KNIGHTON is the place to be on Easter Sunday to see the spectacle of the 31st National Vintage Tractor Road Run organised by the Teme Valley Vintage Club.

The run, starting from Bensons Factory Yard (by kind permission of Roy and David Edwards of MA Evans Transport) will see over 300 tractor drivers bring their pride and joy to participate in the annual charity run which visits different areas of the country every year. Already entrants from most corners of the British Isles are entered, including some from Southern Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Cornwall, will descend on the market town. The club has chosen four charities to support, them being the East Radnorshire Day Centre, the RNLI, Hope House Children’s Hospice and the Wales Air Ambulance.

On Saturday, there will be a selection of trade stands and a display of a lifeboat launch and recovery vehicles at the start venue. Clayton Engineering which manufactures lifeboat launches and recovery vehicles on the neighbouring site on behalf of the RNLI. Brian Hughes, consultant engineer for the company will be on hand on the day to oversee the display and answer any questions. Raffle tickets will still be available for our Grand Charity Raffle with a first prize of £1000 cash, with £500 for second prize, £250 for third, plus other prizes.

Sunday morning activities starts off at 8.45am, when Knighton town crier, Derrick Price, will call all the tractor drivers and spectators to the start line and all spectators to leave the tractor area. This will be followed by an Easter Blessing at 9am by Rev. Debbie Venables, curate of St Andrews group of parishes, Presteigne. This will be followed by a formal welcome and briefing from Steve Weaver, chairman of the organising committee. At 9.20am there will be a final call from the town crier for drivers to return to their tractors for 9.30am prompt start.

Spectators are more than welcome to watch the spectacle, but please remember to park carefully as not to cause an obstruction and please do not drive against the flow of the tractors on the run. We hope that everyone has an enjoyable day helping us to raise funds for our charities.