Having kept as quiet as possible (for me) I can finally blog about the most amazing day’s work I have ever enjoyed. As a confirmed aviation nut and ex-flying instructor, the opportunity to be perhaps the last non-injured civilian to ride in a RAF Search & Rescue Sea King helicopter was beyond my wildest dreams (the RAF have since handed over Search & Rescue to a private company). I think it has put me firmly in Horse & Hound photographer Peter Nixon’s good books too.
It was, of course, all in a good cause. The letters page of H&H regularly contains stories of accidents while out hacking, some of which directed at insensitive or ‘gung ho’ pilots who fly too low over horses, causing them to spook. I am more aware than most, given my previous career, of how hard it is to spot a horse and rider, so felt it worthwhile to attempt to get the message across that wearing hi-vis really could make a difference in preventing accidents.
Working on the basis that it’s not what you know as much as who you know, I enlisted the help of friend and RAF Paramedic Winchman Haz (blog 3), who set the wheels in motion to obtain all the relevant permissions – there were dozens of hoops through which to climb. That done, Peter and I arrived at RMB Chivenor in North Devon early one morning, on a perfect, blue-sky day at the end of September. The final story is in H&H today with a shorter, more personal, blog (and some cool video) due on their website.
What a day… I am school-girl star struck with these guys (and girls – co pilot was the lovely Tamsyn); pilots, medics, crew, engineers, they are so utterly good at what they do. Not only did Peter and I both get winched up into the helicopter, I also got to sit in the Sea King’s cavernous doorway, legs out, as we cruised low along the North Devon beaches. I will still be grinning like a cheshire cat this time next year.
In other news…. George (the horse – blog 1) has yet to come sound so is now on box rest with Emily Lochore at Burnham Market after a steroid injection in his hock – I’m slightly concerned he is going to be stolen by one of the team there, he’s wrapped them around his hoof that’s for sure, but he is being beautifully looked after – thanks to Rhiannon, Jordan and Sam. I’m keeping everything crossed that our hacking days aren’t over…
Family stuff stays the same – but a huge plus is some of the people I have met over the last 5 months. Enough said on this really – they know who they are.
It’s hard to remember what else has happened since the European Eventing Championships. Features have been written, Little Downham and Oasby Horse Trials event reports filed and hundreds more motorway miles clocked up – by now Angus Smales might even have stopped laughing, having worked out who the ‘little old lady’ driving the ‘granny’ car at Oasby was. Last time I write nice things about him in a report 🙂
My event season is over so life can slow down a bit, although I still seem to have a mountain of web work to do. Time to plan some fun adventures for the relatively quiet winter months…