Farewell to… a pioneer for riding for the disabled

Almost 300 people packed out the church in Cheveley, near Newmarket, on 7 January for the memorial service for Judith Walker, a pioneer for riding for the disabled.

Mrs Walker, 68, died on 21 December. She had been ill with leukaemia for some time.

She was instrumental in setting up one of the first riding groups for disabled children in 1962 and later became an adviser to the RDA.

Mrs Walker went as travelling head coach to the first World Championships for disabled riders in Sweden in 1987 — where two gold medals were won — and the Special Olympics in 1991 and 1996.

She was, said her friend Linda Porter-Cohen, “a most inspirational person”.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (24 January 2013)

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