RDA are very fortunate to have thousands of dedicated volunteers, many of whom give a huge amount of their time to us over many years. So it always brings us great pleasure to see the incredible efforts of RDA volunteers recognised on the national stage.  We would like to extend a very warm congratulations to Carol Olive Hipkin (Car to her friends), founder and Group Chief Instructor of RDA Colchester (Garrison) Group, on being awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services to young people.

Carol set up the Group in 1987 with Kathryn Illingworth wife of the Colchester Garrison Adjutant Colonel Tim Illingworth and has been closely involved in all the 37 years since.  Kathryn had been involved with RDA groups at previous army postings with her husband and her enthusiasm to start a group in Colchester was readily supported by Carol.  Her devotion to the Group and the work it does in supporting the young children has been evident since the start.  When the Colchester Garrison stables closed and the Garrison Saddle Club moved to Fletchers Farm in nearby Fordham in 2004 she was instrumental in ensuring the group continued and moved with it.

Her unfaltering passion for the RDA and the enormous benefits that the riding experience gives the children continues to inspire the volunteers at the Group who are very keen to turn out and support her.   Carol, who turned 80 in December, has been passionate about horses all her life and used to compete regularly in show jumping, cross country and dressage on her white horse Count Truvador.

The Group knows they are very lucky to have Carol and are all thrilled that her dedication over such a long period has been recognised with this thoroughly well-deserved award of the BEM.  Sadly both Kathryn Illingworth and Car’s husband Brian died in recent months but although they never saw her get the award both knew that she had been nominated for all of her extraordinary efforts and service to RDA.