Back in 1943 if you were involved in farming you had your first driving lessons at an early age - none of this waiting until you were 17 or so!

This picture shows the now retired Woodbury farmer John Stamp (the big one), and myself (the small one aged about one year old!), cultivating a field in Cottles Lane on an Allis Chalmers tractor.

Tractors had only iron wheels then, with what was called "spade lugs" on the rear.

Before going on the road, bands had to be applied to the rear wheels to stop them damaging the road surface.

Tractors eventually went from all iron wheels to having rubbers on the back, and eventually all rubber tyres. This was a major step forward. Unlike the old tractor, both John and I are still "ticking over"!