Geoff Ashman: The club has recently heard that Geoff passed away recently. From Kevin our chairman: "Geoff was a lovely man and I have many fond memories and moments with Geoff with most of them taking the mickey. The back row of seats at the club meetings will not be the same without Geoff." Our condolences to Geoff's family. Update: Geoff Ashman’s Funeral will be on the 9^th of February 12pm at Bristol South Crematorium.  There will be a drive through Nailsea High Street  from his flat on the way to Bristol. Please observe the current regulations for funerals.

Two events for your diaries: National Road Run on the 14th June 2020 located at Llanild Farm, Pencoed, Bridgend, Glamorgan CF35 5LA (https://www.facebook.com/NVTRR2020/)

Also an invitation to Market Lavington’s Vintage meet at The Elisha Field, Drove Lane, Market Lavington, Devizes SN10 4NT on the 11th and 12th July 2020 (https://www.facebook.com/MLVINTAGEMEET/).

Tanlake Flowmetering with John Burnham - due to an enforced quarantine after a trip to Italy, John will not be with us so a DVD will have to do!

Any late renewals need to be paid this meeting.  Non-members will not be able to exhibit on the NVTEC stand at the North Somerset show.

Entry form for paid up members of the NVTEC here.

Please Note…
THE SHOW GROUND IS DEEMED TO BE A PUBLIC PLACE AND ALL VEHICLES MUST BE COVERED BY INSURANCE AND TAXED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ROAD TRAFFIC ACT
All exhibits must be in position before 8.30 am on Show day and must not be loaded on to transport or removed from the showground before 5-30pm and then only if the show organisers have allowed movement. Movement of vehicles IS NOT permitted within the showground between these times without authorisation from the show management. Note the Show organisers may extend the NO MOVEMENT TIME if an unforeseen circumstance occurs.
Please ensure that your vehicle is disabled whilst on display to ensure that no-one can move your vehicle other than yourself.
Moving an exhibit into the show ring requires the exhibit to be insured, registered with the DVLA and have public liability insurance.
 

Bedminster Part II with Mike Britton.  This presentation follows on from last year's Bedminster Part 1

If you have not renewed club membership then please do it tonight.

Sunday April 5th 10 o’clock from Halsey Cross Farm, Over Stowey, Taunton TA5 1JA (Road signed from A39 at Cottage Inn, Keenthorne).
Sign on before the start with usual NVTEC rules & regs. £10 per driver with donations from others. Food available at start and lunch. Hot drink and biscuits at comfort stop.... For details - Terry and Jane Ayre email terstractors@icloud.com or 01823 432439.

Time to pay for your 2020 membership.  2020 club programme will be available with your new membership card.  Forms available here.   Subscriptions for 2020 are as follows:-
Individual                  £17.00
Joint                           £19.50
Family                        £20.00   (Parents or guardians and up to 3 children under 13 years of age. Note:- no insurance cover for the children).
Senior Citizen          £14.50
Individual Junior   £13.00   (Ages 13-16 or 18 if in full time education).

PLease try and have the right money available when you renew.

Food and skittles evening. Payments for membership 2020 are due and for Christmas dinner (7:30pm on the 14th December) at the Wellsway, Harptree Hill, West Harptree, Bristol BS40 6EJ

Tractor Jumble December 27th 2019. Traders getting ready for the opening in the main shed. A very successful day for the traders and the club with a record number of stalls and over 200 potential customers.

By popular request, Jim Wilkie returns with his vintage film show.

Book your Christmas dinner with deposit this meeting.  The dinner is at the Wellsway as usual on the 14th December.

26th October 2019 starting from and finishing at Winchester Farm, Draycott Rd, Cheddar BS27 3RP at 10:00am. Order lunch at signing on. Road run will be in the region of 20 miles. Please refer to H&S advice  (NVTEC road run Code of Practice and passengers in trailers).

Bedminster 1 with Mike Britton.  This talk covers the area of Bedminster from Bedminster Bridge down through East Street to Cannon Street, through Dean Lane and finishes at St Pauls Church on Coronation Road. It shows many of the changes which have taken place in this small area of Bedminster following the end of the Second World War and how parts were depopulated and shopping changed after WD&HO Wills left East Street.

ENTRY FORM FOR ANNUAL CLUB VINTAGE PLOUGHING MATCH

To be held on Sunday 15th September 2019

Venue: Chew Stoke Cricket Club   BS40 8UE

Click the picture to see photographs of the day.

Club videos and ploughing match briefing. NVTEC ploughing match and practice forms available.

Photographs of North Somerset Ploughing Match at http://www.nvtec-northsomerset.org/photographs/

MENDIP FORTHCOMING PLOUGHING MATCH - WEDNESDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2019 The forthcoming ploughing match will be held on Wednesday 25th September 2019 by kind permission of Yeo Valley Farms on land at 100 Acres Yoxter Post code: BA5 3BS on B3371. ​ The ploughing match is holding qualifiers for the National Ploughing Championships in Vintage, T20 and the Classic ploughing classes. Static tractor and implement displays invited from NVTEC members. https://www.mendipploughingsociety.co.uk/

The club has been asked to provide a display of tractors and implements at 1he 177th North Somerset Ploughing & Hedging Match and 32nd Craft & Produce Show Sunday 1st September 2019 on land at Willow Farm, Bourton, Wick St Lawrence, BS22 7YA

Entry forms: http://www.nsas.org.uk/nsas-events/ploughing-match/

The Great Houses of the Gordano Valley. Sandy Tebbutt will be telling fascinating stories behind some of the old properties that were built in this beautiful valley.

July NVTEC Meeting on July 2nd will be in the form of a day trip to Coventry Transport Museum and Midlands Air Museum with dinner on the way home. Coach leaves at 7:00am from Redhill Social Club and should be back around 10:00pm. Still some seats available at £50 per person for the day.

Club videos using extracts from a collection of films made for the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering in the years following WWII.

Final payments for the July trip to Coventry Transport Museum and the Midlands Air Museum

May club meeting (7th May) will be at Curls Farm, Bromley Rd, Stanton Drew, Bristol BS39 4DP - not at the Redhill club.

Mick's Memorial Run 27th April 2019. The start is at Hinton Charterhouse at postcode BA2 7SD. The dinner time stop is at the Stag pub in the

same village where a roast diiner will be arranged..

Toollands Trundle
This years theme - Battery charger.
Sunday April 14th 2019. Start from Halsey Cross Farm, Over Stowey, Taunton TA5 1JA (Road signed from A39 at Cottage Inn, Keenthorne).
Sign on before the start with usual NVTEC rules & regs. Please refer to these documents. £10 per driver with donations from others. Set off at 10am. Plenty of off-road sections.
Food available at start and lunch. Hot drink and biscuits at comfort stop....  Call 01823 432439 for details - Terry and Jane Ayres.
 

An illustrated talk by Mike Rowland about the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Please note that if you have not renewed your NVTEC membership then you will not be able to show your tractor at the North Somerset Show on May Bank Holiday.

The 160th North Somerset Show

Bank Holiday Monday takes place at the Flax Bourton showground on the 6th May 2019.  The North Somerset NVTEC will be exhibiting tractors and machinery on the showground and in the ring.  For entry form click on the picture on left.  Please note that the NVTEC/NFU insurance does not cover tractors that are driveable.  "All members receive Public Liability Insurance as part of their Membership. (eg. Stationary Engines and Static Agricultural displays). This does not cover the Road Traffic Act (includes moving on the showground), ie. Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (eg. Tractors)."

Films of yesteryear with Jim Wilkie. These are still on original filmstock so you may need to be patient with the projector! Also if you have not paid your club renewal then please do so tonight.

£2.00 charity donation entry for buyers. Gates open at 7:00am. Canteen will be available for hot drinks and breakfast. Assistance needed from local members please.

First meeting of 2019 at Redhill on 8th January - please note that this is not the first Tuesday. Please pay your renewals. Help our busy membership secretary by having your renewal form already filled out and the right money. Get a form here: http://www.nvtec-northsomerset.org/membership/ There will also be a club video to watch after you have paid your dues!

4th December Club Night with food and raffle to round off the year.  Get ahead of the game and renew your membership before the January queues!  Any final payments for NVTEC Christmas dinner - 15th December.

North Somerset Tractor Club Autumn Road Run starts from Chestnut Farm, Hewish BS24 6RU on the A370. Courtesy of James and Tom Bardwell

Start time is 10:00am and the finish is at the same location. 

Lunch will be in the Full Quart at the finish.

Please refer to 3. Road Run Guidance.  Those of you taking passengers in a trailer - also read the advice from the HSE - item 4

WC&PR with Paul Gregory.  The WC&P was an unusual independent light railway linking three North Somerset coastal towns. First planned in 1844, it opened in 1897 and closed in 1940. It was quaint and colourful and was operated on a shoestring.

Christmas dinner balance to be paid.

Last meeting at Redhill Social Club was 2nd October. The talk was "Up in Smoke, The Rise and Fall of Tobacco in Bristol" - WD & HO Wills by Mike Britton. Deposits on the Christmas Meal to be paid - Saturday 15th December.

Ploughing match briefing by Tim Hurley.

If you have not entered yet - go to ploughing forms page

Illustrated talk "Around Bristol by Tram" with Peter Davey.

NVTEC meeting at Redhill Social Club: Meeting starts at 8:00pm for club business.

The subject for the illustrated talk this evening will be:

The Stations and Halts of North Somerset with Michael Oakley.  Hopefully the photos will bring back some memories!

To be held on:

Practice Day - Friday 14th 2018 at Winters Lane, Redhill, Nr Bristol BS40 5SH

NO MEETING AT REDHILL THIS MONTH.

Be ready to board the coach to the museum at 7:00 am on Tuesday 3rd July at Redhill Social Club.  Breakfast stop at at Palmers Garden Centre, Yeovil at 9:00am.  Arrival at the museum around Tank Mueum should be in the region of 11am.  Depart time from the museum: 5:00pm with dinner stop at 6:30 at the Cross Keys.  The Cross Keys is a real ale country pub in the heart of Somerset, situated at the crossroads of the A37 and A3153 in the village of Lydford-on- Fosse, between the small market towns of Castle Cary and Somerton.  Arrival at Redhill will be about 10:30pm.

Usual time and there should be refreshments - no alcohol license though!  Last chance to settle up for the Bovington Tank Museum trip and chose your dinner from the menu - otherwise you will get what you are given!  Tick box slips from John Porter at the meeting.

An excellent evening. What a collection! Thanks to Dave and Chris Stuckey for their hospitality

North Somerset Show 2018. Great turnout of club tractors and  implements. Congratulations to Rob Jenkins for a great working demonstation of the thresher in full use and the Jones pickup baler alongside. Thanks to Ivan Williams for getting the selection of implements together for the ring display.  More pictures

Next meeting: May 1st at Redhill Social Club. “A Little Kingdom” with Andre Coutanche. Andre's talk is about that slightly mysterious Lundy Island situated off the north Devon coast. Reminder: those going on the Tank Museum trip should settle up this evening or at the June meeting at the 5th June visit to the Stuckey Collection, West Harptree.

1. AGM and video selection.

Sign up for the annual trip to Bovington Tank Museum. There are only 19 places left. £10 deposit - £65 for the whole day inc breakfast and evening meal. 

Sign up for and collect your North Somerset Show ticket - current mambers only.

Tractor Road Run from West Bagborough, Taunton

Sunday April 8th, 10 o'clock.

Meet at Lower Toollands, West Bagborough, TA4 3EP.

Terry or Jane Ayre, 01823 432439  terstractors@icloud.com

Food available at start and lunchtime.

The small print!

10 o'clock, give yourself time to book in.

One seat one bum unless second properly fitted.

Transport boxes and trailers with prior approval and insured.

4 X 4s allowed at the rear.

Donation from passengers please.

The Agricultural Revolution ‐ an illustrated talk by Jim Pimpernell.

The annual trip in July sign up form will be available.  This trip is to the Tank Museum, Bovington.  Cost per person is £65.  Coach, breakfast, entry and dinner all included.  Deposit £10.

Meet at H. Curtis & Sons, Stanton Wick Farm, Stanton Wick, Pensford, Bristol

BS39 4DB

Setting off at 9:45 but you will need to book in from 8:45 first!

Full details on Ploughing & road run page with a copy of the entry form.

Those of you taking passengers in a trailer - also read the advice from the HSE (document 4 in the list)

This a new date for the club event on the North Somerset Showground.  Please put this date in your diaries.  VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!  Contact Kevin or Rob Jenkins.

The annual ploughing match will take place on the usual date in September ( 14th for the practice and 16th for the match).

The Victorian model farm in south Gloucestershire and north Somerset
From 1850 to 1880, British agriculturists responded to the repeal of the Corn Laws by enlisting the modern advances in chemistry and industrial organisation and steam power.  Prince Albert may have led the way, but several in the Avon region were also setting an example. The new approach had little time to settle before British agriculture was hit by imports steamed in across the oceans, but it left its mark, as much perhaps as had the enclosures of an earlier age. Here William Evans tells how the story played out in these parts.

This book will be launched in the spring but before that you have the opportunity to order it at the special price of £2.95  including p&p. Just send the order form at the bottom of the page)  to W Evans, 5 Parrys Grove, Bristol BS9 1TT before February 15 2018. William will also have copies to buy on the night.

Renewals for 2018 and club videos.

Click on the poster (left) for more details.  If you cannot make that evening then download a copy and post to the membership secretary.

Volunteers needed from 7:00am onwards especially on the gate during arrivals and giving directions to traders and public for parking and unloading.

Christmas get together. 

The final meeting of the year - food provided.

Last meeting at Redhill Social Club on Tuesday 7th of November - 8.00pm. A selection of videos from club member Mike Lawrence.

Deposits taken for Christmas dinner on Saturday 16th December at The Wellsway, Harptree Hill, West Harptree,
BS40 6EJ

Next meeting at Redhill Social Club is 5th September.

Information for members for the Club Weekend & Ploughing Match 15th to 17th September. Volunteers needed!

Video to follow.

Next meeting at Redhill Social Club 1st July. Illustrated talk by the RNLI.

"The RNLI is a the charity that saves lives at sea. Every day of every year, people of all backgrounds get into danger in the water. It’s a problem that we’re here to tackle. 

On 28 February 1823, Sir William Hillary made an impassioned appeal to the nation, calling for a service dedicated to saving lives at sea. 

That service was to become the RNLI. And since our foundation in 1824, our brave lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 140,000 lives.

Today we celebrate our long and proud lifesaving history through our archive and library, collections, exhibitions and museums, all of which keep our inspiring stories of courage alive."

Excellent weather made this a grand day out for the coach party. Despite making good time on the outward trip, the farm shop at  White Row Farm near Beckington did a great job with the full English breakfast - a bit too full for some! The museum and house proved to be well worth the visit despite a hunt for ice creams for a few members of the party. This was later rectified with double helpings. The dinner stop was equally well serviced and enjoyed by all with a few dozing off the meal on the way back (The Three Horseshoes at Chapmanslade).

Some of the younger members of the party had to try out the photo opportunity (left). Mr Williams wearing a suitable soft crash helmet in a pre war Grand Prix car.  He was also seen climbing on the Fordson N in the under 7's play area - with supervision.

Have a clear out and change out your hoard!  Agricultural, automotive, domestic and car boot sales welcome.

 Sharing the passion for this machinery of yesteryear specifically Massey Ferguson,and also other brands, but also to pay homage to the past and present agricultural workforce who toiled often against considerable odds to deliver food to our tables.

With origins going back to mechanical transport before 1890, it is not surprising that as a family the Shoplands have collected a number of vehicles over the years. The family's interest in Military Vehicles stems from employing them in the Timber Business.   http://www.shoplandcollection.com/

Find about more about the project at: http://valeofberkeleyrailway.co.uk/

In the summer of 2013 a small group, all with significant experience of heritage railway preservation, became aware of the potential to create a heritage railway along the existing Sharpness Branch line from Sharpness to Berkeley Road.