Eagle-eyed participants on the Veteran Car Run might have spotted a new face amongst the officials and marshals at the Hyde Park start in 2023. Deborah (‘Debs’) Brereton joined the organising team as Chief Marshal last year, bringing with her 20 years’ experience of event management in the classic car and supercar field.

What drew you to the Veteran Car Run?

The Run is such a great event, with such longevity, and I was delighted to be offered the opportunity. When I was asked last year to become involved, I thought ‘It’s an event which is about people and it’s about cars. All of which are right up my alley. That’s me. That’s what I do.’

There’s a fantastic team involved. I’m really pleased to have been asked back again and to be able to keep the momentum going, improving our communications, improving our logistics so that everything fits in for the marshals. That’s my key role, making sure it works for all concerned. 

It’s wonderful that the Run is celebrating the anniversary of the foundation of the Ladies Automobile Club this year. There are a lot of female marshals as well, which is terrific, and it’s also great to see youngsters so keen to be involved. I follow Marshal UK and they are working hard to bring young people into marshalling. I used to vocationally train young people and for me it’s super-important that they are trying to keep it fresh, bringing in new blood and embracing and mentoring them, whilst also appreciating and welcoming the experience of those who have been doing this for many years.

And what appealed about the role of Chief Marshal?

During my two decades working on events such as CarFest and the London Classic Car Show, I’ve worked with lots and lot of marshals and have been responsible for taking care of them, making sure they are fully briefed, know where they are being positioned, have sustenance, PPE etc. I’ve always found them to be a great bunch of people, very similar to the car club people I also work with. They’re very down to earth, and I love the fact that they just do it for the love and are so enthusiastic.

What does the role involve?
Ahead of the Run, I work with the team to allocate marshal positions in all the sectors and, of course, I’m available for marshals to contact with questions, and I manage communications out to the marshals. Last year we created the marshal manual, which we continue to revise. And one of the most vital elements is soliciting and reviewing marshal feedback – it’s important that we’re able to make their experience the best that it can be, within the logistical constraints that such a complex event involves.

Over the Run weekend my predominant role is at Hyde Park – we have 200 marshals there – making sure everything is as it should be for them and for the logistics of the event. When the last participant car has left and the marshal stood down, I set off along the route. 

I feel that I established my foundation with the Run in 2023 and I look forward to building on it for this year.

Finally, tell us more about your professional background?

I’ve worked in event management for the past two decades, dealing with everything from content and logistics to marshals and exhibitors. My passion is cars – whether veteran, classic or modern, and they are my event speciality, but not exclusively.

However, as a car ‘nut’ I’ve been very lucky that the majority of the events I am or have been involved in are motoring. It all began for me with Chris Evans’ CarFest North and South, which I worked on for 13 years and, for the past seven years I have managed logistics and content for The London Classic Car Show. I also manage operations for the Red Bull Soapbox Race - no engines involved there of course!