Crowds gathered on the roadside in several villages on the edge of Dartmoor near Tavistock as a farmer led a tractor parade in tribute to his late nephew.

There was a proper country welcome for 47 tractors on Sunday, October 25, as farmer Fran Mudge took the lead in his annual tractor road run through the lanes of Dartmoor, raising an impressive £2,710 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

With the sun shining, crowds turned out to cheer the convoy as it travelled from Sampford Spiney through Horrabridge and Walkhampton, before arriving at Harrowbeer Airfield at Yelverton, where spectators lined up to enjoy the sight of the tractors chugging in.

The run was being held in memory of Fran’s nephew, Phil Cann, which gave the day a special meaning for everyone involved. Phil died of cancer in 2021 and received care at home from a charity. Phil was a groundworker, in business with his brother Will as Cann Brothers.

Organised by Fran and his daughter Rosalyn, the event brought the local community together for a day of tractors, good food and fundraising, raising a fantastic £2,710 for Macmillan Cancer Support and proving a little country spirit can go a long way.

The tractors coincided with the popular Tavi 7 running race, with the tractors leaving Fran’s Reddicliffe Farm near Sampford Spiney in the morning and returning at lunchtime. Drivers paid £10 to enter the parade which included a bacon roll.

At the finish in Fran’s big farm shed, drivers, road marshals and spectators were welcomed in for a well-earned feed of Dartmoor beef burgers and a delicious selection of homemade cakes. There was also a bumper raffle, which boasted 130 prizes with proceeds being added to the charity donation.

Veteran farmer Fran Mudge heads his charity tractor run through Horrabridge. Picture Sam Hussey.
Veteran farmer Fran Mudge heads his charity tractor run through Horrabridge (Sam Hussey)
Farmer Fran Mudge leads his trail of tractors across Yelverton Airfield to raise money in memory of his late nephew.
Farmer Fran Mudge leads his trail of tractors across Harrowbeer Airfield at Yelverton as part of the tractor run to raise money in memory of his late nephew Phil Cann (Sam Hussey)
Fran Mudge's tribute tractor run attracts crowds through Buckland Monachorum. Picture by Ann Glanville.
Fran Mudge's tribute tractor run attracts crowds as it passes through Buckland Monachorum (Ann Glanville)
Fran Mudge's charity tractors run attracts residents through Buckland Monachorum. Picture by Ann Glanville.
The convoy makes its slow progress through Buckland Monachorum (Ann Glanville)
Two youngsters enjoy sitting in the hot seat of one of the many tractors in Fran Mudge's charity rally at Yelverton. Picture by Chris Cottrell.
Two youngsters enjoy sitting in the hot seat of one of the many tractors (Chris Cottrell)
A happy group enjoy Fran Mudge's charity tractor run in a towed trailer. Picture by Chris Cottrell.
A happy group enjoying the atmosphere in a towed trailer (Chris Cottrell)
A noisy tractor run organised by farmer Fran Mudge chugs past spectators on its way from Sampford Spiney. Chris Cottrell.
The tractors en route over the moor from Sampford Spiney (Chris Cottrell)
One of a happy parade of tractor drivers in Fran Mudge's charity rally. Picture by Chris Cottrell.
A tractor driver waves in Fran Mudge's charity rally (Chris Cottrell)