Wessex Midsummer Vintage Show.

Visitors took a step back in time at the weekend at a midsummer vintage show.

Hurdle making demonstrations, furniture made from green wood and giant wood carvings were just a few of the working displays showing skills from a bygone age .

One of the main attractions at the Wessex Midsummer show at Semington was the giant wood sculpture of a horse and jockey made by Steve Griffin of Langley Burrell. The forestry contractor had carved the larger than life display from Oak .

He said,” It was an idea that came to me as I was driving down the motorway going back home and had it in mind to produce a horse and jockey. I carved out the basic shape with a chainsaw but finished shaping it with more traditional methods”.

Rob Dixon was also busy demonstrating country skills making hurdles using the methods that used to be handed down through the generations.

He said, “ Hurdle making is a skill that is dying out and I am keen although just a hobby, of showing these old methods.”

Among the vehicles in steam was the Foster agricultural traction engine built in 1903. Malcolm Gray was proudly show the engine named Star Gazer now restored to its former glory.

Melksham’s John Harrison had his 1951 Triumph Renown on show just one of dozens of old cars.

The retired Fork lift driver said,” She drives as smooth as any car on the road today and I even have the original log book showing road tax was just Five pounds and five shillings for the year.

Among the static displays was a collection of paraffin lamps from Trowbridge collector Bob Hallam. He said’” it’s the first time I shown this display and it all really centred around the brass lamp belonging to my wife Jill whose late father was a Radstock coal miner. The lamp has been in the loft for years and I spent two days polishing up the brass and added a few lamps I have collected over the years to produce this display of bygones.”

And Devizes collector Margaret Carpenter made sure the show had something for the ladies. She brought some of her 200 powder compacts some dating back to the 1930s.

She said’” its always old tools , tractor seats and models that usually are on show so I started collecting powder compacts to make a display that of interest to the ladies.

The Wessex Midsummer show was started by several years ago Trowbridge enthusiast Eric Gay and raises money for the Children’s Hospice South West. He said” We are now in our seventh year and with a great team of willing helpers the show is growing into a leading event in the local area.”