VISIT BY HER ROYAL HIGHNESS
PRINCESS ANNE, THE PRINCESS ROYAL

Princess Anne visited us at Osborne on Monday 31st July 2017

We were privileged to have a visit from the Princess Royal on Monday 31st July 2017. The Princess was visiting the Isle of Wight to attend various functions in connection with the sailing regatta at Cowes. She took one and a half hours out of her busy schedule to help us celebrate the achievement of some of our volunteers. She arrived by helicopter just after eleven o'clock and was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, two staff members from the RDA and from the Island driving group, Jenny Clune, Jean Crouch and Peter Lano.
She then joined us under a very pleasant summer sky to watch six of our disabled drivers showing their skills taking Henry, Pocus and Murray through their paces in a makeshift arena and round a lengthy cone course.

Her Royal Highness then was introduced to the ponies and AB whips before spending some time meeting and talking to all the drivers, each in turn. Diddy presented HRH with a posy of flowers after which there was time for HRH to award long service certificates to Jenny Clune, Pat Simpson, Jill Warren and Jean Winter. Michael and Frank Bingham, winners of events at our fun day received trophies for their efforts and Jill Blanchard was presented with the Ardingly trophy for services to the group. Pocus our little Welsh Section A pony was given a lot of attention for all his hard work for fifteen years and presented with long service medal for his brow band.
Peter Lano thanked Princess Anne and invited her to help us celebrate the efforts of our veterans by cutting a celebratory cake. While doing so, she warmly congratulated Jean Winter, group President for an amazing forty years of service to the RDA. Before Princess Anne left, she addressed us all with words of both congratulations and encouragement. The Princess then left for other engagements and left us to enjoy a picnic and a warm glow for being so good.
Commemorative rosettes were given to all our worthy volunteers.

Robert and Sheila recently celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary and showed huge generosity by asking for donations to be given to the Island Pony Driving Group in lieu of gifts. They presented our treasurer Jenny with a cheque for seven hundred and fifteen pounds. Many thanks to them both and their many friends who must think so much of them
It took a great deal of organising before the visit so particular thanks must go to Jenny Clune and our organiser, Gill Radforth .

Great many thanks also to everyone who worked so hard to make the visit possible.