Wormwood Scrubs Pony Club members will meet the Queen at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Picnic
Pony Club members will be performing a mounted display for the Queen at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Picnic in Bushey Park, Richmond, Surrey, on Tuesday 25 June.
Around 50 members of the Wormwood Scrubs branch of the Pony Club, ranging from six to 21 years of age, will be taking part in the 30min display, which willinclude a pageant of the Pony Club over the past 50 years.
“We are delighted to have been invited to take place in this very special event”, says district commissioner Sister Mary Joy Langdon, “but we need more items of Pony Club memorabilia (ties, badges, jodhpurs, etc) from the 1950s and 60s if the pageant is to go ahead.”
In addition to the pageant, the display will include a scene from an apache village, a comedy “DC’s lesson”, a quadrille ride and a section entitled “love changes everything” which will include some rides with special needs.
“This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the children, who will get the chance to meet the Queen during a walkabout at the picnic,” says Sister Mary Joy.
The achievements of the Wormwood Scrubs members seem amazing when you learn none of them have their own ponies.
“The club owns 17 ponies, which are shared among the members for PC activities,” explains Sister Mary Joy.”Fourteen of the ponies will take part in the display, so some quick changes of riders and costumes will be necessary.”
Organising grand performances is not unusual for the Wormwood Scrubs branch, which puts together a magnificent summer concert and Christmas pantomime every year.
“The ponies and riders are used to taking place in big displays,” says Sister Mary Joy. “Our annual concert, which has been described as totally unique, includes the members riding to a live orchestra with a professional soprano singer.”
Tickets for this summer’s concert, which is taking place on 7 July at the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre, cost between £10 and £25.
For tickets, or if you have Pony Club memorabilia from the50s and 60s, contact (tel: 020 8740 0573).
Read more about the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations:
