History
The Story So Far...
The Marches Transport Festival started life as the ‘Ludlow Vintage Vehicle Display’, an event organised by Philip Reckless to mark the Ludlow Art Festival’s ‘silver jubilee’ in 1984.
Just 20 vehicles were displayed in the town’s castle square indluding a Bedford Bus, an AEC Lorry, a BSA Motorcycle plus 17 pre 1959 cars
Proving such a successful event the Ludlow Festival Committee asked Philip to stage a further event in 1985; this saw some 35 vehicles displayed and again was very well attended by visitors. (It is worth mentioning here that during these early years of this event it was both personally funded and organised by Philip Reckless, with a handful of willing helpers on the day!)
In 1986 the Ludlow Town Hall was demolished. Philip used this quiet period to try to secure sponsorship; eventually being successful with the Prudential Assurance, which ensured the backing for a further three years, during which time the exhibits had grown to 155.
In 1990, again, the Vintage Vehicle Display was under threat due to lack of funding. (As a serving Cllr Philip was unable to get funding direct from the Ludlow Town Council.) The then Editor of the Advertiser (Vince Bufton) and then Mayor of Ludlow (Cllr John Morris) appealed to readers and local businesses for help and sponsorship. As a result several people came forward with offers of help and
a committee was formed by Philip Reckless, George (Philip’s father) Frank Tipton, Christine Hatt (Secretary), Phil Steele and Phil Maile (then licensee at the Bull Hotel, who also sponsored). This committee put in an application to the Ludlow Town Council for funding, which was successful. A local printing firm, Centre Print of Leominster, offered to print a program free of charge, with the proviso that Philip R helped to put the entries onto their computer! The event was back in business!!
10 years of the Vintage Vehicle Display was celebrated in 1994; with the new addition of a Leominster Vehicle Display and the start of a Leominster to Ludlow run, which was generously supported by the Leominster Town Council.
After 15 enjoyable years of organising the Ludlow Vintage Vehicle Display Philip Reckless decided in 1999 to leave the running of the event in Phil Steele and Phil Maile’s hands.
The beginning of the new millennium saw a gradual reduction of ‘vintage’ vehicles being displayed each year and so it was agreed to go out to a wider audience covering all types of vehicles from bicycles to tractors and renaming – Marches Transport Festival.
Over the years the event grew so large that it was taking up valuable parking spaces within the town centre to display all of the vehicles! So, a solution had to be found for its expansion! The committee approached Powis Estates and Ludlow Castle who were extremely helpful and allowed the usage of the Outer Bailey of Ludlow Castle to display the vehicles, for a minimal cost; consequently enabling this popular festival to remain a ‘free’ event (the small revenue required each year being raised by a raffle, selling programmes and sponsored trophies).
25 Years on!
In 2008, once again, the Marches Transport Festival was under threat faced with inevitable rising costs, especially the hire of Ludlow Castle for the event. It was given the opportunity to amalgamate with Ludlow Marches Food & Drink Festival and to join in the launch of the new 2009 Spring Festival (to be held over the same weekend of the display) with the aim to secure the festivals future!
And so, alongside the Spring Festival, the Marches Transport Festival successfully celebrated its 25th Year in 2009 with a ‘bumper’ display!
With the continuing interest in supporting the display of these vehicles the committees have now decided to extend the Marches Transport Festival in 2010 to a 2 day event - Saturday & Sunday.