Herefordshire tractor run held in memory of James Corfield

Members from Leominster Vintage Club and the wider tractor-run community turned out in force on Sunday, April 21, for the James Corfield Memorial Tractor Run.

Mr Corfield, who died suddenly in his mid-forties, was an active club member and Land Rover enthusiast and would use his Ford 4000 to pull passenger trailers around the club’s working events.

Ben Aubrey leading the tractors (Image: EA Bates)

The tractor run was raising funds for the Herefordshire-based charity, Phoenix Bereavement Support, which supports children, young people and their families when someone close to them dies, and which had supported Mr Corfield’s daughter, Rosie.

Hereford's Edward Godsell (Image: EA Bates)

At the time of going to press over £1,000 had been raised for the charity. The 75 participants came from as far afield as mid-Wales and all over Herefordshire to join Leominster Club members at Wistaston Farm, Kings Pyon, by kind permission of James from Garnstone Farms.

James Speakman with his rare David Brown 50D. (Image: EA Bates)

Route plotter Ben Aubrey, started proceedings off with a speech and safety briefing before the raffle was drawn and then it was time for the off. Leaving Wistaston Farm, Ben led the procession in his Austrian-made Steyr tractor on their tour around the local communities.

Leominster's Clive Huffer (Image: EA Bates)

Making their way out onto Hereford Road, the tractors turned back on themselves to go off-road through Yazor Wood before doubling back out onto Hereford Road for a short stretch to cut across Garnstone Park.

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Mr & Mrs Michael Wozencraft with their David Brown diesel cropmaster (Image: EA Bates)

Back on the tarmac to pick up the B4230 into Weobley, taking in the pretty black and white houses, the old market place and the church of St Peter and St Paul, with onlookers waving at the tractor drivers.

Rob Gore with his International (Image: EA Bates)

Now heading for Dilwyn the tractors went off-road again, before passing through Dilwyn village and crossing the marshalled junction with the A44 to Dilwyn Common and crossing back across the main road.

New Radnor's Martyn Nicholls with his County (Image: EA Bates)

Heading for the dinner stop at Grove Farm (by kind permission of Richard Price) and a welcome break for a warming drink and bite to eat.

Time for the off again, now turning left to take the shortcut to pick up the A4110 for a short stretch before turning towards Ivington and wandering their way up to Upper Hill, down to Bush Bank and picking up the Westhope road. Through Westhope out to Wellington before turning back on themselves again to head to Canon Pyon. After a right and a left in the village, the tractors headed for Kings Pyon and the finish.

Leominster Vintage Club wish to thank all landowners, everyone who took part and all who contributed in some way to making the run successful and raising much-needed funds for the charity.