ONCE a vital part of the rural scene, agricultural traction engines chug back to life in a new book of iconic images from retired West Somerset photographer Barry Finch, a lifelong devotee of living steam.

The youthful 91-year-old who lives on the edge of the Quantock Hills, has created a beautifully illustrated collection of black and white vehicle images, produced by the Steam Heritage Publishing Company.

Dedicated to his late wife Hazel, with whom he spent 70 years, More Reflections of Living Steam is a celebration of vintage agricultural traction engines.

“I never tire of looking back at the images of these wonderful work-horses taken during the 1950s and early 60s in their original condition,” Barry said.

He loved traction engines from an early age and still has pictures he took with his father using a Goetz large format camera.

“These old pictures bring back happy memories of the old engines and the owners who were always willing to position the vehicles to make the best pictures.”

In 1961 he published a book of these pictures costing three shillings and sixpence a copy. “After 50 years I decided it would be nice if the original album was brought up-to-date and Steam Heritage published it,” Barry added.

He learned his trade serving in the Royal Air Force before working in the same capacity for several leading UK manufacturers. “I was so lucky in my work getting paid to pursue my hobby.”

“It was fantastic work, with something different to photograph every day. I met and photographed the famous and the beautiful, from Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Sir Richard Branson to some of the top fashion models of the day.”

Before retiring, Barry ran his own photographic studio based in London’s West End. But these days he’s happiest capturing rural scenes, including studies of horses and hounds, virtually on his doorstep.

More Reflections of Living Steam (ISBN 978 0995543249) is published by Steam Heritage at £15,95. Images can be viewed on vintagespirit.co.uk