THIRTY years after its first event, Much Marcle Steam Rally rolled into the record books with bumper crowds and a special guest appearance by a venerable old tractor with more than a century’s worth of history.

Enthusiasts ranging in age from five to an exhibitor in his 90s descended on the village in their thousands to wallow in two days of pure nostalgia.

During this key anniversary event, organisers were delighted to welcome what is thought to be the oldest tractor in Britain.

“It was a very successful show,” said secretary, Claire Poyner. “We don’t have to advertise because it’s so popular and we had more visitors this year because the weather was so nice.” She estimated up to 4,000 show-goers at the rally. “We were very, very busy and the car park was full.”

Visitors travel from all over the country for the rally, and exhibitors came to Much Marcle from as far afield as Northern Ireland. As well as steam traction engines and vintage tractors, the show includes vintage commercial vehicles, motor cycles and cars as well as stationary engines, fairground organs, models and crafts.

Among the impressive array of exhibits was a vintage tractor believed to date back more than 100 years. The Waterloo Boy, a relic of a company producing tractors before the First World War, proved to be a star vintage attraction on the site .

The Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company was founded in 1893, later attempting the tractor market with the Waterloo Boy in 1913. Only a handful were built, and in 1918 the enterprise was bought by Deere & Company.

Said Claire: “It is a very rare tractor – the only one in the country.”

She praised the show’s small band of helpers: “They work very hard before and after the show,” she said. “It’s very much a family affair and it caters for all ages. There’s always a good atmosphere.”

Claire went on: “Children as young as five take part in a tug o-‘ war against a steam roller – of course we have strict health and safety rules!”