STRIDER AND RIDER WELCOMED BY MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR

Last Thursday the Deputy Mayor was delighted to welcome over 80 guests to a reception at the Town Hall. Next week the Dame will be publishing pictures from that excellent evening!

 Earlier in the Summer: William and Strider

The event was to promote the good work of Family Holiday Association. Guests listened to a moving speech by John McDonald of the FHA which has sent over 130,000 deprived families on simple seaside holidays since it started in 1975 and this year a further 2,000 families will be able to go away for a life- changing break.

The purpose of the reception was not just to introduce the FHA to the local community, but to showcase an epic 2,500 mile charity horseback ride, which will raise money for both the FHA and Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre. William Reddaway and his horse Strider, who enjoyed the reception from the Council courtyard, will set out on this most ambitious adventure in May 2013; he expects it to take six months. The duo will travel to all four corners of England via thirty Cathedrals to raise awareness for the two charities.

It was also a bit different to the usual more formal events hosted by the Mayor, including people who had never stepped foot in the Mayor's Parlour such as Sister Mary-Joy from Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre, who gave an excellent speech explaining the work of the Centre using tackle as metaphors!

There was a good turnout of Councillors including Tim Ahern, Nick Paget-Brown, Tim Coleridge as well as Judith Blakeman and Emma Dent Coad all busy making sure the guests felt relaxed and cared for.

FHA Patrons present included Prunella Scales and the founder of the FHA, the 92 year old Joan Lawrence as well as guests from the Grocers Company and Lorimers Company.

Cllr Dent Coad said: 'I hope the Dame and her followers will support this amazing adventure and the target of raising £250,000. The website of rideroundengland.org will be up soon to accept donations.'