The 24th annual Holsworthy Vintage Vehicle and Engine Rally held last Saturday and Sunday in vintage summer weather brought an excellent attendance despite the counter attractions of the beach and World Cup football.

Now for the third time on the spacious new showground at Killatree, the show attracted more trade stalls and a greater number of cars, motorcycles, tractors, military vehicles and horticultural machines and implements.

The only disappointment was the absence of steam engines, apart from three miniature engines and a 1907 ten horsepower Stanley Steam Car EX which was giving a few lucky people rides around the site. Owned by Mr Terry Fry from Plymouth, it is one of only three in the UK and capable of up to 50mph and 40 miles to one gallon of water!

This year, with his own brand of humour, Mike Johns took over the duty of providing commentary throughout the two days on the parades and demonstrations in the arena. These included displays by the Bideford Youth Pipes and Drums, the Barnstaple Marching Band and Blue Jays Majorettes.

The 100 or so cars ranged from a model T Ford, humble Minis and kit cars to impressive Rolls Royces and Lincoln Continentals. Three of the cars from the 1939s had appeared in TV dramas such as 'Jeeves and Wooster', 'Miss Marple' and 'All Creatures Great and Small'. One of the most eye-catching was a superb 1924 Sunbeam 20/60 with a totally original interior.

As usual there was a large and varied selection of motorcycles and scooters, one of earliest, a 1925 Triumph found in a scrap yard and rebuilt, and a collection of Victorian bicycles, tandems and tricycles.

Unusual among the 100 tractors was a 1928 Renault PE with solid wheels, rescued from a museum in France and there were 60 busily working stationary engines each bearing witness to the important role thy had played in bygone days.

The Military Vehicle Trust had brought both British and American vehicles some which had played vital roles in the Second World War. There was a Green Goddess fire engine, which had been brought into service during firemen's strikes.

Visitors could browse among the many craft and trade stalls and view displays of models, garden and horticultural machinery and collections. There was plenty of entertainment for children including a Punch and Judy Show, fairground rides and a bouncy castle.

Making its debut this year was a bow top gypsy caravan, built on a brewer's dray chassis and re-painted and refurbished by Andre and Sarah Farmar of Clawton.

The Companion Dog Show, judged by Joy Heneghan of Torpoint, attracted a good number of entries and an agility course, where dogs were persuaded to run though a number of obstacles to retrieve a tennis-ball provided a lot of fun.

Over the years the rally has raised thousands of pounds for local charities and organisations and this year the Devon Air Ambulance, the North Devon Hospital Special Care Baby Unit and other local charities will benefit.

See this week's 'Post' for more photos from the rally.