DEDICATION OF BRITISH HORSERACING RETIREES CELEBRATED AT CHRISTMAS LUNCHEONS HOSTED BY RACING WELFARE
The invaluable experience and knowledge of retirees, who dedicated their careers to the British horseracing industry, has been celebrated at special Christmas luncheons hosted across the country by human welfare charity, Racing Welfare.
This year, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, in her role as Racing Welfare’s President, attended the East Beneficiary Christmas Lunch at The Rowley Mile Racecourse in Newmarket on Thursday 12th December. While there, Her Royal Highness met with beneficiaries and staff to hear first-hand the difference Racing Welfare’s support makes to the local racing community, before enjoying a festive meal and musical entertainment on offer from Newmarket-based singer Luan and the Newmarket Community Choir.
As well as the East region lunch in Newmarket, Racing Welfare also hosted a North event in York, two West events in Bristol and Bromsgrove, and a South event in Epsom. The five lunches combined, all of which included Christmas lunches, games, and music, saw more than 500 Racing Welfare beneficiaries and their guests in attendance, to enjoy good food and entertainment, while socialising with old friends and making new acquaintances too.
Dudley Eynon, 84 and Brenda Eynon, 87, of New Chevely Road, Newmarket, have been supported by Racing Welfare for a number of years, and had the pleasure of meeting Her Royal Highness at the East Beneficiary Christmas Lunch. Racing Welfare is a lifeline for Dudley, who has cancer and relies on a mobility scooter, which Racing Welfare recently supplied to him. The charity also helps support Brenda who has deteriorating eyesight.
Dudley, who has worked in a number of roles during his career including at The Links in Newmarket where he booked in horses, he was Stables Manager at Huntingdon Racecourse as well as working at Tattersalls until the age of 81, said: “On the day I received a letter confirming my cancer diagnosis I also got a letter from Racing Welfare inviting me to this lunch and it’s something that we’ve both been looking forward to – it’s been keeping us going really. It was wonderful to meet Her Royal Highness and tell her all about our involvement with racing over the years as well as the difference Racing Welfare makes to Brenda and myself – we’d be lost without them.”
Brenda added: “When I met Her Royal Highness I told her she was beautiful inside and out and thanked her for meeting us and attending the lunch – it was just so special.”
Dawn Goodfellow, Racing Welfare’s Chief Executive, said: “Our Christmas beneficiary lunches are a highlight in the events calendar here at Racing Welfare, as they offer the opportunity for our retired beneficiaries to come together and celebrate Christmas with loved ones, friends and former colleagues in wonderful settings. Encouraging interaction and community support to combat social isolation is a key part of Racing Welfare’s work, and these lunches do just that, all while allowing us to recognise those who have dedicated their lives to the sport of horseracing. I’d like to thank everyone who has made this year’s events so special.
“I would like to thank Her Royal Highness for being in attendance at our East beneficiary lunch in Newmarket this year and for showing such compassion to everyone she met – it’s certainly a day we’ll all remember. I’d also like to thank The Jockey Club for hosting us at The Rowley Mile Racecourse, the performers who entertained us, Mick Quinn for being a marvellous Master of Ceremonies, and our volunteers and staff who all worked hard to deliver such a wonderful event.”
Racing Welfare’s programme of community events and services are available to anyone working in or retired from the British horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industry. Advice, guidance and practical support for a wide range of life’s challenges can be accessed 24/7, 365 days a year via the charity’s support line on 0800 6300 443, at racingwelfare.co.uk or via the Racing Welfare App.
