Roll Of Honour

The extraordinary commitment of our volunteers should be acknowledged and rewarded whenever possible. There have been some impressive awards to members of the South East Region over the years.

The President’s Awards

Our President, Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, Princess Anne is a great supporter of RDA, championing our work as a national charity and visiting our groups as often as she can. Each year she presents a select group of volunteers across the country with the coveted President's Award. The President’s Award is the most prestigious volunteer award within RDA and is awarded for service of an exceptional nature over a period of not less than 30 years.

2021 Winners

Jo Lee, Epsom, Surrey
Sally Grainger, Eridge, Kent
Bridgyd Richards, Eridge, Kent

Past President's Award Winners

Past Winners of Tora Bray Perpetual Trophy
Year Name Group County
2019 Jan Abrahams Hope in the Valley/RDA UK East Sussex
2018 Margaret Fogg Hope in the Valley East Sussex
2017 Judi Singer Regional Chair and RDA Trustee Surrey
2016 Carol Rycroft Court Meadow East Sussex
2016 Rosemary Harrison Cranleigh Surrey
2015 Verity Jones Godstone Surrey
2015 Fiona Wright South Downs West Sussex
2014 Jean Musson Court Meadow East Sussex
2013 Carol McClean Hope in the Valley East Sussex
2013 Judi Ralls Stella Hancock Surrey
2013 Carol Porter Happy Landings West Sussex
2012 Judy Case Mid Sussex East Sussex
2012 Janie Lawson Gennetts Farm West Sussex
2012 Sally Yonge Mid Sussex East Sussex
2010 Gilly Roper Bradbourne Kent
2010 Pat Breakell Cranleigh Sussex

Tora Bray Perpetual Trophy

2023 Winners

Sarah Matthews and Mary Stokes, Co-Chairs, Cranleigh Group

In 2019 Sarah and Mary agreed to take on the role of Joint Group Chair for a year while a permanent Chair was found. Four years later, they were finally allowed to stand down when their successor took office at their AGM.

Sarah and Mary demonstrated how it is possible to share the Chair’s role successfully and effectively with mutual respect and understanding. Mary looked after all things equine and operational while Sarah was responsible for governance, policies and procedures. They steered the group through the pandemic years which were particularly difficult for large groups like Cranleigh that own their own premises and many horses. They gave 100% and never wavered, handing over the group in good shape and ready for its next exciting chapter.

Thank you to both of them for their incredible commitment to Cranleigh Group and to the region as a whole.

Past Winners of the Tora Bray Perpetual Trophy

Past Winners of Tora Bray Perpetual Trophy
Year Name Group
2022 Susi Anderson Woodchurch Driving Group
2019 Hilary Gilson Cherry Park Driving Group
2018 Pauline Lane Cranleigh Group / Surrey County Chair
2017 Lesley Morrill Hope in the Valley Group / East Sussex County Coach
2016 Gilly Roper Bradbourne RDA / Regional Coach
2015 Liz Major Heron's Ghyll
2014 Julie Courtney Bradbourne
2013 Sally Pointing Chichester
2012 Judi Singer Regional Chair
2011 A J (Jeanette) Crane Kingley Vale
2010 B Harrison Ashford Valley
2009 R M Nailard Mid Sussex
2008 Catherine McCully Cobbes Meadow
2007 Gilly Bishop Burstow Park
2006 Keith Edwards Ashford Valley
2005 K Palmer & G Palmer – Founders Rocking Horse
2004 Pat Breakell Cranleigh
2003 Jean Musson Court Meadow
2002 Peter Felgate Bradbourne and Regional Instructor
2001 A Desmond Pelly Mid Sussex
2000 C M Rycroft Court Meadow
1999 Ann Sheldrake Founder of Happy Landings
1998 Sheila Blair Hope in the Valley
1997 Sally Raw Old Park and Surrey County Instructor

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