Netley Marsh Steam Rally & Craft show is a charity run event held annually over three days in July at Meadowmead Farm (2mi from Jnct2 M27) where exhibitors get to show their classic cars, motorcycles, tractors, and steam engines to the general public. As well as these vehicles parading in the main arena there are also motorbike stunt teams, Fire engines and vintage buses, dog display teams and presentations throughout the daytime. There are many attractions including a falconry show, ferret racing, heavy horses and farm machinery, axe throwing, children’s entertainers and a climbing wall to name a few regulars. Most of the attractions are open air but the craft and food stalls can be found in the two large marquees; not forgetting the beer tent which is always full and centrally located next to the main arena. In the evening, the entertainment is provided by the funfair and the bands on the main stage. Tickets can be bought for the whole weekend (with camping in the visitors’ field) or for day visits.
Eastleigh Sub Aqua Club has had links to Netley Marsh Steam Rally since its inception in 1971 due to founding members being active in the club. Both Netley Marsh and Eastleigh Sub Aqua Club celebrated their 50th Anniversaries in 2022. As a charitable venture NMSCS relies on volunteers and the diving club helps to set up the showground in the week prior to the show weekend. This mostly entails rolling out sections of plastic water pipe to serve the public and exhibitor camping fields (although in the past the club dug out latrines!). Over the weekend the club provides on call help to assist the smooth running of the show. Finally, once the show is closed, the club assist with packing down the site and putting everything into storage ready for the following year’s show.
For our efforts the club gratefully receives a donation to funds. Volunteers are also given tickets to the show weekend and free camping (in the exhibitors’ field). Everyone is encouraged to assist with the volunteering as between us all this generally means a couple of evenings each (followed by a visit to one of the many local pubs). The actual show weekend is well worth a visit for the variety of attractions and entertainment. As divers, this presents a good opportunity to get up and close to some steam engines and understand what we see when we dive the many steam shipwrecks along the South Coast and elsewhere. The weekend is a good social for the club and hugely beneficial to all involved. More details about the show can be found here https://www.nmscs.org.uk/
