RDA Volunteer of the Year Award 2013

The man behind this prestigious award - John Newell

Mrs Sue Ingleby (RDA Chairman of South west Region) on the left, and Mrs Jenny Pennell (RDA Carriage Driving Rep) with John Newell to be  presented with his award by Sue.

"John has shown outstanding dedication and commitment to the East Holton Driving Group. He is always 100% reliable and goes to the stables twice a day,every day come rain or shine.

During the driving season John arrives at 7.45 to poo pick, prepares the carriges, loads our disabled drivers and escorts up to six drives a day.

During the winter the horses are roughed off and have a rest; John does not!  He still poo picks seven days a week in the morning and then returns to the stables every afternoon to check the horses are safe and well for the night.

John's energy levels seem to be limitless(he is 84 years old) and he can keep going when volunteers half his age are flagging.

John is a retired builder and his contributions around the yard are so valuable. He originally renovated and completely rebuilt the stable yard and in 2012 made running repairs to the stables and and field fencing. John also helps to maintain the mobility scooters, electric fencing and carriages.

John has so much experience and is always keen to share his knowledge. In 2012 he trained many new volunteers, showing them how to load and secure disabled drivers and their wheelchairs.

Without John, the Group would find it very difficult to function. John's hard work this year(and for the last ten years) has been invaluable; long may it continue."

All of us within the Group endorse this wonderful citation whole-heartedly.

Message From Wally and Denise

Wally and Denise practise First Aid!

1^st September 2013 – A year ago Denise and I had to give up going to the ‘East Holton Driving Centre’ at ‘Holton Lee’.  The reason for this was that over a relatively short period of time Denise’s mental health disorder deteriorated, and she believed that everyone she met was a threat to her, and for several days in succession I had to take her home soon after we had arrived because as people arrived at the stables, Denise got more, and more traumatised. These weren’t strangers but people she had been with daily… The fear was visible as she moved her weight from foot to foot totally traumatised and fearful… Denise just wanted to run away from the stables and hide from view… As time went by I felt it was cruel to put her through this daily and took tome away, and seek medical help.

Denise pleaded that I continued at the stables and just leave her at home to cope with her problems on her own… People who understand ‘Mental Health Disorders’ will know that is not a carer’s option, while the balance of the mind is so obviously disturbed… We were no longer going to the stables but attending supermarkets or going into town was proving a problem for Denise… We sat in the Doctors waiting room at the surgery and the queue extended from reception counter and across the door of the waiting room, causing Denise a ‘panic attack’… it is now recognised that I book Denise in at the doctors and Denise waits in the car until it’s her turn when I go and get her… We supermarket shop either on line, during the evening, or at night in the 24 hour stores. Often even then the isles are still full, but not with people but empty cages from shelf filling actives…

Denise is a seasoned campaigner with ‘Mental Health Disorders’ for over 40 years however she has never experienced nothing like this before… we have attended hospitals, clinics both NHS and Private, visited Doctors, Psychologists, and Psychiatrists… Tried changes in medication, talking therapies, DBT, and CBT all so far unsuccessful in improving things for us, and nowhere near solving the Mental Health Problem for Denise… In the meantime we use coping strategies taught on the DBT and CBT sessions… It would be lovely to say to Denise; “Come on love get your bag and we will pop to the shops!” rather than have to plan it like a military exercise… This year has shot by we have not had a spare minute. Life is never dull and you have to remain on your toes, because you don’t know what will happen next… All this uncertainty as meant that we haven’t been able to even visit the horses… another thing that causes trauma for us both, unable to just visit and say goodbye even!

How fragile the MIND? When things like this can happen without warning, how devastatingly life changing it can be? We thank our friends for standing by us. Wally and Denise XX