After the initial plea for help was printed in the Farmers Weekly Magazine, farmer Howard Hughes from the Brecon Beacons in Wales contacted Nick and Julie. He had a 1960 Ford Dexta tractor complete with loader, bucket and muck fork which had been sitting in the barn for the last 4 years untouched.
Our volunteers Kevin Parker, Peter Roe and Darren Platt joined Director Nick Platt and his sidekick Spike the Jack Russel on what turned out to be an epic journey to collect the Dexta.
Although the tractor had been kept inside, it would not start, so the four had a job on their hands to get it loaded onto the trailer. 4 hours later and in torrential downpours they managed it! It’s now at her new home at WELLIES HQ in Somersal Herbert.
The volunteers wasted no time in getting their hands on the tractor and already started stripping it down and cleaning the parts and rubbing down the rather rusty paintwork.
The team are building a special shelter to enable them to work on the tractor and keep her safe from the elements.
They have their sights set on taking the restored Dexta to the Ashbourne and Manifold Shows in the Summer.
Director Julie White said “We are so excited to have the tractor here and it’s great to see how much fun the guys are having. I would love to have a little fleet of them, so we are still on the look-out for unloved tractors!” For more information and photos take a look at our Facebook.