Coronavirus uncertainties causes agricultural society to cancel Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show
Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society has announced the cancellation of The Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show, which had been due to take place on November 7 and 8, because of uncertainty caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The annual two-day show, which attracts thousands of visitors from across the country and Europe, takes place at Newark Showground.
To mark its 18th year, organisers had plans to feature and celebrate the tractors and machinery from pre-1946 wartime years, the Marshall Series 1, and 75 years of the Fordson E27N, as well as the familiar line up of vintage tractors, machinery, commercials and military vehicles.
Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society (NNAS) said: “The NNAS are extremely saddened to announce the show’s cancellation, however, it was a unanimous recommendation from the show’s advisory committee due to the ongoing uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, the extent of necessary social distancing measures and the difficulty in maintaining social distancing at an event that is social by nature.
“We also have received feedback from vintage tractor clubs that many members had mothballed their entries for 2020 and, despite the genuine desire to support the show, the practicalities to attend were challenging.
“From the society’s perspective our main priority continues to be supporting our charitable objectives whilst maintaining the safety of visitors, exhibitors, volunteers and staff members.”
Chairman of the show advisory committee and society chairman Roger Jackson said: “We are of course incredibly disappointed as the event is such a social, well supported show with entries, competitors, visitors and Vintage Tractor Clubs from all over the UK and Europe who make a special journey every November to Newark to display and showcase their equipment and see one of the biggest and best collections of vintage agricultural equipment in the country.
“It is a sad loss to the 2020 calendar.”
The show’s organisers thanked the committee, volunteers and supporters of the show for their continued enthusiasm and said they looked forward to welcoming everyone back to next year’s show on November 13-14, 2021.
The show’s website — www.newarkvintagetractorshow.com — willbe updated with more information regarding the themes, features and entries for 2021.