Memorial service for Josh Gifford to be held in Chichester
A service of thanksgiving for the life of Josh Gifford is to be held at Chichester Cathedral on Thursday 1 March.
Josh, who trained the 1981 Grand National winner Aldaniti, died on 9 February aged 70.
“He was a kind, emotional, hard-working and very loving man,” his daughter, event rider Tina Cook told H&H.
The former four-times champion jockey had been suffering from ill-health for sometime and was taken to hospital with septicaemia in October. He suffered a heart attack last week.
“He’d been unwell, but it was still a horrible shock,” added Tina.
“It’s very moving for all of us that Dad was so respected, and we’ve had so many kind messages. He worked himself up from humble beginnings and had such a strong work ethic. We’re so proud of him. He was caring and supportive.”
He leaves behind his wife Althea (nee Roger-Smith) and children Nick and Tina.
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Bob Champion who rode Aldaniti to victory told H&H: “When I was ill and everyone said I was finished Josh stood by me – he was a gentleman and a friend, he will be sadly missed but never forgotten. My thoughts are with Althea, Nick and Tina.”
The memorial service will be held at 2pm in the cathedral and all are welcome.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.