Full News Report

7th March 2025

Vintage and steam rally’s future under threat

UNLESS more volunteers come forward in the next few weeks, it is feared that the annual Great Trethew Vintage Rally will have to cease.

While the hard-working and devoted committee members were looking forward to launching the rally’s ninth annual edition over the August Bank Holiday weekend, it has become clear that more ‘helping hands’ are needed to ensure that the much-loved and established rally can continue entertaining thousands of holidaymakers and locals alike, as well as raising money for good causes.

Since the Covid pandemic the rally committee has faced a huge fall-off in the amount of volunteers coming forward to help organise the three-day event. 

Earlier this year the rally lost its lost chairman, Tony Ball, who had dedicated many years to the cause. Speaking ahead of last August’s event at the Blackadon Farm site fields near Horningtops (PL14 3PZ), Mr Ball had said: “Rallies like ours are slowly diminishing due to several factors, finance, legislation, and above all, I believe lack of volunteer support. 

“A lot of us are also getting on a bit so we will need replacing at some point!”

Those words have now become a reality, sadly. 

Said a spokesperson: “We are painfully aware that if we fail to sign up an enthusiastic group of volunteers to support the rally in its organisation and execution we will be forced to close this much-loved event that raises thousands of pounds annually for local charities and organisations.

“We are appealing to anyone with an interest in preserving this established vintage vehicle rally to contact us to help.”

Further information can be found on the rally’s website: https://www.trethew-rally.co.uk/volunteering