How the club started
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The Classic Hearse Register (CHR) was first started back in 1993 by Dave Salmon (whose knowledge was, and still is invaluable to the club), the main aim being to collect and record as much information about pre-'80 classic hearses that still survived, both roadworthy or sitting in fields/barns and sadly banger raced. Finally thanks to a group of hearse enthusiasts eager to promote classic hearses to the public and classic car scene, the club rapidly grew in size and a quarterly newsletter arrived a year later and membership continued to grow. Many rare and unusual hearses then came to light, adding to Dave's huge literature collection. Dave himself has several hearses being restored including a 1935 Humber.
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In 1997 due to other commitments Dave passed the club to Paul Harris who had several Princess Hearses & Ambulances. Pictured is his A/110 Westminster.
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Running a club takes a lot of time and in 2000 it passed on to Mark Josey who had had several hearses including the two tone Granada shown here. It was during this time, the club launched it's original Website.
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Finally, in 2003 I took over, the first female secretary as and of 2007 the longest running secretary too!; I own a Mk1 Granada hearse & Limousine (see main page) I was subsequently joined by my partner Dean Reader (we met via the club) and he now owns a rare Austin Ambassador hearse.
The club continues to grow with members worldwide and we also accept funeral Limousines, first call/service cars, flower cars and American based Ambulances too. There is now NO age limit on vehicles so whether horsedrawn, vintage, classic or modern, standard or modified, all are welcome. We now attend many classic car shows, cemetery open days and Halloween events, in fact anything that a hearse or limousine is required for.
Sandra