The British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association (BAGMA) celebrates its 100th anniversary next week (August 16).

Established in 1917 as the National Association of Implement Dealers, the name changed in 1928 to the Agricultural Machinery Dealers Association and changed again in 1944 to the Agricultural Machinery and Tractor Dealers Association. The association became the British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association in 1972 after an extensive review of its relationship with members.

During its 100 years, the Association has had 52 presidents, most of whom have served a two-year term and have a come from many of the well-known family-owned dealerships from the landbased industry.

The actual birthday is August 16, 2017, but the association has been marking the anniversary in each of the editions of its membership magazine, the BAGMA Bulletin.


Keith Christian

Keith Christian, director of BAGMA, commented: “For 100 years the association has represented the interests of machinery dealers in the UK across a broad spectrum of activities including legislative issues, supplier contracts, legal, health and safety, education and training. BAGMA continues to do this with the added benefit to members of the support of its parent group, bira (British Independent Retailers Association).”

Two of the driving forces behind the creation of an association of implement dealers were AJ Fletcher of Drake & Fletcher, Maidstone, who, as a member of the Kent Implement Dealers Association, “saw the necessity of a national association”, and Sir Ashton Lister of Dursley, who “circularised over a thousand implement agents to ascertain their views as to the establishment of an Association”.

The aim was to create “a powerful organisation of implement dealers, which shall vigorously safeguard and promote the interests of the trade and be in every way worthy of the increasingly important industry it represents.”

Dealers were encouraged to attend a meeting at the Midland Grand Hotel, St Pancras, London, on the afternoon of August 16, 1917. The Implement & Machinery Review reported: “A very gratifying number of agents from all parts of the kingdom supported by a good sprinkling of manufacturers were present and it was evident that they came firmly resolved to form an association.”

The new association formed that day was described by the Review as “a defensive body – an Association, moreover, that can render the Government very substantial help in many of their schemes for increasing the food production of the United Kingdom”.

The first committee comprised 20 'gentlemen' representing different parts of the country. C Hussey of Hammond & Hussey of Croydon was the first chairman and AJ Fletcher was elected as secretary.

Of the 20 companies represented on that first committee, six are still members of BAGMA. These are TH White of Devizes, Alexander & Duncan of Leominster, AT Oliver of Luton, G Thurlow & Sons of Stowmarket, F Randell Ltd of North Walsham, and Peacock & Binnington of Brigg.