Carriage Driving For Disabled Adults In Dorset

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year!!

A Bright Start To Year 2010
Expectant.....'Where's our breakfast?'
Wait a minute! New Year Treat ....a can of Guiness for each! (horse that is!)
DE-LIC-IOUS !!! Worth waiting for!!


Dear Members and friends of the EHDC,
On behalf of the Chairman and Committee may I take this opportunity to wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR and all very best during 2010. We have had a very busy and successful 2009, and we will take time right now to thank you all for your help. It is all the horses, drivers, helpers, RDA whips and friends of the group, supported by the committee members. All these people combined have determined the groups success. Your efforts how ever large or small are very much appreciated.
Thank you to the people who have helped, despite taking courses, looking after family members who are suffering ill health, but still managed to help whenever they can. We were very sorry to lose Val Barber, our secretary during the year, due to ill health. We hope she is recovering and getting better.
It is wonderful to have John Newell as a trustee in his 81st year, John still attends daily and plays a very active roll in the day to day running of the stables. John turned the derelict farm yard into the stable yard it is now. John supported Margaret when she was Helper, AB Whip, Group Organiser, and Chairman of the EHDC. He has had a major input for 16 years. We thank you John!
I discovered that at the Volunteer Centre in Poole, the information for prospective volunteers said that the volunteers had to be "Able Bodied" I have change that to suit our group policies, of disability equality. We now will except people whether they are disabled or non-disabled. Age is the most common disability there is, and our helpers are getting more disabled as the years go by. For instance I used to run the Mile and 800 yds, for the Army, and now I can't run for a bus. We all have lots to offer and share with the people we help, within the RDA. We accept people as they are, we enable and empower people with disabilities and this is a good ethos to have.
Continue to enjoy Holton Lee and I hope you will support us again during 2010.
with best wishes and kind regards
Wally Pitt Group Organiser EHDC.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Xmas Carol & Lantern Walk 2009


Carols in the stable yard.

After all the unceasing rain of late we were blessed with a heaven sent dry, yes a bit chilly, evening with a clear sky. The turnout of friends and supporters of Holton Lee and the EHDC was beyond all expectation! I failed to get photos of the crib scene and the candle-lit pathway from Faith House down to the stable yard, but they were both very spectacular.

We all assembled outside Faith House where candles in jars and carol sheets were issued, Bridget Green and Theresa Veith, Holton Lee trustee and Director welcomed everyone and we opened the carols with ' O Come All Ye Faithful' and then set off in a long procession down to the studios where another carol was sung before filing into the stable yard where Mary & Joseph could be viewed with baby Jesus in a simple crib scene flanked on one side by Charlie Brown who took a great interst with his head over the stable door. Felix was in the next stable and they both enjoyed the attention they received from so many people.

Accompanied by a volunteer on a keyboard we sang 'Away In A Manger' and 'Silent Night'. Bridget thanked everyone and welcomed everyone to return to Faith House for mulled wine and mince pies. The big raffle was drawn while everyone was able to socialise.

Our thanks go to Angela who gainfully entertained children in the warmth of the farmhouse with some craft making.

All in all a very successful evening; and our thanks go out to all those who helped and turned out to support our efforts to make it the success it was.