Cadeby Steam Rally at Mallory Park
As the Cadeby Steam Rally reaches its 44th year it has had a change of venue and will now take place at Mallory Park this weekend on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th August.
The event started out as the Market Bosworth Steam Rally which was formed back in 1964 by the Reverend Teddy Boston. He purchased a steam roller but found it difficult to get to rallies at different locations around the country so he decided to start his very own rally and now 44 years later it is still going strong.
This weekend there will be a wide variety of steam engines and vintage vehicles on display. A large number of trade stands will also be on site with memorabilia and souvenirs. A large craft tent is another of the attractions and should prove popular with the female visitors - this event really has got something for everybody. It will be held on the Windmill fields at the Friendly circuit.
Entry costs £5 for adults and £3 for concessions, a family ticket (two adults and two children) costs £12. Mallory Park is situated in the heart of the midlands in Leicestershire just off the A47 between Leicester and Hinckley and easily accessible from the M1, M69 or M6. For further directions, please visit www.mallorypark.co.uk.
Market Bosworth Steam Rally was formed in 1964 by the late Reverend Teddy Boston, who at the time both lived and served in the Parish of Cadeby.
There seems no better way of describing how the rally began than how Teddy described it in his book "Font to Footplate". We begin just after he had purchased his steam roller.
"The difficulty of travelling any great distance on the road, and the amount of time it took up, was really more than parochial activities would allow. This meant quite simply that unless we could get a low loader, which was a very expensive business, we would be very limited indeed as to which rallies we could attend.
The idea then sprang to mind that if we could not get to a rally, why could a rally not come to us? Therefore in 1963 the Market Bosworth Steam Engine Rally was conceived and born, becoming a regular 2 day annual event held at Cadeby in August. This has proved a great success and also a considerable help with parish funds."
Reverend Teddy Boston passed away in 1986, aged 61 and it is thanks to the tireless work of his widow, Audrey, that the rally survived such a difficult time and still continues today. David Corbett assisted Audrey throughout these years as Rally Chairman and continues in this role today. David has a relatively new committee working alongside him, all of whom are fellow enthusiasts who are committed to making a rally a success now and in the future. The organisers are all unpaid volunteers who give their time freely.
Over the past 44 years Cadeby Steam & Country Fayre has given away many thousands of pounds to local charities and good causes. Many groups have been given donations and it is hoped to continue with this vital support throughout future years