The fabulous Christmas Tractor Run returns

RC Baker’s Christmas Tinsel Tractor Run will once again trundle its way through the Oxfordshire country side, starting from their Barford St Micheal headquarters.

The madcap idea to decorate agricultural machinery in fairy lights and tinsel was first raised at an RC Baker team meeting just three years ago.

Jennie Steenkamp, daughter of owners Charles and Mary Baker and commercial manager, said: “We have a meeting every Monday morning to discuss the week ahead, at about 7am in the morning.

“I occasionally will have a bright idea and I said ‘I think we should do a Christmas charity event and get people to cover their tractors in fairy lights and drive around in a big convoy’.”

The inspiration came from a similar event in Ireland but Jennie’s enthusiasm for it was slow to catch on.

Jennie said: “I thought all the men who work here would be really excited but they just looked at me like it was ludicrous.”

Thankfully common sense, or madness, depending on your standpoint, won through and the fantastically lit convoy of up to 50 tractors will hit the roads on Wednesday, December 19 setting off at 5pm.

This will be just the third tractor run but the event has already raised just shy of £5,000 for Katharine House.

Part of this money comes from a minimal entry fee and donations and collections given during the run.

They are also holding an online auction from 6pm today, December 13 until 6pm, December 16 for a chance to secure a seat in one of the bedazzled vehicles.

For more information on how to get involved, to view the finalised route or to bid for the seat visit www.rcbaker.co.uk.

They have also set up a Justgiving page for online donations.