Jonathan Clark

 Our Young Preservationist of the Year Jonathan Clark has been involved in road steam since a very young age.  He was only 5 years old when the family's Tasker steam tractor 1833 was shown here at Fawley Hill in 2014 and has fond memories of explaining the engine's history and how it worked to interested parties.  He has been deeply involved with road steam ever since. Sadly the Tasker's boiler became a problem the following year so the disassembly commenced and in 2016 the boiler went away for overhaul.  While the Tasker was out of action, no steam rallies, disaster!  

After 4 years, the boiler returned, and  reassembly commenced.  Between the ages of 13 and 14, he spent a year rebuilding the motion of the engine on his own, working from the photos taken during the dismantling. During this time his father was working abroad and could not provide detailed advice or supervision. In 2022, during the work on Tasker 1833, the next project was acquired - a 1905 8hp Marshall portable engine no. 43643 which had been repatriated from Chile.  This currently resembles an oversize Meccano kit but will get its due rebuild.

In 2023 another road steam vehicle was taken on, this time a 1929 Sentinel DG4 steam Wagon no.8122, generally accepted as the last continuously commercially used road steam vehicle in the UK.  Used until 1982 by the Lloyd Jones Bros of Ruthin, this is one of only two surviving Sentinel tar sprayers.  Jonathan has been learning to fire the engine and carry out vehicle maintenance tasks.

Because it was in restored condition when the Clarks took it on, it got them back into the steam rally scene.  It was at Fawley Hill in  both 2023 and 2024, and took part in last year's 70^th anniversary of the NTET's "Steam it Sunday".

Very sensibly Jonathan joined a National Transport Trust visit to Princes Risborough's signal box which introduced him to different aspects of transport preservation which has helped him formulate his thoughts and views on where his career might take him after school. He managed to arrange for his school work experience to be carried out at the Hollycombe Steam Collection, helping to take one of their steam engines to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, as part of a pre-show performance for a Rodger Daltry concert.

Jonathan is widely credited with being the driving force in organising and promoting a "steam and vintage" festival held in the summer at a local church in Eversley, Hampshire, which attracts over 400 people and raises money towards the upkeep of the church.  This sounds like a very well organised and enthusiastic Young Preservationist of the Year.