Roll Of Honour

Hilary Gilson, Chair, Cherry Park Driving Group (formerly Goodwood Driving Group)

Hilary has been an inspirational and dedicated Cherry Park volunteer for many years. Her efforts in promoting Cherry Park in the local community, enable the group to not only recruit volunteers, but also to secure funding. Her book stalls and plant stalls are hugely successful at local events.

Hilary has seen the group through a critical change of venue with minimal disruption to the weekly sessions. Not only has Hilary’s motivational leadership style seen the group through significant challenges, but she has also enabled one driver, Sandra Spinner, to qualify and compete at the National Championships at Hartpury in our 50^th anniversary year. Hilary personally attended the championship as part of the team, which won the class.

Cherry Park won the award for Driving for the Disabled Group of the Year at the Carriage Driving Magazine’s Annual Awards ceremony this autumn. The judges for the class were ‘looking for the RDA Driving Group which has gone above and beyond its remit, and above all one which has offered a fun and informative environment to allow drivers to enjoy their sport to their fullest capacity”.

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.

Margaret Fogg, Hope in the Valley, East Sussex