Roller travels the globe to new county home (From Western Telegraph)

Roller travels the globe to new county home

A steam-powered road roller named after a Second World War Lancaster bomber has to be the most widely-travelled machine of its kind.

The British-made roller is being restored in Pembrokeshire after spending 73 years in South Africa and America.

It was shipped to the county from Seattle this month after being spotted in a magazine sales column by steam enthusiast, Richard Scourfield (pictured), of Bartlett Engineering, Carew.

It began its globe trotting in 1928 when it was exported from Leeds to a road contracting company based in Cape Town, South Africa. In 1975, it changed ownership when it was bought by Londoner Gerry Martin, a Second World War Lancaster Bomber flight engineer who had emigrated to South Africa. He relocated his business to Seattle during the apartheid uprisings and took the roller with him.

Now, aged 79, he decided to sell the roller and advertised it in a steam enthusiasts magazine where it was snapped up by Richard Scourfield as a birthday gift for his wife, Keren.

Richard plans to restore and parade it alongside his existing Pride of Pembroke engine. His twin five-year-old daughters, Jacqs and Hazel, have christened her Lily after Gerry Martins Lilymarrs bomber.

The Scourfields, who tracked her 3,500 mile container journey on the internet, are delighted with their new roller.

Ive got about six months work to do on her but thats something I will enjoy, said Richard, whose company specialises in steam engine work. He hopes to have her ready to parade at the Pembroke Farmers Club Show next summer.