From the programme of The Fourth Great Working Of Steam Engines, Stourpaine Bushes, September 1972:
Edward Charles Hine (1895-1972)
Born in the Wiltshire village of Steeple Ashton, near Trowbridge, Ted Hine from his early school days was connected with steam engines, his father being in the road making business.
After leaving school he was apprenticed to the Eddison Steam Rolling and Ploughing Company at Dorchester. During the 1914-18 War he served with the Dorset Regiment in France and during this time he had ambitions of becoming a haulage contractor in a large way when he returned to England.
With his brothers he founded the haulage business of Hine Bros., Gillingham, Dorset, using Burrell and Tasker traction engines, later going over to a fleet of 4 and 6-wheeled Sentinels. Around this time the Company went into the sand and gravel and stone quarry business with pits in Dorset, Hants and the Mendip area. At the time of his retirement in 1964 he was the head of a company that had over 100 vehicles.
It was during the middle fifties that Ted Hine purchased his famous Burrell Showman’s Scenic No.3938 “Quo Vadis” in a very poor condition and started to rebuild her to her former glory. During this time he acquired a collection of six engines and had built a museum for his six fairground organs which became very well-known throughout the country. His tackle was always immaculately turned out and his showman’s engines were rated by many as the finest in preservation.
He was a founder member of the Dorset Steam and Historic Vehicle Club, an association which during his retirement gave him very much pleasure and was its Vice-President.
His pet charity was raising money for Cancer Research, and his fair organs always carried the collecting boxes for this organisation for which he collected hundreds of pounds.
He was a great steam enthusiast and his advice to younger people will be appreciated by many in the steam world. His pet phrase of “I say” will be remembered by many for a long time, especially members of the Dorset Club of which he was so well respected and liked.