Thousands enjoy 'Audlem Festival of Transport'

Ed – thanks to Jonathan White who provided this article and the brilliant aerial photos . Jonathan also sent in a lot more photos of the event which we will publish in due course.

The 23rd annual 'Audlem Festival of Transport' took place on Sunday 31st July 2022.

The day began with a spectacular parade of more than 250 cars, commercial vehicles, tractors and motorcycles. The vehicles assembled at Hankelow Green and left for Audlem with the parade arriving at Audlem Playing Field off Cheshire Street at 11.20am. Parade commentary was provided by Bill Consterdine from the Butter Market adjacent to St James' Church in Audlem.

Car manufactures on view included Alfa Romeo, Alvis, Austin, Caterham, Citroen, Daimler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Heinkel, Holden, Honda, Jaguar, Lagonda, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes, MG, Morgan, Morris, Peugeot, Pontiac, Porsche, Reliant, Riley, Rolls-Royce, Rover, Saab, Triumph, TVR, Vauxhall and VW. Tractor manufactures on view included Ferguson, Fordson and Massey Ferguson. Truck manufactures on view included Bedford and Morris Commercial.

The most unique vehicle on display was a 'Caraboat' on a trailer pulled by a Royal Navy Dtype Bedford truck with a Mirror sailing dinghy on top. The Caraboat is a quirky cross between a caravan and a boat and is fully kitted up with a bed, kitchen, and toilet. The truck, dinghy, trailer and Caraboat were all meticulously renovated and repurposed over a two-and-a-half-year period by Graham who had travelled (on road) from his home in North Yorkshire. Graham has named the dinghy ('Little Gill') and Caraboat ('Gillian') after his wife.

On Audlem Playing Field and adjacent car park there were trade stands, displays by Wrenbury & District Model Railway Club and Sleap Model flyers, Glen Miller music from Moonlight Serenade, a Punch & Judy show from Pinxton Puppets, Audlem Art Club artwork display, Cheshire Fire & Rescue appliances, a tombola and numerous refreshments stands. There were also flypasts by a T-28 Trojan American fighter plane and a Douglas C-47 military transport aircraft.

The event was free entry and was attended by an estimated 3,500 visitors. However, the event would not have been possible without the sponsorship, donations and volunteers. Acknowledgments are given to: all the vehicle owners, Audlem Parish Council, and Cheshire East Council; the sponsors: Baker Wynne & Wilson and MK Preece Excavations Ltd; and the Souvenir Programme advertisers: Adderley Garage, Bradshaws, Cooper Buckley Ltd, PAU Run and Ride Audlem, DA Roberts, EPG Fire & Security, Graham Tresidder & Son, James Gorse Motors, Lyon Griffiths, Mornflake, Overwater Marina, PET Hire, and The Village Chippy. Thanks, are also given to the teams of volunteers at Hankelow and Audlem.

Audlem Festival of Transport was organised by the Audlem Special Events Team (ASET, . ASET is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers dedicated to making Audlem a vibrant village. ASET consists of ten local residents, and a large army of invaluable volunteers, who organise two major annual village events every year. Please contact ASET if you feel you could help with either the Festival of Transport or Party on the Park.

Telephone 07708 354135 or info@audlem-aset.org