WHITTINGTON and Oswestry Young Farmers organised an incredible Illuminated Tractor Run in memory of a young farmer.
Local resident and organiser, Mr Mike Lade, created the event in tribute to Will Roberts of Pennant Farm, Gobowen, who died from a brain tumour last year.
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Will, the much-loved son of Dave and Sue Roberts, was affectionately known by all as “Choc” because of his love of chocolate.
Charles Dean, Whittington and Oswestry Young Farmers President said: “We hope this becomes an annual event and that it becomes known locally as “Choc’s” Tractor Run to keep his name alive in the farming community and, at the same time, raise money for this much needed cancer charity.”
To donate people can access https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/will-jackson-1
The money raised by the Young Farmers will go to the Lingen Davies cancer charity based in Mytton Oak Road in Shrewsbury.
Over a thousand people braved the wind, the cold and rain to watch 97 tractors, festooned with Christmas lights, from the local farming community make their way from the Oswestry Livestock Market to make a 37mile circular route through eleven other towns and villages around Oswestry and back again.
At the Livestock Market, the best illuminated tractor was judged by the town’s Mayor Olly Rose and the prize was awarded to Tom Evens from Calcott Manor at Llanymnach.
Shropshire MP Helen Morgan then waved off the convoy to start the very first ever Oswestry Illuminated Tractor Run at 5.00pm as the darkness was falling.
People lined the route through the towns, villages, laybys and even field gateways on the route to cheer the tractors as they passed by, each tractor driver sounding their air horns in acknowledgment.
Lead organiser Mike Lade said: “We were totally amazed by the level of support from our community on a dull, damp and cold night.
"We need not have worried.
"We look forward to organising a bigger and better event next year.
"Many thanks to the local Young Farmers, without whom this event would not have happened."
Mike added: "I hope Sue and Dave Roberts think this was a good epitaph to Choc and that it becomes an annual event in the Oswestry diary.
"Hopefully it will be up there with all the other Christmas events held in the town to bring in the Christmas spirit to the community”.
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