Cumbria tractor run raises £7000 in memory of young farmer

Tom Allan, aged 18, was killed in a crash last year and the Cumbria Young Farmers Clubs came together to organise the tractor run in his memory.

With 218 tractors in total, the procession went through Endmoor, Firbank, Sedbergh and Barbondale before finishing at Kirkby Lonsdale Rugby Club.

Tom's cousin Ruby Allan said: "The last 12 months have been the longest and shortest years, all rolled into watching the minutes tick by to waking up and realising that we’ve spent a full year already without Tom.

"The loss of a young life is tragic in any circumstances, but when the local community steps up it is overwhelming and truly heart warming to see the support that is out there."

The tractor run was a huge success in raising money in memory of a young farmer killed last year (Image: Linda Allan)

Tom’s elder sister Abbie, as a newly qualified NHS Physiotherapist, decided on North West Ambulance Service as the chosen charity, with over £7,000 raised so far.

Tom was a member of Sedbergh YFC following his dad's hobbies in rural sports and gamekeeping before his death.

It was fellow Sedbergh YFC member Aaron Troughton who originally suggested the idea, with Ruby transforming those plans into the event itself.

"It was Tom who we remembered on Sunday but what the tractor run stood for turned out to be much more," said Ruby.

"It was the opportunity for the rural community to come together, to talk, to swap stories, to compare tractors, and to take in the beautiful scenery of South Cumbria."

The 218 tractors make a stop at Howgill fells (Image: Linda Allan)

A short safety briefing and welcome speech headed by family fried Jonathan Capper started off proceedings after the tractors arrived at around 9am. 

Following their arrival through Tom's hometown of Sedbergh, people lined the streets to wave the tractors on their way, with one driver describing how they felt like royalty.

Finishing at the rugby club, refreshments were provided to those who took part or spectated, concluded with a farewell speech given by Ruby.