The Observer, November 2006

The Windsor & Eton Express, Friday 28 July 2006

The Windsor & Eton Express, Friday 26 May 2006

The Observer, Friday 6 June 2006

Major 'Tommy' Thompson

Tributes have been paid to the group's first riding instructor, Major 'Tommy' Thompson who also taught HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to carriage drive.

Our Group Organiser, Sally Merrick said:

"He opened many doors for us – we were able to drive in Windsor Great Park and once a year in the private grounds of the castle. He was quite a hard task master and he kept us in order, but he did teach us a hell of a lot. He gave us a lot of help and instruction and had taught Prince Philip carriage driving.

He was an amazing man and we will always remember him."

Our Group hits the headlines in the national RDA News Magazine!!

We have recently been awarded the honour of being featured on the FRONT PAGE of the Autumn 2005 edition of the RDA Magazine!! The magazine features an article all about thirty years of RDA Carriage Driving.

As you will see a very dashing Peter Driver (still a member of our group) is featured on the front cover with HRH The Princess Anne!

To read the section of this article that features our group please follow this link to download the PDF file.

Royal Drivepast at British Driving Society Show in Windsor Great Park

Casper – feet flying – was invited to take part in a Royal Drivepast at the British Driving Society show at Smiths Lawn in Windsor Great Park on a scorching hot day in June 2005. Several members of the group were present to see Casper, driven by Kate and attended by Angela, receive a friendly salute from HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. It was certainly a day to remember!

For more photos of the day see the Photo Gallery

Success at the Royal Windsor Horse Show!!

Casper is once again in the news with a double triumph at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 2005. Casper was driven by Kate Amblin with Sally Merrick in attendance and gained a fifth in the showing and presentation class and a brilliant third in the obstacle class!!

For more photos see the Photo Gallery

British Horse Society put Casper in the headlines!! (Press release)

BHS rescue pony completes 15km driving challenge for charity

Casper, a 11hh grey pony, who was rescued by The British Horse Society in 1997, has completed a 15km drive for his new carers the Windsor and Ascot Driving for the Disabled Group, and raised £125 for various charities, including the Carriage Driving Fund, in the process.

Sally Merrick (Group Organiser) and Joan Riseley who drove Casper round the route, agreed that “he didn’t put a hoof wrong!”

Casper was rescued by the BHS when he was only a year old, when he was found in a garden shed, emaciated and riddled with parasites. He had been bought in a pub at Christmas as a present but, due to the owner’s lack of knowledge, was fed only on kitchen scraps. It took months of specialist care, feeding regimes and a dedicated programme of rehabilitation for him to make a full recovery.

Casper moved to the Windsor and Ascot Driving for the Disabled Group just over a year ago, on permanent loan from the BHS, and has settled in well. Casper took two hours and fifteen minutes to complete the charity drive, which took place at Windsor Great Park earlier this month.

www.bhs.org.uk

Casper raises money for the Group!

Casper valiantly completed a 15km charity drive at Windsor Great Park on Sunday 10th April 2005 raising £125 in sponsorship for the group!

Sally Merrick (Group Organiser) and Joan Riseley drove Casper round the 15km route in approximately 2 hours 15 minutes. We are all agreed that Casper did not put a hoof wrong!

See Casper (above) finishing the drive in fine style ...

Ascot Racecourse Authority makes a generous donation to the Group

The Ascot Racecourse Authority recently made a generous donation to the Group as part of its annual charity handout. The money was raised through charity events and a donation by Ascot Racecourse Ltd. Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse, Douglas Erskine-Crum said "Residents of Ascot and the surrounding area have been so supportive of our redevelopment project and we are very proud to be able to continue to give something back."

A generous donation was made to the Group to maintain the upkeep of the group's ponies. Our Group Organiser, Sally Merrick, said:

"We have to rely on voluntary contributions but this means we will not have to worry quite so much. We are thrilled to bits."

Cheques were also presented to the Friends of King Edward VII Hospital in Windsor, Cranbourne Primary School and the Lee Burrows Referee Development Fund at Ascot United Football Club among others.

For more information on Casper, please see the Ponies page and to read about Sally, Mildred and David, please visit our Volunteers page.

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