A DISPLAY of vintage steam engines once owned by celebrated collector Tom Paisley proved the star attraction at the Haddenham Steam Rally held at the weekend.

A DISPLAY of vintage steam engines once owned by celebrated collector Tom Paisley proved the star attraction at the Haddenham Steam Rally held at the weekend.

Back for its 37th showing, the popular rally brought more than 12,000 people to the village on Saturday and Sunday to enjoy the traditional mix of steam engines, agricultural displays and vintage vehicles.

New for 2010 was a unique display of engines owned by the late Tom Paisley, who was a regular at the event in its early years and became renowned locally when he sold off one of the largest private collection of engines in the country in 1980.

Ken Fox and his Wall of Death display returned once again to the show along with the annual heavy horse competition, old time fair and music stage which featured dozens of local acts including the ever popular Winston the Singing Farmer.

Rally secretary Ruth Young, said: “We had more than 600 exhibits this year which was excellent and we had a lot of old steam engines which is always nice to see.

“The Paisley display was something special for this year’s event and I think it went down for very. Our traditional road making display was also new and was very popular.”

The event itself began in 1971 when the village sports and social club approached the East Anglian Traction Engine Club with a view to holding a show locally.

An event was held the same year and featured a modest display of 26 engines, five motorcycles and three tractors along with a small village fair.

Since then the event has steadily grown into one of the region’s largest steam engine events, boasting displays of more than 100 tractors and 50 steam engines, and is held annually on the Clay Pits on Station Road.