THE annual Tortworth Vintage Rally rolled into town last weekend.

The event, which took place at the showground in Wickwar, was ‘the best one yet’, according to organiser Keith Shakespeare.

This year’s rally marked ten years of the annual vintage and classic cars, old engines and machinery showcase in Tortworth.

Mr Shakespeare was delighted with the event, citing great attendance and great weather for its success.

“Everyone was really happy,” he said.

Highlights included an appearance from Holland’s largest travelling Verbeeck concert organ, the Victory.

Complete with its own purpose built trailer, featuring hydraulic systems to realise a perfect presentation, this magnificent instrument entertained visitors with pieces by Glenn Miller, George Gershwin, plus classical scores, including Tchaikovsky, Bach, Mozart, Verdi, Rossini, Offenbach, Strauss and Wagner. Unexpectedly, the Victory also broke in to a few modern tunes from Guns ‘n Roses, the Who and Led Zeppelin.

The rally also featured a Saturday evening concert, which drew large crowds.

“It proved to be so popular that we had to get more benches out,” he said Mr Shakespeare.

“The tractors were especially good this year. There was all sorts of fun and games with them in the arena, at one point the drivers were trying to carry buckets of water with them, which was really funny.”

The show raised money for both local and national charities including the RAF Association and the RNLI.

www.shakespearesrally.com