Skip to content

About The Steam Plough Club

About The Steam Plough Club
What we do

The Steam Plough Club has many members world wide interested in steam ploughing with its engines and implements, personalities and rich history.  

Founded in 1966 by the late Harold Bonnett the club is about keeping the tackle operating; not just the machinery but passing on the old skills too.

Members of our Club would be pleased to have your help and assistance so that together we can give the steam plough engine its proper place in the history of British agricultural engineering.

The club has a reputation for well organised events in an informal setting.

Members have every opportunity to participate whether they have engine ownership or not.  This is your chance to leave your arm chair, put on your boots and live real steam on the land.

2016 saw the 50th Anniversary of the clubs founding by Harold Bonnett. Acclaimed events were held at the World Ploughing Championship near York, at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.  It culminated in a celebration lunch at the Great Northern Hotel in Peterborough, scene of the club’s origin in 1966. 

Hands On Weekend

One of the Club’s most rewarding events is a regular ‘Hands On’ Weekend providing participants the opportunity to try the plough as well as to drive engines under supervision. Complete beginners are welcome.  

The Great Challenge

The club runs an event where steam plough sets compete for the Steam Plough Challenge trophy awarded to the crews judged to have produced the best work in a set time.

The 2006 Great Challenge held near Loughborough saw thirteen working sets – thought to be the greatest gathering of ploughing engines in history!

The 2006 Great Challenge held near Loughborough saw thirteen working sets – thought at the time to be the greatest gathering of ploughing engines in history. Not only that but this record was probably just beaten at Crockey Hill during the club’s 50th-anniversary celebration when there were 28 ploughing engines in steam – thirteen pairs plus the Howard roundabout tackle; plus one on standby.     The Challenge was repeated in 2013 and 2018.

AGM

The Club AGM normally attracts 70-75 members.

Affiliations

The Club is affiliated with the National Traction Engine Trust and The Society of Ploughmen and is a member of the Federation of British Historical Vehicle Clubs. 

“Together we can give the steam plough engine its proper place in the history of British agricultural engineering”.

Officers

President

President

Paul Ransley

80 Main Road
Hoo St Werburgh
Rochester
Kent
ME3 9AB
07783 523186
Chairman & Director

Chairman & Director

Sean Symons

WestDown Farm

Morton Hampstead

Devon

TQ13 8SJ

Email

Vice-Chairman

Vice-Chairman

Mark Jones

Old Ridge Farm
Crown Lane
Wychbold
Worcester WR9 0BX
01527 861214
07973 862235

Email

Company Secretary & Director

Company Secretary & Director

James Hodgson   

Harlequin Cottage
High Street
Broughton
Stockbridge  SO20 8AD
01794 301373

Club Secretary

Club Secretary

Sam Williams

The Old Post Office

Tregynon

Newtown

Powys

SY16 3EH

01686 650187

Treasurer & Director

Treasurer & Director

RICHARD PLAYDON

22 Whitethorn Drive

Leamington Spa

Warks

CV32 7UT

01926 741176

Email

Steam Plough Times Editor

Steam Plough Times Editor

Currently Vacant

Email

 

Membership Secretary & Web Editor

Membership Secretary & Web Editor

Steven Whittingstall

41 Bilbie Close
Cullompton
Devon 
EX15 1LG
07414532183

Email

Archivist

Archivist

DICK EASTWOOD

Woodside
Roadwater
Watchet
Somerset TA23 0RG
01984 640462

Email

The Committee

Committee member

JEREMY DAVIES

Committee member
Committee member

GEORGE HAWKSWELL

Committee member
Committee member

JOE NOURISH

Committee member
Committee member

PETER NICHOLAS

Committee member
Committee member

GUY DEBES

Committee member

Vice Presidents

Jonathan Garman

Jonathan Garman

Richard Pierce

Richard Pierce

John Billard

John Billard

Richard Jackson

Richard Jackson

Steam Plough Club Property Trust

The trustees – John Rhead, Sean Symons, Judi Symons and Joe Nourish oversee the care of the archive material held on trust for the benefit of the members under the Steam Plough Club Property Trust.

Joe Nourish

Joe Nourish

John Rhead

John Rhead

Sean Symons

Sean Symons

Judi Symons

Judi Symons