Report by Pete Smith (Chairman)
After months of planning, the big day was finally here. I have written separately about the work that went into organising the show and getting everything ready for the weekend. You can read that story here:
Planning the 2026 Northern Jaguar Show.
With a very early start, the volunteers arrived at 7.30am and we already had one exhibitor waiting to go in. Shortly afterwards, there began a steady stream of Jaguars arriving.
With all the volunteer marshals now on duty directing cars through the estate and into the show, there were no queues or frustrations. By 10.30am most cars were in and parked up.
Peter Leake opened the show with myself and Ian Pendlebury, and after that Bandage, our band for the day, played their first set.
With so many people chatting, mixing and admiring the vast array of cars, it really was great to see Jaguars everywhere you looked. The special feature Jaguars received a lot of attention and, of course, so did the XJ220.
At 12 noon the Vulcan engines started and the bomb bays opened to reveal a cluster of bombs, showing how they would have looked on their way to Port Stanley Airfield in 1982. Sobering to think that the bomb underneath the Vulcan on Sunday was a deactivated nuclear bomb.
At 1pm we had an enthralling talk from David Marks on the XJ40 Silverstone fire car and XJ220. With a lot of people gathered around, everyone got a great insight into the cars’ development and history. What cars.
With further sets from the band giving people time to chat and have lunch, the Best in Show awards came at 3.15pm.
Richard Jones, Events Manager at the Avro Heritage Trust, had been asked to choose the three cars he would take home with him after the show. The three he chose were the Mk9, owned by a member of the Cheshire Region, and two from the Greater Manchester Region – Lance Berry with his Eventer and Paul Greenwood with his Mk2.
Well done to them all. Richard also drew up a Highly Commended list, which included our very own Phil Matthews.
With the band going through their final set, it was time to start saying goodbyes as people began their journeys home – in a lot of cases, long journeys home.
However, there was still time for our unsung hero, photographer Frank Wilson, to take some memorable photos. The show will also be on YouTube soon.
After clearing up and putting everything back as it was, it was time to head home for drinks and a great meal.
Well done to the whole region – especially all the volunteers, but also everyone who attended and made the day so memorable.
We are going to start planning next year’s show soon, but want to look at a different type of themed show for 2027.
Watch this space.