A TAVISTOCK man who loves tractors – the older the better – has raised more than £860 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association with his recent tractor run.

This year’s event was Elon Ellicott’s 11th annual tractor run. It took place on Sunday, October 24, starting and finishing at Tavistock Livestock Market.

Elon, 79, who lives in Old Exeter Road in Tavistock, was delighted with the turnout, which saw 74 tractors taking part. ‘It started because I wanted to do something for charity when my wife Sally was in hospital. She had heart trouble. That was quite a few years ago now.’

Agricultural contractor Elon, who is still working, has held a tractor run every year for the past 12 years apart from 2020, raising money for a different charity each time, always something connected to the hospital. ‘We used to do the tractor run from Pixon Lane car park but we are now running them from the cattle market. We didn’t do it last year because of covid. We had to give it a miss. Otherwise this year would have been our 12th year. I try to do a different route evey year, because these tractor drivers are a nosy lot. They like to have a look around.’ With Elon leading the way in a 135 Massey Ferguson, the procession of tractors made their way from the livestock market up onto the moor above Tavistock.

The route took them via Plasterdown, through Horrabridge, up around to Walkhampton and straight across to Dousland and Meavy then back over to Yelverton and Denham Bridge and back via Gulworthy and Mill Hill.

‘We always try to do something between 20 and 26 miles,’ said Elon. ‘I set the route and I lead the way. It is all old tractors pretty much, mostly 1960s and 1970s. In actual fact, this year it was 25 and a half miles. I know because the day before I drove the route in the car to make sure the roads were open. We charge £10 a tractor and if a tractor has two people in it we charge £15. We supply a burger and tea, we make a point of that, and we do a draw and the local shops donate prizes for that.’

He thanked Maria Vanstone for her burgers at the cattle market and said he was ‘very pleased’ to see the tractor run back. He has presented a cheque for £860.89 to the Motor Neurone Association.

‘I have said that am going to do it until I turn 80,’ he said. ‘I’m 80 next year and I’m planning another one. I am hoping to raise £1,000 this year. I do it for a different charity each year; next year I shall probably do it for a cancer charity.’

Elon, who has 11 tractors in total grew up on a farm at Merrivale Farm. ‘I’ve loved tractors all my life,’ he said. ‘I’m an agricultural contractor. I’m nearly 80 now and I’m still doing it.’