by Terry Bearpark
The sixth annual England Hill Tractor Run will take place at the weekend in aid of Marie Curie.
The run on Sunday, May 3, is organised by sisters Kathryn Ward and Helen Smith, with brother-in-law Glen Smith and cousins Graham, Angela, Harry and Kerry Conner, in memory of Kathryn and Helen’s father, David Townsley, who died in 2017.
The event starts and finishes at England Hill Farm, Withernsea, by kind permission of JM Conner & Son, and is held in support of Marie Curie after the charity helped the family care for David near the end of his life. David was a vintage tractor enthusiast, with a particular fondness for “little grey Fergies”.
Last year, about 50 tractors took to the roads and £3,432 was raised from entries and collections. The event has now raised more than £15,000 from the previous five tractor runs.
Tractors will gather at England Hill Farm on Hull Road from 10am before leaving at 10.30am for a route of about 22 miles, travelling through Rimswell, Roos, Halsham, Winestead, Patrington, Welwick and Holmpton before returning to Withernsea.
They are due to stop on Withernsea Promenade, near the Pier Towers, at about 12.35pm for around 30 minutes, giving people the chance to see the tractors up close and, if they are lucky, have their picture taken in the seat of one.
Route timings are Halsham at 11.15am, Patrington at 11.40am, Welwick at 11.55am, Rysome Garth and Holmpton at 12.15pm and Withernsea Promenade at 12.35pm.
All timings are approximate and subject to change.
The day will begin at the farm with home-cooked bacon and sausage sandwiches from about 8.30am. For those staying at the farm until the tractors return, there will also be a Humberside Fire and Rescue fire engine and the Withernsea RNLI lifeboat, call-outs permitting, for people to look around and learn more about.
There will also be a guess the number of daffodils competition and outdoor play activities for youngsters.
The tractors are expected back at the farm at about 1.15pm, when drivers will enjoy a hog roast lunch with desserts and cakes baked by friends and family.
Lunches will also be available to supporters, priced at £10 or £5 for those with a smaller appetite.
A raffle and auction will then take place to raise further funds.
For more details, visit the England Hill Tractor Run Facebook page, call 07740 096054 or donate via JustGiving at justgiving.com/page/kathryn-ward-6.