Model engineering is generally considered to be a man thing, as men in sheds everywhere don overalls and shape metal into models. But arguably the world’s greatest model engineer, Cherry Hill, is, in fact, a woman. And the word ‘models’ hardly does justice to what she produces. For the past several decades Cherry has created scaled-down versions of traction engines – and not just run-of-the-mill types, but elaborate Victorian flights of fancy.Extensive research and meticulous design are the secrets of her success. She has created almost twenty models over the sixty-year period since her father gave her an old lathe from the workshop of his agricultural machinery business. One of the most impressive aspects of Cherry’s work is that all her engines are fully working and what comes out of her workshops in Worcestershire and Florida is perfection, both in terms of design and craftsmanship. Every last part, even tiny chain links, is made in the workshop from metal stock. No parts are bought in.Once completed, all her models are given away: early ones to friends and family and later ones to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Each model typically occupies 7,000 hours’ work, and Cherry’s staggering efforts have been rewarded with the highest honours, including nine gold medals and an MBE from the Queen for Services to Model Engineering. Here, for the first time, the fruits of her illustrious career are displayed in all their intricate glory for your inspiration and enjoyment.

Did you know that the first named piece of writing was the work of a Sumerian woman in approximately 2085 BC, while the world’s first novel was written by a Japanese woman in the eleventh century? Or that Hildegard of Bingen, the great twelfth century Abbess, writer, and composer, defied the Church’s traditions by viewing feminine sexuality as a gift of God? Or that one of China’s most powerful Emperors was a woman? These are but a few examples of the facts in this autobiography with a difference, Woman Through the Ages. Author Ann Merivale, a deep-memory process therapist, has used previous lifetimes in her own history to illustrate the roles we all play in preparation for returning to the source whence we’ve come. Skilfully weaving her personal story into each area and time period covered, Merivale highlights the injustices wrought on women for centuries, as well as their many achievements. Woman Through the Ages gives a fascinating and comprehensive picture of womanhood through the ages and concludes that the time for equality and greater respect for feminine energy is finally arriving.

Design, production, and service histories of our most popular subjects combined with top-notch color photograph.

Keep your horse happy and healthy throughout the entire year. Veteran trainer Cherry Hill provides a comprehensive month-by-month guide to horse care that includes seasonal stable chores and maintenance procedures that promote equine health. Reminding you to check for ticks in April, buy hay in July, and set up winter bedding in October, each month’s reference charts, to-do lists, and climate notes will help you establish routines that follow the natural cycles of the animals and the land.