Gallery: Albert, five, is mascot for charity tractor run through Fens in aid of Magpas
Hundreds of people turned out in Sunday’s sunshine to watch a parade of tractors as it made its way through the Fens.
Organised in just 10 days by Fenland Farmers the event saw over 50 vehicles from vintage Massey Fergusons to modern day tractors complete the charity road run in aid of Magpas Air Ambulance.
Starting at the Parkfield in Wimblington and heading through Doddington, Chatteris, Manea, Christchurch and March before ending back in Wimblington, the parade was led off by five-year-old Albert Clarke on his toy tractor.
One of the organisers Steve Neugebauer, who headed the parade on his 57-year-old Massey Ferguson, said: “We talked about the possibility of a road run again this year, after having one which raised £2,000 for Magpas last year. Just a fortnight ago we were driving the route and putting a call out via the Fenland Farmers’ Facebook page for people to join in and within 10 days the event was organised and held.
“We were amazed at the response not only from tractor owners who wanted to take part but also from the public who turned out to watch us drive the 30 mile circuit. We had collecting buckets but we haven’t had a chance to count up yet, but we hope we have raised a good amount for Magpas.
“Albert’s mum jokingly commented on one of social media posts that her son wanted to bring his tractor along, so we told her he should bring it to Parkfield and we made him the mascot for the day letting him lead us out of Parkfield on to the start of the main route.
“As someone said ‘you hope you never need Magps, but you’re bloody grateful they are there, if you do’. This is one of the first major events for Magpas in over a year, so we hope we have done the charity proud.
“We are talking about making it an annual event, so that is a real possibility.”
