Looking to the future at The British Horse Society AGM
HRH The Princess Royal, stepping down after serving for five
years as President of the British Horse Society, welcomed
the new President, Noel Edmonds, to the Society’s Annual
General Meeting in London yesterday (22 June).
Her Royal Highness described Noel’s appointment as
“an inspired choice”, adding that “not only
is he a passionate horseman, but he is also an excellent communicator
and successful businessman.”
BHS Chief Executive, Graham Cory, praised the commitment
of the Society’s staff and volunteers. Describing the
volunteers as “often rain soaked and mud-bespattered”
he said “unpaid they may be, unvalued they most certainly
are not.” After celebrating the Society’s achievements
over the past year, he challenged everyone involved in the
Society to come out of their silos and work more collegiately
for the common good. “Feuds and petty-politicking must
be firmly consigned to history if we are to be an effective
force in equestrianism in the 21st century.”
The day also saw changes to the Board of Trustees. Mrs Pat
Campbell, who stepped down as Chairman, received the President’s
Award for her remarkable record of achievement. Patrick Print
was subsequently elected by the Board of Trustees to succeed
Mrs Campbell as Chairman.
Former Vice Chairman Marie Stokes, who was prevented by ill
health from attending, will be presented with the first ever
Patron’s Medal and appointed Honorary Vice President
of British Riding Clubs shortly.
Other changes saw the retirement of Helen Phillips, Robert
Warden, Stephanie Wheeler and Marie Stokes from the Board
of Trustees. Donald Kear and Margot Tiffany were elected Trustees,
and Helen Manns was re-elected. Mr Ian Maclellan was co-opted
to the Board to succeed Mrs Helen Phillips as Treasurer.
BHS Awards of Merit were presented to Catriona Cook (Yorkshire),
Jennifer Ham (Avon) and Jane Hemingway (Yorkshire) for their
dedication to The Society over the years, and a special posthumous
award was made to Stephanie Firth (Yorkshire) (collected by
her husband Peter).
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