Decorated tractors bring festive cheer to Huntly and raise over £3500 for Diabetes charity

A HASTILY arranged decorated tractor run through Huntly and into the surrounding area has raised over £3500 for charity.

With traditional Christmas Eve celebrations curtailed because of Covid fears, the Ingram family at Bogton, Corse hit upon the idea of cheering everyone up by organising the novelty event.

Son James, who works on the family farm, took up the planning with his wife Karin, spreading the word on social media and through The Huntly Express in the hope of getting about 20 tractors and raising £500.

But on Friday, night 67 tractors, five vans and a Gaitor buggy set off from Huntly Mart.

Tractors, some very elaborately decorated with lights and tinsel had come from as far afield as Elgin and Balmedie as well as closer to home including Turriff and Keith.

As the long procession of tractors of all ages, sizes and makes, driven by men and women, made its way into Huntly, through The Square and via Duke Street, Bogie Street and the Battlehill, the route was lined with spectators.

But the interest in the event did not fade and as they headed along the A97, through Drumblade and on to Gartly before returning to the start point, people were at the end of their drives or stopped at the side of the road to give them a cheery festive welcome.

There were prizes for the best decorated tractor and James Duthie from Aikenshill, Newburgh took the top place with his John Deere decorated as Rudolph. Runner up was Jo Ironside from Banff and third placed was Kieran Grieve.

John Bremner from Ythanwells was the best dressed driver with Jo Ironside second placed and James Duxbury from Rothienorman, third.

In the town, supporters were able to donate into collection buckets and after the event the total on the online giving page rose rapidly and by Monday had broken the £3500 mark.

James and his family are over the moon with the amount raised and have already said they will repate the event next year for a different charity.

He said: "We chose Diabetes UK because dad has been diagnosed with the condition in the past year and we see how it has affected him but we'll support something else next year.

"I just could not believe how many tractors turned up. I got to the mart before six thinking I would be in plenty of time and there were heaps there and they just kept on coming, it was unbelievable and way beyond our expectations.

"Thank you to everyone who took part and the folk who turned out, I was completely taken aback when we got to The Square, I couldn't believe it."

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