2022, August. Cotswold Steam Fair and Valleys & Villages Classic Tour

6th August:  Cotswold Steam Fair at South Cerney

The official name for the event is The Gloucestershire Vintage and Country Extravaganza but we always know it as the Steam Fair.  The three day show was even bigger than usual after missing the past two years due to Covid.  Our Glavon TR Register group always attends on the Saturday, and as exhibitors we get in free!

These kind of events depend on good weather and this year it was perfect, hot and sunny.  As usual there was an enormous variety of classic cars to see but we are just a small part of the show. We had never seen so many vintage tractors, busses, lorries, motorcycles and military vehicles, not to mention all the steam powered vehicles.

I had managed to leave my phone at home so thanks to Andy West and Noel Jones for the pictures in this report. 

Some of the Glavon cars

Relaxed atmosphere on the Glavon stand lunchtime

Fabulous traction engines

Traditional ride

Beautiful carousel

Serious haulage

Look out! we are coming through

 We spent most of the day looking around and still didn't see even half of it.  I could have spent the whole day browsing the numerous stalls selling tools and old car parts. I came home with a 1950s local OS map in as new condition and my wife Jo got a bargain on some succulent blueberries.  Like I said, something for everyone there.

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7th August:  Valleys & Villages Classic Tour

Last years Valleys & Villages run was horribly wet so we were much relieved to have a beautiful day this year.  Obviously a day for the DHC then and we were flagged away from the start at Royal Wotton Bassett rugby club with the sun shining

Valleys & Villages start

 

There was a wide selection of cars taking part including a rather smart Bentley and three other TR7 style cars. One was actually a real factory built RHD TR8, one of only 18 ever made.

Nice Bentley

Very rare RHD factory built TR8

The organisers sent us on a nice route around Highworth and to the north of Swindon for a coffee stop at Helen Brownings Royal Oak in Bishopstone.  The cake was up to their usual high standards but Bishopstone village is always tricky to negotiate for some reason and several cars appeared from the wrong direction, including us!

After coffee we had a nice run south via the area around Marlborough to a lunch stop at Pewsey village hall.  We had brought our own picnic so sought ou a shady spot outside with our camping chairs.  Most other crews were doing the same.

With the very hot and dry weather we saw some fire crews dealing with fires on Salisbury Plain as we left Pewsey. It looked like a combine harvester had caught fire and started a fire in a wheat field. 

The route took us past a couple of white horses carved into the chalk hillsides that we hadn't seen before. 

A new (to us!) white horse carved in the hillside

 Finish was back at Royal Wootton Bassett where we were served with a good curry.