Tuesday 28 September 2010

55th birthday celebrations rounded off at Bunny Hill Riding Centre

A riding school on the Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire border is rounding off its 55th birthday celebrations with a social event in October.

Folk band Growling at the Badger will be playing at Bunny Hill Riding Centre near Costock on October 16th.

The equestrian centre has been staging a series of events over the past few months to celebrate its 55th birthday, including a reunion in June, which attracted more than 300 former pupils and staff.

Now the stables is holding a final birthday bash with an evening of music, which runs from 7pm to midnight on Saturday October 16th, and costs £5 a ticket, to include nibbles.

Founded by Freda and the late Bob Humphrey in 1955, Bunny Hill Riding Centre is now run by their son Sam and his wife Lou Humphrey, who offer riding lessons to people of all ages and at all stages.

The riding centre became known as the National School of Equitation in the 1960s after becoming one of the first riding stables in the UK to have an indoor riding school, until recently reverting back to its original name.

“We have really enjoyed the programme of events we’ve run to mark our special anniversary year,” said Sam Humphrey. “It’s been fantastic to see so many old friends. We hope the event on October 16th will be the chance for us to get together again, and for any of those who missed our previous events to come along and help us share our celebrations.”

Bunny Hill Riding Centre is also home to the Knights of Nottingham jousting team, which is this year celebrating its 40th birthday.

Growling at the Badger was formed by some members of the jousting troupe when they attended the World Jousting Championships in Colorado several years ago and every team was asked to perform an act of some sort.

Sam’s brother Phil Humphrey and fellow jouster Pete Webster got together with a couple of the footmen and formed the band. They have remained in the band, and are now joined on stage by other footmen and a local vet to play in the area most weekends.

During the past few months, events at the riding stables have helped to raise around £500 for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Trust, and a raffle at October’s social event will be held for the same cause.

Tickets are available from Bunny Hill Riding Centre. For further information email lou@bunnyhill.co.uk , call 01509 852366 or visit the riding centre’s website http://www.bunnyhill.co.uk/ or Facebook page.


http://www.perfect10pr.co.uk/