Florida Manor car show draws big crowd to support local church hall appeal

A sunny-day gathering of classic, rally, touring and vintage cars brought hundreds to Florida Manor near Killinchy—raising funds for Killinchy Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church’s plans for a new hall.

Florida Manor, just outside Killinchy, provided the backdrop for a car show that mixed the shine of cherished classics with the noise and colour of rally and touring machinery. “It’s a classic car show, but all sorts of cars,” organiser Nicky Caughey explained, as a Ferrari rolled past during the event.

The day was organised in support of Killinchy Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church, which is working to build a new hall. The idea, Nicky said, came from his father, Colin, after the pair attended other shows together. With Florida Manor owned by near neighbours, the venue was a natural fit—and a chance for locals to enjoy a setting many had long wanted to see up close.

With “one of the nicest days of the year” helping to draw people in, organisers were quickly reminded how popular the show had become. “With the weather, it’s been absolutely unbelievable,” Nicky said.

In fact, the crowd was so strong that the catering team nearly ran out. Organisers started the morning with 440 burgers, only to get word part-way through the day that supplies were disappearing fast. More were fetched in from nearby areas, but the numbers suggested the event was heading for somewhere in the region of 550–600 attendees, with cars and families still arriving as the interview took place.

For many, the location was as much a draw as the cars. The Lagan family—Michael Lagan and his relatives—opened their property to the public for the day, welcoming visitors and volunteers alike.

Nicky said it was a pleasure to see Florida Manor looking its best after years when, as children growing up nearby, they remembered it as a “run-down old manor house”. Now, he said, the restoration work shows what the building can be, and he hopes it will continue to be used for community occasions—possibly even weddings and other events in the future.

Asked when the Lagan family took over the estate, Nicky said he wasn’t certain, estimating it could be 20 years or more, and paid tribute to the effort and investment that has kept the property traditional while bringing it back to life.

Behind the scenes, Nicky said, the event depended on a long list of helpers—from catering to parking and set-up. He thanked The TT Bistro, Comber for supplying food and the initial 440 burgers, along with buns, sauces, cheese and signage. He also credited his father, Colin, for arranging insurance for the day, and praised friends from rally circles for running parking “as if it was a service park”.

Among those he singled out were his co-driver Graeme Stewart, as well as Aaron, Aisling and Lauren; Gareth Whiting and Jeff; Lewis; Ian; and Adrian—along with many others including Erin and Jay who gave up time both the day before and throughout the show itself.

On the day itself, the PSNI RPU’s Interceptors engaged with visitors of all ages with conversations ranging from road safety to what specifications their cars are. Whilst the NIFRS brought an engine for the public to get up close to.

With a steady stream of arrivals, a standout setting, and a cause rooted in the local community, the Florida Manor show proved that a good day out can also make a meaningful difference.