This was the 23rd annual Holsworthy Vintage Vehicle and Engine Rally and the second year at its new more spacious venue at Killatree. Drawing on last year's experience the committee had revised the layout of the attractions, and further expanded the show with more trade stalls and a greater number of horticultural machines and implements.
The fine warm weather may have tempted people away from the show on Saturday, but on Sunday, with grey skies and a few showers, there was an excellent attendance.
This year Russell Dymond, with the assistance of some section marshals, took over from Charles Cornish the duty of providing commentary on the parades and demonstrations in the arena. These included a display by the Barnstaple Town Youth Marching Band.
It was pleasing to see the return of some steam traction engines, a 1910 Burrell and a 1917 McLaren, which made their presence felt by chugging around the ground, belching black smoke which nobody seemed to mind. Another star of the show was a 1907 10HP Stanley Steam Car EX, owned by Mr T Fry, one of only three in the UK and capable of up to 50mph.
Among the 120 or so cars were 20 vehicles from the Bude Motor Club, including a 1927 Alvis 12/50 and a 1988 Bentley Mulsanne 'S'. The oldest car was a 1911 left-hand-drive Model T Ford imported from Massachusetts in 1996 and owned by Mr and Mrs Mackarel of Hartland. A 1938 Wolseley saloon, owned by Gerald Forward of Launceston has appeared as a police car in episodes of 'Poirot'. The only kit car was a gleaming red three wheeler Blackjack Avion with a Moto Guzzi engine owned by Pat Darragh of Bideford.
As usual there was a large and varied selection of motorcycles and scooters, the earliest a BSA from 1924, and an intriguing collection of Victorian bicycles and tricycles. Among more than 70 tractors were two Fordsons with solid wheels from the 1920s and 30s and 60 busily working stationary engines, each bore witness to the important role they had played in bygone days.
Visitors could browse among the many craft and trade stalls and view displays of models, garden and horticultural machinery and collections which included a chilling collection of animal and bird traps assembled by Peter Self of Milton Damerel.
Among the military vehicles were an army ambulance and a Green Goddess fire engine. There were more fire engines among the commercial vehicles and a tiny rat-catcher's van with the words 'moles cleared, tails docked and boils sucked and lanced' on the side.
The companion dog show attracted a good number of entries and an agility course, where dogs were persuaded to run through a number of obstacles to retrieve a tennis ball, provided a lot of fun to spectators and even more to the dogs themselves. There was plenty of entertainment for children including a Punch and Judy show, fairground rides and a bouncy castle.
Over the years the rally has raised thousands of pounds for local charities and organisations and this year Macmillan Cancer Relief and other local charities will benefit.