55th birthday celebrations rounded off at Bunny Hill Riding Centre

A riding school on the Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire border is rounding off its 55th birthday celebrations with a social event in October.

Folk band Growling at the Badger will be playing at Bunny Hill Riding Centre near Costock on October 16th.

The equestrian centre has been staging a series of events over the past few months to celebrate its 55th birthday, including a reunion in June, which attracted more than 300 former pupils and staff.

Now the stables is holding a final birthday bash with an evening of music, which runs from 7pm to midnight on Saturday October 16th, and costs £5 a ticket, to include nibbles.

Founded by Freda and the late Bob Humphrey in 1955, Bunny Hill Riding Centre is now run by their son Sam and his wife Lou Humphrey, who offer riding lessons to people of all ages and at all stages.

The riding centre became known as the National School of Equitation in the 1960s after becoming one of the first riding stables in the UK to have an indoor riding school, until recently reverting back to its original name.

“We have really enjoyed the programme of events we’ve run to mark our special anniversary year,” said Sam Humphrey. “It’s been fantastic to see so many old friends. We hope the event on October 16th will be the chance for us to get together again, and for any of those who missed our previous events to come along and help us share our celebrations.”

Bunny Hill Riding Centre is also home to the Knights of Nottingham jousting team, which is this year celebrating its 40th birthday.

Growling at the Badger was formed by some members of the jousting troupe when they attended the World Jousting Championships in Colorado several years ago and every team was asked to perform an act of some sort.

Sam’s brother Phil Humphrey and fellow jouster Pete Webster got together with a couple of the footmen and formed the band. They have remained in the band, and are now joined on stage by other footmen and a local vet to play in the area most weekends.

During the past few months, events at the riding stables have helped to raise around £500 for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Trust, and a raffle at October’s social event will be held for the same cause.

Tickets are available from Bunny Hill Riding Centre. For further information email lou@bunnyhill.co.uk , call 01509 852366 or visit the riding centre’s website http://www.bunnyhill.co.uk/ or Facebook page.


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Successful 55th birthday reunion for Bunny Hill Riding Centre

Around 300 former pupils, staff and associates of Bunny Hill Riding Centre came from near and far to celebrate the equestrian centre’s 55th birthday.


They travelled from all over the East Midlands and UK to attend the event at the riding stables on the Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire border.

Travelling furthest was Clive Broadbent, who came more than 1,500 miles from Pennsylvania, USA, to join in the celebrations.

Clive was one of the original performers with The Knights of Nottingham jousting troupe based at Bunny Hill Riding Centre, which is also marking a special anniversary this year by celebrating its 40th birthday.

Another guest was Bill Hammond, from the Vale of Belvoir, who appeared in several films and TV shows riding on behalf of Bunny Hill Riding Centre. He was Michael Elphick’s double for stunts during the filming of Boon and took part in the film Lady Jane Grey.

“We were absolutely overwhelmed to see so many people at our 55th birthday reunion,” said Sam Humphrey, who runs the riding stables with wife Lou. “It was great to catch up with old friends who we’d not seen for years, and we’d like to thank everyone for helping us to share the special occasion.”

A raffle at the event raised £495 for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Trust.

The reunion included a lively display by The Knights of Nottingham jousting troupe and music by folk band Growling at the Badger, who are also members of The Knights of Nottingham.

Bunny Hill Riding Centre was launched by Sam’s parents Freda and the late Bob Humphrey in 1955. It has taught thousands of people to ride since opening.

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.

The centre’s horses have been used in many films, such as Gladiator, Lady Jane Grey, and First Night, which starred Richard Gere. They’ve also featured in TV programmes as diverse as Boon and Rosie & Jim, and have appeared in several adverts for the likes of Carling Black Label and Mars.

“We have taught thousands of people to ride here since 1955, from very young children to older adults, and it’s wonderful that we are still doing so as a family operation 55 years later,” added Sam. “I would like to pay tribute to my parents for buying this fantastic spot all those years ago.”

Freda and many other members of the Humphrey family were at the reunion to celebrate the milestone.

More information about the riding centre can be found at www.bunnyhill.co.uk or on its Facebook page.

* Photo courtesty of Shaw Pictures.