A CARRIAGE driving group has trotted to two milestones - its 20th anniversary and the golden anniversary of its national organisation.
The Royal Forest of Dean Riding for the Disabled Assocation Carriage Driving Group held a special celebration presentation morning at its Chaxhill House base on Tuesday, October 1.
The group recently obtained a £10,000 Lottery grant towards a new carriage, and the wheels are already in motion to have it delivered.
Spokeswoman Liz Stephens said: “We’ve been at Chaxhill now for 18 months after transferring from Newnham, and since moving we have been going from strength to strength.
“We have 70 clients that come from all over the Forest, as well as Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Stroud.
“We run on a Tuesday morning and Thursday all day, with Thursday morning being the morning we take wheelchairs.
“We have three horses, 25-year-old Tom, and eight-year-olds Lola and Lily.
“Our band of 20 volunteers make it possible, and without them we could not operate,” she added.
The group can always use more help, particularly cyclists who ride in front and behind the carriages providing safety cover.
“One of the wheelchair clients said when she was driving she felt like she didn’t have a disability, it made her feel free, the same as everyone else,” added Liz.
“And she enjoyed the social side of it, mixing with others.”
“Anyone is most welcome to come along to any of the sessions and have a look and see what we do, it is so rewarding,” she added.
Riders were presented with awards at the presentation morning, which included celebration cakes carrying the RDA 50th anniversary logo.
For more information and group contacts, go to royal
forestofdean-rda.org.uk
•For more photographs see this week’s Review.