On weekends and turning out for many Great Challenge ploughing competitions.
Richard amassed an impressive collection of engines, tractors and implements which include unusual and rare examples, some of which are sole survivors of their type. He lovingly restored many of these to a very high standard. This includes the only surviving Savage traction engine which was steamed earlier this year for the first time in 10 years after major boiler work.
He is probably best known for his restoration of the sole surviving J. & F. Howard “Farmers engine” which he repatriated in 1991 from the Henry Ford Museum in USA where it had been displayed outdoors since 1929and allowed to fall into a sorry state. He even made a trip to Australia to measure a surviving self-moving anchor which was then replicated here in the UK in time for him and his team of helpers to demonstrate the roundabout system of steam cultivation at the Steam Plough Club’s 50th Anniversary in 2016.
We shall miss him dearly.
We send our sincere condolences to his wife of 61 years, Hazel, and family Richard, Jayne and Carol.
Dick Eastwood,
21 December 2021
