A Celebration of Steam and Vintage at Moor Farm
Thousands of visitors from across the country gathered at Moor Farm in Knights of the Bottom for the return of the Chickerell Steam and Vintage Show. This family-friendly event, held over two fields, attracted a diverse crowd with its wide range of attractions.
A Wide Range of Attractions
The show featured an impressive array of vintage and classic vehicles, including cars, lorries, motorbikes, and steam engines. Attendees could also explore model exhibits, watch birds of prey, see axemen in action, and interact with goats and ponies. The local blacksmith was on hand to demonstrate traditional skills, while fun fair rides provided entertainment for younger visitors.
Food vendors offered a variety of options, ensuring that everyone could find something to eat. The beer tent was a popular spot for those looking to enjoy a drink, and queues for food were common throughout the weekend.
Positive Feedback from Organisers
Windy Miller, one of the event directors, expressed her excitement about the turnout: “It’s been absolutely fantastic this year. We think we’ve had a bigger crowd than last year and one of our biggest ever with the car park full both days.” Joe Allen, another organiser, added: “We’ve had a great event and sold out all of our camping spaces again – it’s unfortunate that we can’t move the hedges to offer more space. Everyone is having a great time.”
The bar was packed on Saturday night, with attendees enjoying live music and dancing. Milk and Two performed on Sunday morning, and their performance was well-received by the audience.
Honoring a Local Legend
This year’s event paid tribute to Len Watts, a local man who passed away earlier in the year. His Eldridge Pope delivery van was featured on the event’s programme, and he was known for bringing his Austin K4 with the Eldridge Pope livery to the show every year. Organisers said he would be deeply missed.
Music Line-Up
The music line-up included a variety of acts across the weekend. On Friday, Under the Carousel and DJ Bean took to the stage. Saturday featured performances from Hooked on Boots, Finlay Leslie, Jaunty, Rhinefield, The Psychodahlias, Bring me the Pistols, 5 O’Clock Heroes, Big Brass Ska, and Balance of Power. Sunday saw Milk & Two, Someday Soon Band, The Hooked, and Dirty Ponchos perform, with Under the Carousel rounding off the event with a final set that left the crowd delighted.
Visitors from Across the Country
Trevor and Jane Andrews traveled from Bovey Tracey and stayed at the event throughout the weekend. Jane said, “It’s been a lovely time – we love coming here.” Bob Mace brought his granddaughter Ruby to see the steam engines, and he noted, “We’ve come from Portland and just got here today and it’s always a great show.”
Cliff and Chris Addis from South Wales attended the final day of the show, marking their third visit to the event. Sam and Sophie Cox from Bridport brought their son Oliver, with Sam growing up in the area and Sophie experiencing the event for the first time. The Billetts from Northamptonshire made the trip specifically for the show, with Mr Billett stating, “We come every year, it’s always good and this year’s has been brilliant.”
Local residents Kyle, Nicky, Chris, Alex, and Tom enjoyed the music on offer, coming from just over the hill. Their presence highlighted the strong community spirit surrounding the event.
