Former riding school pupils coming from near and far for 55th birthday reunion of Bunny Hill Riding Centre

Past pupils of a riding school celebrating its 55th birthday are expected to come from as far away as America and Portugal to take part in a reunion in June.

Bunny Hill Riding Centre, on the Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire border at Bunny Hill Top, near Costock, is staging a series of events to mark its 55th birthday this year.

The highlight is a reunion on June 20th which will provide the chance for some of the thousands of people who have learnt to ride at the stables to get together again.

“At the start of the year we announced we wanted to stage a reunion in June to celebrate the 55th birthday of Bunny Hill Riding Centre,” said Sam Humphrey, whose parents Freda and the late Bob Humphrey launched the equestrian centre in 1955. “We began putting the word out, and we’ve been amazed at how many people have got in touch to say they’d like to come.

“We’re expecting guests from as far away as America and Portugal. Most of them are former pupils who learnt to ride here, but we’ve also heard from past teachers who worked here too. It will be great to see some old friends again, as well as some of our current clients, at the reunion.”

The get together will also feature short demonstrations from The Knights of Nottingham Jousting Troop, which is based at Bunny Hill Riding Centre, and which is also celebrating a special anniversary this year - its 40th birthday.

Bunny Hill Riding Centre, which is run by Sam and his wife Lou, offers riding lessons to people of all ages and at all stages. Thousands of people are estimated to have learnt to ride there over the 55 years since the centre opened.

Among those who have taken to the saddle at Bunny Hill Riding Centre are mayors and sheriffs of Nottingham who needed to be able to ride a horse for official parades, Nottinghamshire-born actress Sherrie Hewson, who played Maureen in Coronation Street and currently appears on ITV’s Loose Women, several Nottingham Forest football players, and singer Micky Dolenz, who is best known for his role in the band The Monkees.

“We have taught thousands of people to ride here, and we are really looking forward to our reunion in June,” added Sam.

The reunion runs from noon to 3pm, and will include music. Refreshments will be available.

Any former pupils who’d like to attend the reunion in June should get in touch by emailing lou@bunnyhill.co.uk or calling 01509 852366 so that they can be added to the mailing list for information.

More information can be found on the riding centre’s website www.bunnyhill.co.uk or on the riding centre’s Facebook page.