THE Mid Devon Tractor, Engine and Machinery Group will be holding its first meeting of the year at Morchard Bishop Memorial Hall on Wednesday, January 18 at 7.30pm.

Over the course of 2017, the club will host a series of speakers giving presentations on “vintage” issues, as well as holding “Working Days”, a “Gas Up” and a “Road Run”, during which members put their vintage tractors and engines through their paces.

These invariably provide a colourful and atmospheric spectacle and a reminder to spectators of the way that agriculture used to be carried out in earlier times in this area.

During the Spring and Summer months, club members and their machinery will also be taking part in rallies, shows and fairs throughout Mid Devon and beyond.

The speaker at the January meeting will be Chris Jaworski, Land-Based Engineering Lecturer at Bicton College.

Chris is well-known locally not only for his work in training successive generations of agricultural students, but also for overseeing the annual project at the Devon County Show in which a donated old tractor is completely refurbished to show condition by a group of Bicton students.

The resulting much sought-after machine is then the prize in a raffle, for which tickets are sold at local shows and fairs throughout the following summer.

The proceeds go towards the Bicton Overseas Agricultural Trust, a charity founded by Devon farmers in 1991 which trains managers of training establishments in developing countries in skills so that they, in turn, can more effectively train trainers of students and farmers to improve food production and livelihoods.

MDTEMG, which has almost 100 members, is always pleased to welcome potential new members to its events which take place in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and at which refreshments are available.

Ownership of vintage machinery is entirely optional! Anyone who is interested is welcome to go along for a “taster” or to call the Secretary, Michael Coleman, for further information on 01363 84622.