Her Royal Highness Princess Anne visited Carsington Sailing Club and Scropton Riding for the Disabled Centre in April
Although forecasted to be a wet, blustery day, the visit to Carsington Sailing Club by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne on 25th April 2016 was also marked with sunshine. Arriving by helicopter, a spectacle warmly appreciated by the watching schoolchildren from Hulland Church of England Primary School, she proceeded to the sailing club where she met The High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Elizabeth Fothergill and Mr Richard Fothergill; Chair of Derbyshire County Council, Cllr Steve Freeborn; Chairman of the District of Derbyshire Dales, Cllr Albert Catt and Judy Catt and Mr Stephen Blake, Commodore of Carsington Sailing Club. Members of the diverse groups belonging to the sailing club – including Carsington Sailability, Derby & Nottingham Hospitals, Scouts and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Group – met the Princess Royal and illustrated the impact that sailing has had upon their lives.
Children from Hulland Primary School enacted rescue scenarios as part of an ‘Around water’ safety course delivered by Club Manager, Mr Ceri Knapgate. Then Princess Anne officially named a new Rs Venture keel boat funded by Bakewell and Wirksworth Rotary Clubs for Carsington Sailability.
A framed photograph commemorating the lifelong contribution of Carsington Sailability member Mr Royd Alderson was awarded by Princess Anne. A watercolour, handpainted by local club member Mr Mike Stoker was given as a mark of gratitude to HRH who also received a posy from Miss Rosie Blake of Hulland Primary School.
HRH The Princess Royal then travelled to Scropton near Etwall to the Riding for the Disabled Centre which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Princess Anne is President of the Riding for the Disabled Association. Thirty riders and carriage drivers from the centre together with around 25 volunteers took part in displays entitled ‘50 reasons to celebrate’ in front of HRH and an invited audience of nearly 200 guests. Riders, drivers and volunteers were then presented with commemorative rosettes by the Princess and had the chance to talk to her. She also presented RDA long service awards to two ponies and four volunteers who between them have given over 160 years service to RDA. After the Princess departed, celebrations continued with more displays, a visit from the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt hounds and a Hobby horse gymkhana – rounded off with a tea party.
lynis Dalley, Chair of Scropton RDA, said, ‘What a fantastic way to celebrate 50 years of RDA at our centre. We are incredibly proud of the work we do and what we achieve here at Scropton RDA, and were delighted to have the chance to share this with HRH The Princess Royal. Our riders, drivers and volunteers were all really excited to be involved in the occasion and everyone worked really hard to make this a day we’ll never forget.’
