257 Retired Racing Staff have Christmas Lunch
257 Retired racing staff around the country enjoyed a Christmas lunch with HRH The Princess Royal.
In Newmarket, Lambourn, Middleham and Malton more than 250 retired racing staff sat down at 1.00 pm on 14th December to enjoy a Christmas Lunch, organised by Racing Welfare. Racing Welfare’s President, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, was in attendance at the Newmarket event, giving a speech before the meal highlighting the work that the charity does all year round in its campaign to reduce social isolation and loneliness amongst racing’s retired people.
The speech was broadcast live in high quality to the three other racing centre locations, ensuring that retired racing people from across the country were able to hear the President of Racing Welfare’s address. After the main h quality to the three other racing centre locations, ensuring that retired racing people from across the country were able to hear the President of Racing Welfare’s address. After the main course a Skype conference took place with all four venues able to see each other and old friends reunited across the video link-up. Racecourse presenter Derek Thompson was on hand to compere the live link-up and also to call the raffle, held after the meal.
In Lambourn it wasn’t just local racing people in attendance; a group of retired staff from Epsom and Arundel were also joined the occasion. Mick Fitzgerald was special guest at the venue and introduced HRH The Princess Royal’s speech from afar to the 89 guests in attendance who also enjoyed a Christmas quiz.
In Middleham at the Tennant’s Garden Rooms venue Jack Berry was the special guest welcoming 48 retired racing staff from the Middleham area to the first ever Racing Welfare Christmas lunch to be held in the town. Attendees also enjoyed a raffle as well as the chance to share racing memories.
In Malton a fantastic festive atmosphere was provided by the Union pub venue. Special guest, Graham Orange enjoyed hearing stories of Malton’s racing past from the 44 guests in attendance who also took part in a raffle and bingo.