Bill Moffat, of Natland, continues his memories of 45 years of lime spreading

In winter as well as lime and slag, we spread salt on the roads for Westmorland County Council.

Our first tractors were a Fordson Major diesel 1956 and a Fordson Major 1953 petrol/TVO. The latter was heavy on fuel so we fitted a Perkins L4 diesel conversion kit from Edwin Penny’s Agricultural Engineers, Fowling Lane, Kendal.

We then had a David Brown caterpillar 50TD for spreading on steep ground, which we had a lot of. We also had a super poise four wheeler flat Commer wagon. When we bought it, it had a petrol engine and we replaced it with a Perkins P6 supplied by John Barton Chippendale, Oils Sand Wharf, Carnforth.

A new flat was fitted and a beaver tail for loading the caterpillar on tractors. It also had a drawbar for towing the lime spreader and elevator. When all geared up for the road this outfit was like a convoy moving out. I don’t think we would get away with this today!

In 1965 we bought a Super Major 4-wheel drive. This was very good for gripping on steep ground but lacking in power so we put in a Ford 6D wagon engine from New Northern Quarries, Sandside.

In 1964 we bought a Morris four-wheel drive wagon from Dan Martindale at Chorley.

When we got home the engine - a 4-cylinder petrol side-valve - was removed and in its place we put a Ford 4D diesel wagon engine and a new cab to replace the canvas one. We also put twin wheels on the back and single on the front. It was very good at gripping - when it was dry ‘it would have gone up the side of a house!’