Sunday, August 14 saw the Three Cocks Vintage Society finally celebrate their fortieth anniversary of their annual vintage rally after a two year break for covid. Powys County Council leader and the Society’s president, Cllr James Gibson-Watt was on hand to officially open the rally. With the heatwave over Wales the rally field at Boatside Farm, Hay on Wye overlooking the beautiful River Wye and Black Mountains was full to the gunnels.

Despite having to forgo the working field due to the tinder dry conditions, the Rally continued with the impressive parade of traction engines, from the 1903 Wallis & Stevens traction engine of Lee Miles of Painscastle, which had originally been used to haul stone in Cambridgeshire to the almost hand built 6” inch Burrell traction engine owned by Elfyn Williams of Pumsaint. Elfyn had christened the engine Cothi Maid and had virtually built it all himself completing it in 2018. The nearest to the rally field was two of the D & J Williams and family the steamers, a big Fowler BB1 Ploughing Engine christened “Johnny” of 1919 circa and a Fowler Gun Haulage and Winding Engine of 1917. This engine had an unusual history as it had been part of a batch ordered by the Russian Army but never delivered and eventually sold by the Ministry into civilian use. Rob Henderson was driving his family’s Fowler ‘Pride of the Wye’ and father and son combo; Ian & Lewis Mason had their very rare Gibbons and Robinson traction engine on display which is believed to be the only survivor of the marque.

There was a remarkable display of commercials vehicles as well, all with interesting histories. Section leader Mike and wife Gill Chandler of Llandrindod Wells had their 1978 AEC Mercury, which was supplied new to Stoke on Trent area. Roger Young of Brecon had his 1959 Ford Thames Tipper which had spent most of its working life in Presteigne at W J Taylor & Son until 1972. Haulage firm, Lloyd’s of Ludlow had two of their heritage vehicles on display, a 1965 AEC Mammoth Major, which had previously been a fuel bowser with the MOD before being used on timber haulage and a 1966 AEC Mandator supplied new to Pfizer Chemicals of Avonmouth. Both vehicles had been restored by Tony Lloyd. Jack Cook of Brilley had his Foden S21 tractor unit which was ex Bulmers Cider. Tommy Williams of Llandeilo had two Bedfords of his fleet of five lorries on display.

There was a large assortment of classic cars from an Austin Seven to a modern day classic of a MG Montego together with Jaguar owners club, Austin Seven owners club and Landrover club stands. The only Rolls Royce on display was the Pop Larkin roller from the TV series Darling Buds of May. Dave & June Watkins of Rhayader had their 1967 Austin A40. Also on exhibiting was the Herefordshire registered Austin 1000 van owned by Bertie Burford. There were over 60 stationary engines on display with the usual Petter, Lister, and Ruston Hornsby. The motorcycle display had everything for the enthusiast from a 1964 Honda CB race bike of Roger Mason, the 1940 Royal Enfield WD CO owned by Malcolm Bates with a tremendous history. The bike had been supplied by the National Fire Service to Rhayader Fire Station, used for gate opening and relaying messages. Ownership was transferred to the Brecon & Radnor Joint Fire Brigade after the war and was used until being decommissioned in 1970. It was bought by tender for the princely sum of £15 and has yet to do 4000 miles.

However, the tractor section saw some real veterans. There were four International Titans on display circa 1919, two restored ones, one owned by David Thomas of Llandysul and Edward Price of Bucknell, the other two were in original condition, one owned by Colin Lewis of Brecon and the other by David Williams of Hay who had only started it on Saturday after being stored for 40 years. Also there was three club marques stands displaying at the rally, the Ferguson Club with various models on display was Tom Mason, Hereford with his Breconshire registered 1955 Ferguson TED as well as Eric & Janette Watson’s 1959 Massey Ferguson 735 combine. Meanwhile on the David Brown stand, the club paid homage to the foremost David Brown dealers in Mid Wales, the Automobile Palace with a huge sign from their parts department. The Club had collected a varied display of tractors, Nigel Hantschar of Hereford with his 1958 David Brown 25D, Peter Williams, Ross on Wye with his 1952 David Brown Super Cropmaster and Brecon’s Gareth Alexander with his 1972 David Brown 885.

Roll on next year for such a celebrated rally!