Princess Anne visits Bank Farm school near Chesham
2:36pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Where I Live By Andy Carswell
Riding school receives Royal visit
A ROYAL visitor helped a riding school for disabled children celebrate its 25th birthday yesterday.
Princess Anne was invited as the guest of honour at Bank Farm Riding School in Bellingdon, near Chesham, as it marked a quarter of a century of helping disadvantaged youngsters in south Bucks.
She met five-year-old rider Evie Thompson, who has born blind and profoundly deaf, and was given a horse riding demonstration by pupils from Elmtree School.
The Princess Royal was also presented to dozens of the centre's volunteers and gave long service awards to those who had been there for more than two decades.
Mhairi Sharpley and Lynn Williams were presented with awards marking 20 years of service and Mary Lane, Lois Pitcher and Ros Walton were all given tributes for 25 years of volunteering.
After unveiling a plaque to mark the opening of the centre's new club room the Princess paid tribute to the army of volunteers who had given "inspiration and pleasure to many".
She said: "The example you set and the way you've given support to a wide range of individuals, particularly children - thank you very much indeed."
Bank Farm was set up by husband and wife team Anne and Ken Coney in 1986, in connection with the national Riding for the Disabled Association.
Since then the centre - which relies on donations for the £20,000 of funding it needs to operate each year - has taken on countless volunteers and owned and loaned dozens of ponies.
Mrs Coney said: "It's been a fantastic day for us. You could see all the smiling faces."
Speaking of her time with the Princess Royal, she said: "She has so much time for everyone. She spoke to every single person and with every person she would say something different.
"She's very genuine with her support for the Riding for the Disabled. She's very grateful for all the work all the groups do, and she respects the fact we've been here 25 years.
"I'm delighted she's seen the group. It's proof of what we've been working hard for for the last 25 years. It's grown and grown and I'm incredibly proud of everybody that's involved.
For more information on Bank Farm, go to www.bankfarmrda.com.
