Park Lane Stables, which is part of the Riding for the Disabled Association network, says its landlord has upped the price for the property it occupies after a high-profile fundraising campaign
Relieved riders from a stables in Teddington will be celebrating their recent success in royal style. After a tireless community campaign and an appearance on BBC Breakfast last week, Park Lane Stables reached the £1 million fundraising goal required to remain open. Threatened with closure in February the horse riding academy, which specialises in lessons for people with disabilities, secured its future in a matter of weeks. Yesterday (Feb 25), owner Natalie O’Rourke, volunteer Bess Limmer and the team of campaigners at the stables received recognition for their hard work in a letter from the Queen.
[video: BBC] Her Highness extended an invitation for 12 young people to view the Royal Mews stables at Buckingham Palace - when it is safe to do so.
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26 February, 2021 12:49 Park Lane Stables has been invited to visit the Royal Mews, when pandemic restrictions allow. Credit: MAX Ellis 2014/Park Lane Stables
Mother and daughter Caitlin and Bess Limmer wrote to The Queen during the campaign and received a letter from the palace and an invitation in response.
Natalie suggested they could write to some famous people, and so they contacted Her Majesty.
“We didn’t get many responses, but we did from The Queen,” she said.
Crown Equerry Colonel Toby Browne wrote to the stables, inviting 12 young people to visit the Royal Mews, which is home to The Queen’s horses, when pandemic restrictions allow.
Small victories make big smiles. I recently came across a news story that certainly made me smile. When the land that Park Lane Stables, Teddington, resides on changed hands, the Pony Centre and RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association) learnt that the lease for their home of 12 years, and the home of 23 horses and ponies, would not be renewed as the landlord wanted to sell. The club launched a desperate plea on New Year s Eve to appeal to donors for funds to buy the land their much loved site was on - around £1 million was needed by February 25th to accomplish the saving of the stables. The campaign had grown, but too slowly, and the situation was not looking promising until the story was shared on the BBC Breakfast show and Good Morning Britain in late February. After these broadcasts, over £500,000 was raised by local donors in just 24 hours! The stables have now secured a substantial amount of funds to buy and continue to look after their important site, and donations are
Historic London riding stable reaches £1m target to stay open horsetalk.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from horsetalk.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.