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
The Committee
Paul Ransley
Committee
member – Rebuilding a Fowler Single Cylinder ploughing engine
Guy Debes
Committee
member – Owner of Fowler Single Cylinder engines
George Hawkswell
Committee
member
Peter Nicholas
Committee
member
Jeremy Davies
Committee
member
Vice Presidents
Jonathan Garman
Steam Ploughing and dredging contractor
Richard Pierce
Co-owner of Fowler 8hp singles of 1876
Winner of The Great Challenge 1994
John Billard
Secretary 1983-2010
Richard Jackson
Founder Member of the Steam Plough Club,
Treasurer 1967-2011
Steam Plough Club Property Trust
The trustees – John Rhead, Peter Longfoot, 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.