The sun obliged and the showers gave Lockeridge a wide berth yesterday afternoon (Sunday 3 July) to show the glory of Carolyn and Martin Stimpson’s garden in Lockeridge.
Carolyn and Martin had opened their garden for the afternoon to raise funds for the Kennet Valley Carriage Driving Group for the Disabled, part of the RDA (Riding for the Disabled) movement which enables adults with a physical disability to drive specially adapted horse drawn carriages.
The funds were raised by the raffle – with an extensive range of prizes, entry tickets purchased by the large number of visitors to Lockeridge on this beautiul summer afternoon, the sale of teas, cakes and assorted refreshments, and the takings from the very popular carriage rides around Lockeridge by the two carriages brought along by KVDG to show visitors what carriage driving was really like.
“A wonderful afternoon” exclaimed Carolyn, “we are so pleased to have been able to raise so much for this excellent charity” she added.
The Group relies solely on volunteers to enable disabled adults to drive the specially adapted carriages. Each carriage has two sets of reins, one for the driver and one for the RDA qualified instructor/driver who sits alongside.
If anyone would like to become a volunteer, don’t be put off by a lack of experience as enthusiasm is most important and the skills can come with experience. Contact Maggie Lewis on 0845 241 5396, or e-mail kennetvalleydrivinggroup@gmail.com.
In June Marlborough missed the rainstorms, but the sun stayed hidden – to local farmers’ despair
