The Manchester area MVT

Cochran Boots or Wellingtons?

People have told me it rained over the weekend.

Well I was there and take it from me it only rained twice! It started on Saturday morning had a brief break on Sunday morning then started again just after mid-day.

I learnt several important lessons in Saddleworth.

Cochran boots leak.

A 12 by 12 tent can be moved whilst still erected.

Digital cameras do not like rain.

Regardless of what goes wrong there is always someone willing to help.

There’s always someone with a kettle and a spare mug.

  Cochran boots take slightly longer to dry out than digital cameras.

To say the show was put together in a little over six months is not doing justice to the TEAM that did it.

Refuse bags were supplied to every camper and ample bins placed around the site for visitors.

Toilets, washing facilities and hot showers all checked and cleaned by volunteers.

A “One Way” system was in force as well as speed restrictions and transgressors taken to task to make the campsite as family (and pet) friendly as possible

Although titled “War time weekend” No restrictions were placed on age, make or model of vehicle leaving a nice blend of modern with their historic ancestors.

 Land Rovers stood proudly along side their jeep predecessors.

Humvee with Austin Champ, Dodge W/C with Rio Gun Truck.

And that was just the campsite.

A Hawaiian evening was organised on the Friday evening with loud shirts and grass skirts

(Thankfully “gentleman” members of the North west Military collectors read the news letter correctly and left the grass skirts to the ladies)

On Saturday the village of Uppermill was busy with local shops, café’s and pubs supporting the event with bunting and flags. The landlord at the Wagon gave up His car park for jitterbugging and got invaded by a pipe band on Sunday.

The ¾ ton convoy went ahead despite the rain on Sat. And dominated by Champs

(I didn’t see many jeeps on that run) Good old British engineering!

Saturday evening there was a 40’s dance at the Friezland Parish hall. I’ve no photos from the event but if you have some I would be very grateful and will add them to the site

Sunday morning saw the rains again and plans to build an ark but campers were not charged any extra for the swimming pools now attached to their abode.

The traders seemed to suffer quite a lot from the inclement weather and the ground out front of the stalls was very muddy but didn’t seem to put off shoppers and browsers as trade looked to be brisk.

Very ably stewarded along by Keith Broome and the local police

The road run on Sunday was a great success starting out at the campsite at noon working its way through Uppermill and Dobcross to The Carriage house.

52 vehicles took part and several points should be pointed out, several owners of the heavier trucks decided that rather than cause unnecessary damage to the field they would hitch a ride in lighter trucks.

Two of the vehicle entry prizewinners dropped out of the convoy.

Richard Chadwick with his MACK to assist a stricken vehicle safely back to camp, and Keith and Margaret Baldwin with their M-37 Dodge to go to aid of campers washed out on a nearby site.

It was later my pleasure to go and find both these parties and present them with their trophies, Richard had to be dragged out from under the bonnet of the stricken truck to receive His with oily hands.

 Whilst Mr & Mrs Baldwin eventually returned to take down their own tent.

Their concern for others well being as well as many others in their selfless acts to offer assistance was very much in evidence throughout the weekend making the show the weekend and the people a pleasure to be involved with.