I t was on Sunday 5 December 2021 that 1919 Fowler No. 15430 left Cross In Hand, Heathfield, East Sussex and headed off to Staffordshire with its new owner Zack Fields-Pattinson for its long overdue major rebuild.
As is well-known, the engine was new to Sturgeon Brothers of Bury Road, Stanton, Bury St Edmunds, who interestingly also used McLaren ploughing engines was sold with its sister and other engines at Cheffins’ Philp dispersal sale after Cyril Philp had passed on at Castle Hedingham, Essex on a draughty 24 June 1995. The engine was purchased by Dave Anton whose family came from East Sussex. You can read all about the engine in Issue 384, February 2022, as it took some effort to bring the engine to where we are now in the story.
