SHELDON STUNNER
2020 is a year few of us will ever forget. At the time of writing, the country – and most of the World – is still coming to terms with how to survive the Covid-19 virus. There seems little joy either in the preservation scene which, like many others, is almost stuck in hibernation mode. So in that respect, we have William Sheldon to thank for bringing the smallest ray of sunshine into our lives.
When we say small, that’s of course relative because visions don’t come much more stunning than this one while of course, 1959 heavy haulers don’t come much bigger than ODB 793. No surprise perhaps this model FRHT 6/80 was given the affectionate nickname of ‘The Big Bopper’ when it first worked for the large Stockport concern of Edward Beck & Son Ltd.
When it comes to pedigree, the tractor’s manufacturer of Foden can look back to 1856 when their founder first stepped into engineering. That’s certainly impressive although if you talk about time-lines then none come much more impressive than the Sheldon family – and their very close involvement with their chosen showman’s life. The freshly liveried Foden now proudly carries the lettering of ‘Est: 1820’ to denote their lineage but they could go back much further: “I suppose you could trace our links to the showman’s world back five or even 600 years,” says William, “perhaps even longer. Those involved in the showman’s world have been entertaining people ever since anyone can remember.”
Have rides will travel
Although William was named after his father (Bill) he can actually go back seven generations to the early 1800s and a very much earlier William Sheldon. Perhaps
