RACING WELFARE’S SUPPORT TO NEWMARKET AND WIDER RACING COMMMUNITY CELEBRATED AT CAROL CONCERT ATTENDED BY HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL
Racing Welfare’s support to Newmarket’s community, the wider racing industry and those who fundraise on their behalf, were celebrated at a carol concert attended by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal as she addressed the audience at Racing Welfare’s Christmas Carol Concert at Tattersalls in Newmarket last week.
The sold-out carol concert, which took place on Wednesday 11th December, was attended by Her Royal Highness, in the role of President of Racing Welfare. A dedicated and highly valued supporter of Racing Welfare’s work, this was the first time Her Royal Highness had attended the charity’s annual Christmas Carol Concert, much to the delight of the hundreds of guests in attendance.
Thanking Tattersalls for the venue, Her Royal Highness explained the importance of the work Racing Welfare undertakes to support the workforce of British horseracing, including the chaplaincy service.
The concert raised funds for Racing Welfare’s chaplaincy service, which is led by Pastor Simon Bailey, the National Chaplain to Horseracing. There to enhance and support the wellbeing of those working in the horseracing industry in times of pain, loss, anxiety or trauma, regardless of their religious beliefs or lack of them, the chaplaincy service exists to ensure no one feels alone when faced with challenges. A total of £4,740 was raised at the concert – from ticket sales and a raffle.
Newmarket Town Band provided the rousing Christmas music, soloist Megan Bungard opened the concert with a performance of ‘Once in Royal Davd’s City’ and also performed ‘Silent Night’ later on during the evening. School choirs from Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy, Laureate Community Academy and Newmarket Academy were also in attendance and performed a number of festive favourites including ‘It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas’, ‘O Holy Night’, ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’.
The audience enjoyed readings from leading figures from within the horseracing industry, including Richard Phillips – Racehorse Trainer, Hugh Anderson – Managing Director of Godolphin, Anna Kerr – CEO of The National Stud and Tansy Challis – CEO of The Racing Foundation. Festive refreshments were on offer, kindly donated by The British Racing School. There was also a fundraising raffle with prizes generously donated by local businesses and a visit from Father Christmas and festive ponies.
Dawn Goodfellow, Racing Welfare Chief Executive, said: “Everyone at Racing Welfare would like to thank Her Royal Highness, in her role of Racing Welfare President, for attending our Christmas Carol Concert this year. Her Royal Highness spoke so passionately about the importance of community, and the work of Racing Welfare, and it was a wonderful to see so many people joining together to celebrate the festive season while thinking of the needs of others.
“I’d like to say thank you to everyone involved in organising, delivering or donating items to the concert and to all those who attended. Also a very special thank you to Penny Taylor, Godolphin UK Charities Manager, for organising our concerts for the past three years and making such a difference to Racing Welfare in raising awareness of our services and generating much-needed funds.”
Gemma Frost, Unity Schools Partnership’s Director of Education, of which Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy, Laureate Community Academy and Newmarket Academy are members, said: “All of the pupils were delighted to be involved in the concert, and we are all so proud of their performances. We work really hard to get pupils out of the classroom and into their local community and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. I sat with some of the parents and they spoke about how all the children will remember this for many years to come and how lucky they were to be able to perform in front of Her Royal Highness.”
Jamie Wilson, Band Master of Newmarket Town Band, said: “It was such a surreal experience, and also very humbling, to be able to perform in the presence of Her Royal Highness in support of Racing Welfare and the racing community. I’m so proud of all of the band members for their dedication to rehearsals and their performance. The acoustics are wonderful here at Tattersalls so I hope everyone enjoyed listening to us as much as we enjoyed playing.”
Racehorse trainer Richard Phillips, who hosted the evening’s concert, said “What a magnificent evening it was! It was wonderful to see so many young children from local schools in the ring performing for their local community to raise funds for Racing Welfare. Tattersalls is a place so full of history, so it was lovely to see it in a different light, and instead of foals and yearlings, it was full of young children, who we all hope have bright futures ahead of them.”
Racing Welfare’s services are available to anyone working in or retired from the racing industry, and are available 24/7, 365 days a year. Anyone who needs support over the festive period and beyond can contact Racing’s Support Line on 0800 6300 443.
Racing Welfare’s support to Newmarket’s community, the wider racing industry and those who fundraise on their behalf, were celebrated at a carol concert attended by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal as she addressed the audience at Racing Welfare’s Christmas Carol Concert at Tattersalls in Newmarket this week.
The sold-out carol concert, which took place on Wednesday 11th December, was attended by Her Royal Highness, in the role of President of Racing Welfare. A dedicated and highly valued supporter of Racing Welfare’s work, this was the first time Her Royal Highness had attended the charity’s annual Christmas Carol Concert, much to the delight of the hundreds of guests in attendance.
Thanking Tattersalls for the venue, Her Royal Highness explained the importance of the work Racing Welfare undertakes to support the workforce of British horseracing, including the chaplaincy service.
The concert raised funds for Racing Welfare’s chaplaincy service, which is led by Pastor Simon Bailey, the National Chaplain to Horseracing. There to enhance and support the wellbeing of those working in the horseracing industry in times of pain, loss, anxiety or trauma, regardless of their religious beliefs or lack of them, the chaplaincy service exists to ensure no one feels alone when faced with challenges. A total of £4,740 was raised at the concert – from ticket sales and a raffle.
Newmarket Town Band provided the rousing Christmas music, soloist Megan Bungard opened the concert with a performance of ‘Once in Royal Davd’s City’ and also performed ‘Silent Night’ later on during the evening. School choirs from Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy, Laureate Community Academy and Newmarket Academy were also in attendance and performed a number of festive favourites including ‘It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas’, ‘O Holy Night’, ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’.
The audience enjoyed readings from leading figures from within the horseracing industry, including Richard Phillips – Racehorse Trainer, Hugh Anderson – Managing Director of Godolphin, Anna Kerr – CEO of The National Stud and Tansy Challis – CEO of The Racing Foundation. Festive refreshments were on offer, kindly donated by The British Racing School. There was also a fundraising raffle with prizes generously donated by local businesses and a visit from Father Christmas and festive ponies.
Dawn Goodfellow, Racing Welfare Chief Executive, said: “Everyone at Racing Welfare would like to thank Her Royal Highness, in her role of Racing Welfare President, for attending our Christmas Carol Concert this year. Her Royal Highness spoke so passionately about the importance of community, and the work of Racing Welfare, and it was a wonderful to see so many people joining together to celebrate the festive season while thinking of the needs of others.
“I’d like to say thank you to everyone involved in organising, delivering or donating items to the concert and to all those who attended. Also a very special thank you to Penny Taylor, Godolphin UK Charities Manager, for organising our concerts for the past three years and making such a difference to Racing Welfare in raising awareness of our services and generating much-needed funds.”
Gemma Frost, Unity Schools Partnership’s Director of Education, of which Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy, Laureate Community Academy and Newmarket Academy are members, said: “All of the pupils were delighted to be involved in the concert, and we are all so proud of their performances. We work really hard to get pupils out of the classroom and into their local community and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. I sat with some of the parents and they spoke about how all the children will remember this for many years to come and how lucky they were to be able to perform in front of Her Royal Highness.”
Jamie Wilson, Band Master of Newmarket Town Band, said: “It was such a surreal experience, and also very humbling, to be able to perform in the presence of Her Royal Highness in support of Racing Welfare and the racing community. I’m so proud of all of the band members for their dedication to rehearsals and their performance. The acoustics are wonderful here at Tattersalls so I hope everyone enjoyed listening to us as much as we enjoyed playing.”
Racehorse trainer Richard Phillips, who hosted the evening’s concert, said “What a magnificent evening it was! It was wonderful to see so many young children from local schools in the ring performing for their local community to raise funds for Racing Welfare. Tattersalls is a place so full of history, so it was lovely to see it in a different light, and instead of foals and yearlings, it was full of young children, who we all hope have bright futures ahead of them.”
Racing Welfare’s services are available to anyone working in or retired from the racing industry, and are available 24/7, 365 days a year. Anyone who needs support over the festive period and beyond can contact Racing’s Support Line on 0800 6300 443.
