Sewards of Petersfield

Friday 24th June dawned fine, warm and clear and we were looking forward to an enjoyable trip on Victoria to Kingsley, 10 miles up the road, where we were to exhibit at the C.S.V.A.C. steam and vintage rally, an event that we had not attended before. The engine was looking particularly smart as we had spent the previous weekend cleaning and polishing ready for her Kingsley debut but as steam was being raised storm clouds were quite literally gathering on the horizon.

At about midday, our usual time of departure, the sound of distant thunder could be heard and the first drops of rain were in the air. We had just moved the engine and living wagon onto the road ready to set off but, discretion being the better part of valour, we decided to have lunch and hope that this was a passing shower. At just after 1 o'clock the sun returned and we finally left Liss half an hour later. It is quite difficult to drive a traction engine with crossed fingers but we thought that it might help us to complete the journey without getting soaked.

Victoria, being the remarkable machine that she is, performed wonderfully and we were soon well on our way, the only irritation coming from the smoke generated by some rather poor coal given to us at a recent rally, in fact at one point the village we had just passed through was almost enveloped in an unnatural cloudbank!

Kingsley was 10 miles away and we had estimated that it would take us about an hour and a half to travel the distance. We were about right, the only stop being in Bordon to let an accumulation of traffic pass. With every mile the skies darkened, then, as we turned into the lane where the rally field was, the first drops of rain fell so that by the time we stopped in our parking spot it had become a downpour with thunder and lightening approaching at speed. We had been lucky and thanked Victoria's guardian angel for saving us from sharing Dreadnought's experience, the journey had been another good one and we were looking forward to the rally.

Top: Victoria waiting for the procession to start at Liss station with three minature steam engines.
Upper Mid: Victoria at the Newman Collard playing fields in Liss with the Boeing Chinook in the background.
Lower Mid: Impromptu fly pass by Dakota at Liss Carnival.
Bot: Chinook taking off over Victoria.

In common with communities all over Great Britain, June is carnival month in our home village of Liss with this years procession taking place on the 11th of the month so not wanting to miss any opportunity to take Victoria and her constant travelling companion, the living wagon out, we duly spruced her up, decorated her front lamps with union flags and joined in with the festivities.

The carnival procession gathered at the station and the car park was transformed in something resembling a circus with clowns, marching bands and various vintage vehicles preparing for the off. Victoria was not the only steam engine present as we were joined by three rather fine models which added to the atmosphere. The start time was advertised as 1 o'clock but as is not unusual in Liss the level crossing gates were closed so everyone had to wait for the Portsmouth bound train to depart before the band could step off. Victoria brought up the rear of the parade giving credence to the old adage of keeping the best until last. The village centre was filled with people who as per usual were all rather caught unawares by the engines whistle, giving a communal gasp as it was blown! The procession eventually arrived at the recreation ground where there were stalls, refreshments and arena events. The other main attraction had arrived earlier in the morning in the shape of a massive Chinook helicopter brought over from a nearby R.A.F. station for people to look over and children to dream of flying, it was a spectacular sight when it eventually departed for its home at the end of the afternoon, flying low over the engine and giving the impression of just missing the chimney. What a contrast in technologies.

It was only a short trip home where we parked up, cleaned up and looked forward to our next outing in a fortnights time.

Top: Stood where she would have stood in Sewards workshop and yard.
Mid: Another view of Victoria stood in what was Sewards workshop and yard.
Bot: Victoria at the Harting festivities in West Sussex.

Over the bank holiday weekend at the end of May, we took Victoria to two events in the Petersfield area.

After the Eastleigh rally we brought the engine back to Petersfield for a couple of weeks as our next outings were local to the town, the first being an open day held at Lords Farm, Sheet. This event has been going for 12 years and raises money for local charities, it is a get together for owners of old machinery of all sorts, tractors are the main exhibits but cars, stationary engines, commercial vehicles and even heavy horses come along to support the event, all are welcome.

It was a fairly early start for us and after a short drive through Petersfield we arrived just before lunch. A good time was had by all and we left at the end of the afternoon for an appointment with a part of Victorias history.

Sewards yard in Petersfield, where Victoria spent the greater part of her life has long since disappeared to make way for an entrance to the towns car park and is usually pretty busy but on Sundays it is somewhat quieter so we seized the opportunity to park the engine in the position she was laid up in 1933 and where she remained until 1969. This involved facing the wrong way up a one way street but was worth it, a fact bourne out by the number of interested passers by. We could easily imagine the scene being 50 or more years ago, it was a thought provoking moment. Then back to park up for the night at our Petersfield 'yard'.

Monday we were booked to appear at the Harting festivities just over the border in West Sussex, we had to be in position by just after 10am so the fire had to be lit at 7, no lie in on this bank holiday! There is something quite satisfying about steaming an engine early on a summer morning, it was quite beautiful, the birds were singing, the sun warming the air and the promise of a great day on the engine, surely this is what our hobby is all about. We arrived at the village of Harting at 10 o'clock and set up camp, the main street was closed for the day, cars and buses were replaced by stalls and marching bands, crowds filled the space left and luckily the weather stayed mainly dry. After a really enjoyable day we left Harting and steamed back to our home base at Liss in about two hours, stopping only for water in Petersfield.

Next outing, Liss carnival.