It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Lady Rosamund Gladstone who died peacefully at home on 1st September. Very many of her years were devoted to RDA and she is remembered in latter years as a loyal, committed Trustee of Clwyd Special Riding Centre (CSRC) where she was Chairman for twenty years.

She formed the Deeside RDA Group in the early 70’s at a friend’s yard, went on to become County Chair of Clwyd and then Regional Chair for North Wales.

After being instrumental in the establishment of CSRC, she remained heavily involved, throwing herself into running the centre with great commitment. She became its President after her retirement and remained so until her death.

Her lasting legacy will be her introduction of RDA holidays. At first these were run at home at Hawarden Castle and then at CSRC in mobile homes and caravans. Later on the holiday accommodation was built and national and international holidays took place including some riders from Russia and China. She continued to meet and greet every RDA holiday group with a cake and a chat up until the time that she retired.

She served on the National Holidays Committee for many years and several times took parties of riders with additional needs to Portugal.

She was the recipient of the Birt Spooner trophy and The President’s Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to RDA.

Rosamund has given so much to RDA and the Clwyd Special Riding Centre over the years that it would take too long to record it all but she has brought happiness to many with her dedication, enthusiasm and vision.

Ann Lambert, CSRC