Runner Up Prize for Great Dorset Steam Fair Photograph

Great news yesterday! John entered a photograph he took at the Great Dorset Steam Fair into a competition being run by The Vintage Spirit magazine. They contacted him to say that his photograph (the one above) has won a runners up prize of one year's free subscription to the magazine.

I am totally chuffed for John! The photograph will appear in the next edition of the magazine, although it is certainly a publication with a pretty limited readership I would guess!

So, he'll be able to sit on the train with this magazine in true geeky style :)

Great Dorset Steam Fair

The main reason we had a long weekend break was so we could go to the Great Dorset Steam Fair. This really is a 'Great' event and if you have never been and get the chance to go, then you really must!!

It's not just for anorak types that like steam engines, believe me :)

It has just about anything and everything involved with rural life and by-gone times. The above photo shows one of the main lines of steam engines, many of which are used to power the fun-fair rides.

A crafty photo that John took! The chaps (and it is mostly chaps ...... although I did spot one or two ladies in oily overalls) who have renovated their steam engines and lovingly look after them are amazing people! Next to the engines, many of them have photos and information about how they went about transforming their engine from a derelict item to the wonderful engine on display. Possibly they might be considered eccentric! However, I like to think that eccentricity is a great British tradition and, in any case, although I know nothing about engineering, I greatly admire what they have managed to do.

There are lots of other things on display at the fair: old vintage cars, restored military vehicles, collections of all sorts of things. There's a craft marquee and a food marquee. Also, several marquees with different types of live music. Not forgetting real ale!

The Fair is always on from Wednesday to Sunday following the August Bank Holiday but Saturday is the day I always like as there are lots of horse events in one of the arenas.

I just love seeing all the beautiful horses.

Not forgetting the fun fair which looks brilliant at night-time. I just love this photo that John took, deliberately contrasting the whir of the Galloper ride with the stillness of the couple that luckily stood still whilst he took the photo.

I've barely described a fraction of the things at the Fair. We had a great day. If you've never been but get a chance to do so ........ go!!