After a two-year break, it was great to see my local Saffron Walden Crank-Up back on the calendar. Over the weekend of 23-24 April, a wonderfully diverse collection of machinery headed for the new venue in a corner of Carver Barracks, formerly RAF Debden. From BSA Bantams and Bond Bugs to mighty steamrollers that helped build the old runways, complete with period wagons, the event attracted all historic transport types, both full-scale and miniature.
Among the highlights was the return of the magnificent Burrell road-locomotive 'Duke of Kent', previously owned by the former mayor, Steve Neville, who drove it all over Europe. Now prized by Lord Irvine Laidlaw, it was prepared and driven over to Saffron Walden by historic race specialist Geoff Scott-Coomber. It's surprising how many renowned car enthusiasts have owned traction engines.
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