Website Update

The 2023 Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 22^nd April at 2:00 pm, in the Conference Room of the Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX. A meeting of the Trustees of the Steam Plough Property Trust will follow the AGM.

The Museum opens at 10:00am and closes at 5:00pm. Members are free to tour the Museum facilities before or after the meetings within these times.

We have the offer of a guided tour of the museum before the AGM, and, a presentation by the Principal Archivist together with a display of objects of interest. Details will be available on the day. George King, Woodturner, will be displaying his scale model ploughing engine and implements which he showed at the Great Dorset Steam Fair last year. A selection of publications, books and DVDs may also be available for purchase.

Refreshments will be available from the café in reception. They stock a range of sandwiches & cakes. If you want something more substantial, hot and cold lunches are also available in the University of Reading bar “The Dairy” next door. Please note that “The Dairy” operates cash-less tills. Also, everyone is welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the MERL garden where several picnic benches are available for your use.

Please let the Secretary know if you are coming along so we can arrange seating and advise the café staff. Looking forward to seeing you.

Dick Eastwood,

19 February 2023

February 18 2023

Hands On Weekend 9th-10th September 2023

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Arrangements are well advanced to hold a Hands On event over the weekend of the 9^th-10^th September, 2023, at Goblands Farm, Hadlow, Tonbridge, TN11 0LT by kind permission of the Pierce Family.

Participants will be given expert tuition on the handling of steam ploughing engines and the implements to be used. Numbers will be limited to 12 participants so everyone has the opportunity to drive and crew the engines, ploughs and cultivator. A note seeking expressions of interest was sent out in early January by email and social media with a healthy response back. Those who responded to this note should receive an email in the coming days.

Caravan space is available on site, lunch packs and soft drinks are provided, and an evening dinner will be arranged for the Saturday night. The weekend will conclude at 5pm on the Sunday.

The cost for the event is £250 with all fees going to the cost of coal and transport for the engines. For new participants, the cost includes an instructional DVD – “An Introduction to Two Engine Cable Cultivation” that provides detailed information in preparation for the weekend. Places can be secured for a deposit of £75 which will be returned in full should the event have to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

This year, the Steam Plough Club has partnered with the Steam Apprentice Club to offer subsidised places for steam apprentices aged 16 and over to £25. It should be noted that membership of the Steam Plough Club is required for insurance purposes for all participants of the event.

If you would like to attend, or know someone who would, please apply as soon as possible to George Hawkswell, Gonville & Caius College, Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1TA, email: ghawkswell@hotmail.co.uk, tel: 07512181212.

George Hawkswell,

18 February 2023