‘Dad would have loved to see all of the tractors together, whether vintage or modern’
A procession of tractors on a previous fundraising tractor run(Image: Kathryn Ward)
An impressive procession of tractors will trundle to the coast this weekend on a 22-mile journey as a family stages its sixth annual fundraiser in memory of their dad. David Townsley, who grew up at England Hill Farm, Withernsea, loved to restore, renovate and then display his collection of vintage Grey Ferguson tractors at local tractor fayres and road runs.
So when died in November 2017, aged 72, his family knew it would a fitting tribute to bring other collectors together for a fundraising drive with a difference. The first tractor run took place in 2018, and over the years they have raised more than £15,000 for Marie Curie, the cancer charity which helped them all in David’s final months.
This year, on Sunday May 3, his daughters Kathryn Ward and Helen Smith will lead other family members on the sixth annual England Hill Tractor Run, which starts and finishes at England Hill Farm, Withernsea, all in aid of Marie Curie. Tractors will leave the Farm at 10.30am, driving for around 22 miles travelling through Rimswell, to Roos, Halsham, Winestead, Patrington, Welwick, Holmpton, and then back to Withernsea for a stop on the promenade.
Visitors will be able to take a close look at the tractors over the lunchtime by the Pier Towers, before the procession returns to the farm. Organiser Kathryn, who is also joined by brother-in-law Glen Smith and cousins Graham, Angela, Harry and Kerry Conner, said the day will start with home cooked bacon and sausage sandwiches around 8.30am, before setting off around 10.30am.
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And for those staying at the farm until the tractors return around 1.15pm, call outs permitting, a fire engine from Humberside Fire and Rescue and the Withernsea Inshore Lifeboat will come along for people to look around and find out more.
There will also be a ‘guess the number of daffodils’ competition, a raffle and auction, and some outdoor play activities to keep the youngsters occupied. All the drivers will get to enjoy a hog roast lunch complimented by some fantastic desserts and cakes baked by friends and family, and the lunches will be available to supporters for £5 and £10.
Kathryn said: “Marie Curie helped us as a family to care for our Dad near the end of his life in 2017 and we just want to ensure that others in a similar position are able to benefit from their care. We’ve raised a fabulous £15,565 from the previous five tractor runs and we appreciate times are tough, but we’d welcome everyone to come and see and wave at us on the day, maybe donate a raffle prize or auction lot, or even make a donation on our JustGiving page.
“Dad would have loved to see all of the tractors together, whether vintage or modern, but especially the grey Fergies, and he’d have been very proud of our efforts, especially bringing all the tractors to England Hill Farm as that’s where he was raised as a child.
“The event has grown each year, behind the scenes we learn what worked well and what didn’t and take that into account for the next event. We’re incredibly indebted to John Conner & Son at the farm for allowing us to host the event each year, those who bring their tractors, and the army of volunteers who help on the day as a road marshal, bake cakes, collect & make donations, or just wave at us as we drive through their villages.
“We all hope all the tractors complete the route without breaking down – I had a breakdown on one of Dad’s Fergies a couple of years ago, but fortunately we also have a recovery vehicle with us too. We’re always amazed at the totals raised too, especially with what’s going on in the world, but it’s a great cause, and we’d have been lost with Marie Curie’s help with Dad, so just want to ensure others can benefit in similar circumstances.
“The support is amazing, we are so lucky, but people whether taking part, or watching, enjoy it. The tractor drivers like the flat route around south east Holderness, but also as the route varies each year, it’s nice for them to drive where they don’t normally drive, plus the stop off on Withernsea promenade which we’ve done the last couple of years is popular, and gets the owners talking about their tractors which they all love doing! If you’d have met Dad, that’s one thing you could never shut him up about.
“We must also thank the many local businesses that donate either time, “gift” an element of the day – from signage, to the toilets, to meat for the breakfast or lunch, to cakes, and raffle prizes. We wouldn’t be able to do it as we do without them.
She added: “For me, if I’m driving one of Dad’s Fergies, I do admit to wondering how he had so much love for something that’s so horrible to drive – I’m too spoilt these days with having an automatic car! But it’s only once home after everything is finished and packed up, that I think how chuffed Dad would’ve been to have been there.”
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