The Big Freeze 1963 - Tractor on Ice

The Big Freeze 1963 – Tractor on Ice

In the winter of 1962-63, snow remained from Boxing Day until mid-March. Blizzards began in the last week of 1962 and built up drifts, about six metres deep in the West Country. Even city centres had 15cm of snow, which turned to slush, and when temperatures plunged, froze solid in ruts, bringing traffic to a halt.

The long walk home from work in mid-February allowed for occasionally seeking refuge in a warm pub on the way, where the conversation was inevitably about the weather.

Such a conversation was held in the ‘Anglers’ during February about how in previous years men had skated to Lincoln to work and that a horse and cart had been known to have travelled along the ice.

This was this feat that landlord Ray Miles volunteered to repeat, but this time driving his 35cwt Fordson tractor from Saxilby to Pyewipe.

It was originally planned to get onto the ice at the Lindsey & Kesteven Fertiliser Works. Unfortunately, this was not possible and the tractor was eventually driven onto the ice at West Bank.

Aided by bales of straw, Ray gently eased the tractor onto the ice about a mile from the railway bridge.

Then, with the tractor picking up speed, pipe-smoking Ray approached the railway bridge where the ice was only 12cm (5in) thick.

A crack appeared, but the Saxilby licensee seemed to be all clear. Then the tractor, still under full steam, slipped backward, and Ray disappeared in a pall of steam, bubbles, and diesel exhaust smoke.

For a long time, the only evidence of Ray was his straw boater floating on the water. He finally came up spluttering with his pipe still firmly clenched in his teeth.

Commented several onlookers, ‘He went down like a true ship’s captain – with his ship!’

Later back at the ‘Anglers’ and still smiling, Ray showed his customers a bruise on his shin caused when his leg was trapped.

Several people said that had he been able to start from the chemical works as first planned this fondly remembered event would have succeeded.

The tractor was later lifted out by a crane lent by Limb & Co.

The first frost-free day was 6 March 1963. The thaw brought floods.

The Lincolnshire dialect poet and Saxilby resident Fred Dobson wrote a poem to commemorate the occasion –

Miles Deep!!

Ah’d like to ha’ been
Wheer Ah could ha’ seen
Raay Miles star i’ ‘Tractor on Ice’.
Yiss, ah’d ha’ gen thanks
To ha’ been on the banks
O’ the Fossdyke at any owd price.
 
Many days ha’ been clocked
Since yar and me wocked
Together, up Ingleby waay.
Steeam ingines an’ chaff,
Sugar beet, an’ a laugh
As ‘elped along many a daay.
 

Sooa, ‘twas wi’ greeat delight
As Ah see tother night
That yar was still gaame fer a gooa:
Or sooa it would seem,
Thouagh it ended I’ steeam,
An yar coolin’ ‘neeath the ice-floowa!
 
Yar was reight on the job,
Wi’ yar pipe I’ yar gob,
As yar surfaced; an’ Ah ‘ev nooa dought
Yar pipe was still lit;
‘Twould tek mooar then a bit
Like that, to put you an’ it out!

In 1964 family and friends join Ray and his wife Eva at the Anglers to celebrate one year since he took the plunge into the Fossdyke. A special cake complete with bridge and sinking tractor was made by Whitton’s Bakery for the occasion.

Left to right. Percy____, Gladys Sims, Ray Miles, Mary Keyworth, Harold Sims, Frank Francis, Eva Miles, John Shaw, Bill Keyworth, Pete Good, Henry Hill, Frank Jackson, Ann Good, Beryl Hill.

Visitors to the ‘Anglers’ can see a portrait of Frank Jackson etched in glass in the front door.