This is Haslemere met with Jane Puttock who co-runs The Haslemere Classic Car Show (HCCS) with her partner James Ewing. This annual community non-profit event is a great day out for families and car enthusiasts. In the past, it has attracted cars from Haslemere, Brighton, Birmingham and the Isle of Wight. It is one of the key events of Haslemere Festival and is run by volunteers. This year it will take place on 25th May from 12-5pm.

 “…such a very special day, Haslemere is such a lovely place to live and events like this make our community.” 

2025 will be the 15th year of the show, held annually on Lion Green. It started in 2008 and had an enforced break of two years in the Covid years.

The start of car restoration for this local pair began when James bought Jane an Austin A35 when she was at Art College, followed by many other projects as a hobby including Mario the Multipla. Mario is a 1962 Fiat 600d Multipla who is part of the period transport fleet at the Goodwood Revival. In 2004, that hobby morphed into a full-time career for James who has always been passionate about cars. Yes, always! James’ parents bought themselves a Ladybird Book of Cars to handle questions from James, who - from his pushchair – kept asking “What’s that car?”.

We asked Jane if she is as passionate about cars as James. Jane’s dad was (in her words) a “car freak”. As a child she attended lots of motor racing events. Her father was a McLaren nut all his life and Jane admitted that she has now most definitely taken up the McLaren mantle. She loves cars too!

HCCS had its beginning at a Donkey Derby on Lion Green. Hamish Donaldson who revived the Haslemere Festival asked Jane and James if they could bring up 30 classic cars onto Lion Green for the event and that then grew into The Haslemere Classic Car Show.

Nowadays the car show has 250 cars maximum on display on Lion Green. It is always a community show and comes under the Haslemere Festival banner. James and Jane ensure the show is run to a tight budget with help from their very supportive local sponsors, which this year includes Prestige Paintwork, South Downs MOT Centre, Transform Landscapes and Grantley Sales & Lettings and any profit goes into Haslemere Festival to help promote other events. As well as the classic cars on display, they host a range of local arts & crafts, produce and vintage stalls with food vendors too. The show has no entrance fee and visitors are encouraged to buy the show’s programme. Car entrants are encouraged to dress in period to their vehicles and take part in the shows popular "Best Dressed Car & Crew" Competition.

On the morning of the show, James and Jane arrange a tour for 100 cars. This involves participants arriving early at 8.30am, having coffee and a bacon roll and then taking part in a 50-mile country drive, with a coffee stop half way. When they return, they take their places on the village green and display a plaque on their cars. Car enthusiasts love this and these touring places get booked up very quickly. 

Volunteers needed on the day

Jane and James are keen to recruit volunteers to help them out on the day at The Haslemere Classic Car Show. In the morning, you’ll help direct the stalls and put up signs. It’s nothing too strenuous. We’re talking easy up gazebos. Cars are pre-registered and volunteers check their entry passes and direct them where to park. It’s a tight squeeze to fit the cars in but Jane has it all mapped out meticulously! They also would love residents to be involved with programme sales on the day from 11am. The programmes are only £2 and are professionally produced with details of all the cars in the show. In addition, each programme has its own unique number and the programme acts as a raffle ticket for a prize draw at the end of the day at 4pm. Programme sales truly help to support the show financially by funding the boring stuff (insurance, toilets etc.) Please, if you love classic cars and/or community, consider giving one or two hours of your time to be a part of this wonderful community event. Contact James and Jane here https://jamesewing.co.uk/hccs/support.html.