The Great Dorset Steam Fair, which takes place near Blandford each year, was just as busy and steamy as ever. An endless supply of engines, tractors, horses, cider, cars, fair rides and every variety of dog known to man made for an interesting week with the addition of 'Steam Sounds', the latest attempt to occupy trouble-makers in the evenings and provide the eccentric enthusiasts with some light entertainment. Of course, in reality, the enthusiasts were probably still up to their knees in coal throughout the night, but the rest of us witnessed some musical wonders including 'Winston the Singing Farmer'. Ingenious. Also playing (at every available opportunity) was my little brother 'Ant'.
I don't think it's possible to see everything in the five days but you can certainly start to tire of trudging around in the mud, and a highlight for me was taking time out to watch the falconry display.
But naturally, given that it bears the proud title of STEAM fair, the main attraction is the enormous number of steam engines that accumulate in the quiet fields of Dorset each September. I would be surprised to find anything quite like it anywhere else in the world; 200,000 visitors took the steam pilgrimmage to the 41st event. Agricultural machinery, Showmans' engines and the heavy haulage engines all draw large audiences, but my personal favourites will always be the beautiful machines that power the old fairground rides...
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