Seldom has the term 'a legend in his own lifetime' been more accurately applied than to Michael Oliver.
Here that lifetime is recalled in interviews with the people who knew him best, his friends and family. They tell the story not just of the man who from nothing created the greatest steam fair in the world, but of the family man as well.
Photographs kindly made available by the Oliver family and friends together with the archive of video and photographic material produced and collected over more than 40 years by Helmut and Jonathan Eckardt, help illustrate the life and times of Michael Oliver MBE with, of course many appearances by, and words from the man himself.
Is the essential guide to the 43rd Great Dorset Steam Fair.
Introduced and narrated by Paul Appleton, founding Publisher of Old Glory magazine, the 2011 DVD show programme features a selection of interviews with exhibit owners and expert commentary by Malcolm Fleet, David Milton and John Collins. Music throughout the production is from the 118 Key Verbeeck organ Victory.
Programme Features
Steam Engines roading and hauling along the A354 Salisbury to Blandford road
The haulage load arriving at the show
How T’wer Done in Granfers Day
Vintage tractors at work on the land
The first GDSF appearance in steam for Burrell Crane Locomotive Joe Chamberlain
Steam Ploughing & Threshing
Tractor Pulling & Monster Trucks
The Kelders' Family triple organ display
Commercial & Military vehicles including diesel heavy haulage and a special record breaking attempt by 6 Diamond T vehicles.
Cars & Motorcycles
The new Model Railway Exhibition Marquee
Road Rollers, Steam Tractors, Traction Engines, Wagons & Haulage locomotives in the “Play Pen”
Heavy Plant
The Fairground after dark with the Showman’s Engine line
Is the essential guide to the 42nd Great Dorset Steam Fair - the finest gathering of vintage vehicles in the world.
Introduced and narrated by Paul Appleton, founding Publisher of Old Glory magazine this 210 minute programme features a selection of interviews with exhibit owners and expert commentary by Malcolm Fleet, David Milton and John Collins.
Programme Features
The Mclaren Gathering
The 2010 show staged the world's biggest ever gathering of Mclaren Engines and we have extensive footage of this amazing event.
A behind the scenes look at the show as it comes together
The main haulage loads being drawn onto site
Stationary Engines
Vintage Tractors & Tractor Pulling
Commercial & Military Vehicles incluiding Diesel Heavy Haulage
Working Steam incluiding Threshing, Wood Sawing, Ploughing and Road Making
The Michael Oliver memorial service and tribute
Cycles, Motorcycles and Cars
Collections, Models and Crafts
Heavy Plant
Miniature Steam
Steam Heavy Haulage
Showmans Engines and the Fairground
Is the essential guide to the 2009 event. Within this superb video presentation you will find over three hours of the highest quality professionally filmed material helping to capture the unique mix of the nostalgia, sights and sounds of our fair.
The 2009 progamme is being presented by Jerry Thurston of Channel 4's highly acclaimed Salvage Squad programme and features all the highlights of the 2009 show.
Steam - Showman's, Ploughing, Road Making, Woodsawing and many of the related exhibits and demonstrations.
Agricultural - Static and Working Tractors, Heavy Horses, Horticultural.
Road Vehicles - Vintage Cars, Commercial Vehicles, Diesel Heavy Haulage and Military.
Fair Organs and Dancing shows.
Build up to the 2009 event.
Plus many more of the thousands of exhibits at the show.
The essential guide to last year's (2008) 40th Great Dorset Steam Fair - good weather
and a mind boggling array of exhibits helped to create perfect filming conditions
for Jonathan Eckardt and his team of professional camera & sound people.
A specially produced DVD with extended coverage to celebrate the 40th Anniversary
Show to include several films on one DVD - which you can select from a menu list
at the beginning of the DVD.
Commentary by David Milton, Malcolm Fleet and John Collins.
Filmed by Jonathan & Helmut Eckardt, Philip & Jennifer Biggs
With special contributions from John Collins, Carol Cooper, Bert Ferrone, Simon
Granger and Roger Hamlin - for use in the film only - all rights reserved.
Steam Area and MF Anniversary sound by Gordon Thomson.
Edited and produced by Jonathan Eckardt.
We would like to thank the various fair organ owners who allowed us to use their music within this programme and all the staff and exhibitors for their help and cooperation.