Swindon teen celebrates tractor licence by driving vintage tractor through town centre
UTC Swindon student Hugh, 16, has turned heads this week by celebrating his newly acquired tractor driving licence with a journey through Swindon town centre—at the wheel of his cherished 1956 Fordson Major.
A passionate devotee of classic agricultural machinery, Hugh’s achievement is more than just a personal triumph. It marks a significant step towards his ambition of becoming an agricultural engineer, a goal he’s set his sights on after completing his GCSE exams this summer. With his new qualification, Hugh is already setting himself apart in the competitive world of engineering apprenticeships.
Hugh’s love for vintage vehicles began at home, restoring classic cars alongside his father. However, it was a visit to the Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group steam rally in 2022 that truly ignited his passion for tractors. After being invited to drive a vintage model around the arena, Hugh was hooked—eventually purchasing his own 1947 Ferguson TE20. Today, his collection boasts six historic tractors, each lovingly restored and maintained.
“Everyone thinks I’m mad,” Hugh laughs, “but I really love working on the old machines, making them run again, and rummaging around at steam fairs searching out old parts and tools.” His hands-on experience has been further enriched by his studies at UTC Swindon, where he’s learned the fundamentals of engineering and metalwork—skills that will prove invaluable as he embarks on his apprenticeship journey.
Hugh has recently submitted applications to leading agricultural engineering firms, including Chandlers Farm Equipment and TH Whites. His previous work experience at Chandlers, where he assisted in repairing farm equipment on-site, has given him a taste of the job in the real world, and just heightened his determination to work in the industry.
Sarah Crookes, Head of Engineering at UTC Swindon, commented, “Hugh’s passion for engineering really shines through. He’s made the most of every opportunity to learn and work with engineering companies while at UTC Swindon. While we don’t normally allow farm machinery to park at school, we had to make an exception for Hugh!”