Bill Hurst completes tractor journey for Festival

Bill Hurst, of Dean Waterfield Lodge and Royal Edward Chapter, has moved to Pencader, Carmarthenshire, and drove his vintage tractor to his new home from Howle Hill, near Ross. He came up with a way of doing it which would give support to the 2020 Festival, by asking people to guess how long it would take him. For £5, anyone could have three guesses. the prize was a stay in Bill’s holiday home at Pencader.

The tractor is a David Brown 990, the same model as Bill had when he was a young farmer. This particular one is 56 years old. It was bought by Bill’s son Andrew as a wreck, and he did it up for Bill’s 60th birthday, turning it into the very smart specimen it is today – see the photo. Bill plans to use it in ploughing competitions after they’ve moved.

Bill set out Saturday morning, 4th November 2019, in pouring rain, at 7:05. For three hours he drove on soaking wet. Then it cleared up and he dried out, but the last two hours the rain was relentless – .  another soaking.

He arrived in Pencader 7 hours and 48 minutes later.  This was a time which amazed Bill and his entourage of Marilyn Hurst, Andrew Last and Terry Neate.

The David Brown Tractor never missed a beat, which was part of the reason for such a good time.

So who picked the winning time?

Two of the guesses were two minutes away from Bill’s final time, both estimating a time of 7 hours and 50 mins. Bill and Marilyn have said both will win 5 days stay at the holiday cottages in Pencader.

The winners are: Gethin Lewis of Carmarthen Lodge and Stuart Powell of Dean Waterfield lodge.

The monies raised so far for the 2020 Festival amount to £1,767.50. This doesn’t include the gift aid, and sponsorship money is still being pledged so this amount will rise.

Anyone who wishes to show their appreciation of Bill’s amazing drive can still pledge on the website http://e0146.everydayhero.com/uk/bill-hurst-tractor-drive .

Or you can send money by cheque to Tim Bridgland-Taylor at 1, Overbury Court, Venns Lane, Hereford HR1 1DG.

Another option is to use PayPal, using Tim’s email address timbt@btconnect.com, and then send him an email to say you have made a payment via PayPal.

Many thanks and congratulations to Bill, and to his support team, for the tremendous effort and excellent amount raised for the Festival. 

Bill says: “I would like to thank all those who supported me on the ‘Tractor Run’ this includes Tim Bridgland-Taylor for dealing with all the administration, Andrew & Esme Last, Terry & Pat Neate for their huge support on the day.  Andrew my son for all the work he did in preparing the tractor for the journey and keeping it fuelled and oiled on the day, and to the rest of my family especially Marilyn for supporting me and getting sponsorship.”

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