Back in February 2023, I received a message from Richard Freeman, stating that he had heard that 2023 marked the 175th anniversary of William Marshall setting up his business in Gainsborough and would I be prepared to bring the Marshall Club merchandise stall down to the Haddenham steam rally in September.
He explained that every year at the Haddenham rally, there is a special display of exhibits and literature and in 2023 he was proposing that it should be Marshalls of Gainsborough. I agreed that, even though the Marshall Club had not been to the rally previously, it would be possible to attend. Over the next six months I was in constant communication with Richard, sending him Marshall literature which could be used in the display and we met for the first time at the Stradsett Rally in May 2023.
On arrival at Haddenham on the Friday afternoon, I was met with a warm welcome by Richard and his four assistants responsible for setting up the display of literature in the marquee and lining up the Marshall exhibits,
