Sandbach Transport Festival 2008

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2008 Transport Festival Extravaganza, it is hard to believe that 12 months has passed so quickly.

 This year to help celebrate "Cheshire's Year of the Garden" and Liverpool being the "Capital of Culture" we the festival committee decided to arrange a special two day event with the hope of welcoming some of the additional visitors to Cheshire, to Sandbach.To start the weekends entertainment Friday evening (18th)  A Special  concert will be performed by the world famous Fodens Brass Band  incorporating the very talented Lions Youth Brass at Sandbach School.

 Saturday (19th) will be Carnival Day -featuring a Carnival Parade, Marching Bands, Military Displays, Truck Pull and the reconstruction of a major motorway incident involving  all the Emergency Services and Vehicle Recovery Crews ( no need to  rubber neck for this one ) plus many more activities.

 Sunday (20th) is Transport Festival Day – as always packed with vehicles old and new.This year the festival will be celebrating 75 years of the founding of ERF Trucks however the celebration is somewhat tainted as 2008 sees the last ERF to leave the production line, the end of the British truck building industry. I am sure however, as with the recent demise of Foden trucks, thanks to the many preservation enthusiasts they will not disappear from our roads for many years to come.

As always the Town Criers Competition, helping to preserve our heritage.

Saturday & Sunday -  will see a Garden Festival in the Park with many interesting events and displays taking place.

Special displays by the Fire Brigade at the Fire Station.

Art Exhibition at the Masonic Hall.

A Crown Green bowling tournament in the Park

A Hog Roast, Market Stalls, Kiddies Rides, Musical Entertainment and much much more.

 As you will appreciate to put on a weekend like this costs a lot of money and as everything is Free for everyone to enjoy raising the funding is not easy, however I must thank Congleton Borough Council, Sandbach Town Council and the North West Development Agency ( through the Sandbach Partnership ) for their generous support which as helped make the weekend possible.

 My thanks to all the volunteers, organising committee and show participants etc who have worked long and hard to ensure we have a successful weekend.

 A word of thanks to all the dedicated enthusiasts who toil long and hard to keep the wonderful old machines running and in pristine condition that our Children and Grandchildren can see the transport story through the ages.

 Enough from me, other than to say I hope you all have a wonderful time and enjoy the many varied events we have arranged.