Traction Engine Club of Ulster charity presentations

The Traction Engine Club of Ulster was delighted to present cheques of £1000 each to the Chipalawe Orphanage Project and the Crania Facial Unit.
John Steele, Chair of the Traction Club of Ulster, is pictured presenting cheques to Nichola Wallace, for the Craniofacial Unit, and Caroline Patterson, for the Chipalawe Orphanage.John Steele, Chair of the Traction Club of Ulster, is pictured presenting cheques to Nichola Wallace, for the Craniofacial Unit, and Caroline Patterson, for the Chipalawe Orphanage.
John Steele, Chair of the Traction Club of Ulster, is pictured presenting cheques to Nichola Wallace, for the Craniofacial Unit, and Caroline Patterson, for the Chipalawe Orphanage.

The Chipalawe Orphanage Project is part of the Zomba Action Project. Money is going towards a team travelling to Zomba, Milawi this summer to finish the building work at the pre school that has been funded by the Zomba Action Project (www.colerainezomba.org.uk)

The Craniofacial Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford is one of four highly specialised craniofacial units in the UK, and one of the busiest in the world, undertaking approximately 80 transcranial procedures and seeing over 1200 outpatients each year.

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The largest group of patients they care for is children with craniosynostosis.

The Traction Engine Club of Ulster was formed in the Midland Hotel, Belfast on a Saturday evening in September 1967. There were 12 members present on that occasion.

In August 1968 the first rally was held in Antrim Showgrounds.

Seven local engines paraded on that occasion plus visitors from England and Ireland.

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The first rally was a great success. However it was agreed that in the event of the rally activities expanding, the Antrim Showgrounds would be too restricted.

Lord O’Neill graciously consented to host the subsequent rallies on his spacious estate at Randalstown, first at Dunmore Park and from then at Shane’s Castle.

Later the show moved to Ballymena Showgrounds where it remained for a good number of years then in 2013 it moved to Ballee Playing Fields, Ballymena where it has remained.

This year’s Show will be on July 15 and 16. For more information, visit www.tecu.co.uk and www.facebook.com/UlsterSteam

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