Peter Mackness sent in this picture a few years ago and a good deal of correspondence followed, which can be seen here.

Ken Robson, who was involved in the design of these machines, has recently emailed with the following additional information:

 Your last correspondent has confirmed the machine and its maker. Manufactured soon after the end of the 2^nd World War, this machine shows the ingenuity of its inventor, Arthur Clifford Howard, CBE, and exemplifies the shortage of raw materials available at that time to UK manufacturers. A “bog standard” Fordson agricultural tractor (Cost price in 1943 £180 plus £10 delivery) was stripped of its “spadelug” rear wheels and replaced by a “rotaped” track system in order to give the machine a lower ground bearing pressure and improved traction. The trencher wheel would have been driven direct from the traction unit via a propshaft and the whole machine would have been used to lay “tile drains” at a much faster rate than that achieved by manual means. The Howard Trencher was significantly improved during the 50s through to the 70s and the later units carried laser direction control systems. Many of the machines were based on a Ford skid unit, made by County Tractors, Kent, on the same popular Rotaped system on your photograph. Arthur Clifford Howard was of Australian descent. He settled in England around the mid 1930s and from his first factory at West Horndon, manufactured a range of rotary cultivators, bearing the brilliant trade name “Rotavator”, which you will observe, has the same spelling, whether forwards or back. The company used to trade heavily on this brand name, many advertisements bearing the slogan, “If it isn’t a Howard, it isn’t a Rotavator”. The “Chief” as he was affectionately known, died in 1971. His funeral at Upminster was attended by hundreds from all over the world. As one of his ex-apprenticed draughtsman, I am happy to be able to fill in some of the history relating to your picture.

Ken Robson

Carol singers tune up outside the community shop

On a very windy but fortunately dry night, carol singers toured the village, singing in a number of strategic places whilst the children collected money for charity. A few days previously, volunteers met to collect the traditional holly and ivy from the churchyard, to make Christmas garlands with which to decorate many telephone poles around the village.     More pictures of these activities can be seen on the following pages, and excerpts from several of the carols can be heard. (more…)

According to the weather forecast it will be a fairly mild evening for December but quite windy with the possibility of some rain. Everyone is advised to bring appropriate clothing and a torch.

The evening will include an event at the Pocket Park.

Supported by Groundwork UK.

On Friday 6th December the Star Inn was packed out with villagers wishing to say goodbye to David Bolton, retiring after serving as the Manager of the Village Community Shop for almost ten years. Shop volunteers and customers alike crowded into the restaurant and overflowed into the bar, snug and corridors. David was presented with various momentos, including a photograph album featuring most of those involved in the shop since 2004. Photos of the presentation and a link to the album can be seen on the following pages.

BEFORE CONTINUING PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SHOP WILL CLOSE ON DECEMBER 24TH AT 1.00 PM AND RE-OPEN ON DECEMBER 27TH AT 8.00 AM.

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The government has published a hybrid bill to pave the way for the high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham.

 The bill, effectively the planning application for the scheme, allows those affected by the proposed line to petition Parliament both for and against the proposals and have their case heard by a committee of MPs. An Environmental Statement for Phase One of the scheme has also been published. The bill and supporting material stretches to nearly 50,000 pages.

 The Department for Transport has said that the bill should achieve Royal Assent by the end of the current Parliament in 2015, allowing construction of Phase One to begin in 2016 or 2017. This initial London to Birmingham section of the route is currently scheduled for completion in 2026.

 The government is seeking comments on all the documents forming the environmental statement through the HS2 Phase One environmental statement consultation open between 25 November 2013 and 24 January 2014.

 See following pages for relevant extracts from the Environmental Statement and other documents dealing with the section of the line nearest to Sulgrave.

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The Village Shop is a great meeting place!

See here for the latest Village Shop Newsletter

Tricouni nailed leather climbing boots

At least 50 people braved a rather chilly damp night to come to hear Hywel talk on the eight expeditions attempting to climb Everest and a brief outline of the ninth successful attempt in 1953

We had a brief history lesson of the surveying of India and Peak 15, later known as Everest; the politics of British relations with Nepal and Tibet in gaining access to the mountain. A description of the geology of the mountain and how this affected the routes chosen by the the early climbers. The photographs of the expeditions were largely from the collection held by the Alpine Cub.

The Everest doctor on the 1933 expedition was Dr Greene and his tricouni nailed leather climbing boot and long wooden ice axe were on show, on loan from the Alpine Club.

Andrew Elliott donated three books which Hywel auctioned. The final amount raised was £400, £280 to Church funds and £120 to the Bell fund to repair Number 2 Bell pulley and ropes damaged by a squirrel last year.

Many thanks for all your support to help make a successful and enjoyable evening.

Ingram and Shrimp

Sir Edmund Hillary (L) and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 29th 1953

An illustrated talk to celebrate the successful summiting of Everest 60 years ago. Hywel Lloyd will tell us about the nine expeditions organised by the Alpine Club in conjunction with the Royal Geographical Society, to reconnoitre the mountain and then find a climbing route to the summit of Everest. The Alpine Club expeditions carried out reconnaissance, found climbing routes, tested oxygen methods, learnt logistics; all leading to brilliant mountaineering that achieved the first ascent in 1953, now 60 years ago.

Friday 22nd November at 7.00 pm in the Church Hall.

Wine and nibbles.

Donations welcomed for Church of St James the Less. All very welcome and do bring friends.

With our service men and women being killed or injured in Afghanistan and Iraq on an almost daily basis the work of the British Legion continues to be crucial to them and their families. Please give as generously as you can when you buy your poppies from the village shop. The annual Remembrance Sunday Service will be held in Sulgrave Church at 6.00 pm on Sunday November 10th. Eighteen young men and women who lost their lives in the two world wars are commemorated on the memorial in the church. Read their stories…..

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Blimp previously flown next to the wind farm site at proposed turbine height of 125 metres (410 feet)

Following the end of the public inquiry on 24th October, the Inspector’s accompanied site visits will take place on Thursday 31^st October. On that day look out for the two blimps which, weather permitting, the action group will be flying at either end of the proposed wind farm site from about 10 am to 4.30 pm.

See next page for the latest situation following the inquiry, together with the evidence given at the inquiry including the closing submissions by the barristers for South Northants Council, Broadview Energy Limited and Helmdon Stuchbury and Greatworth Windfarm Action Group.

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