‘She’ll be very much missed’: final farewell to event organiser
The long-standing British Eventing (BE) organiser Anne James (née Webb) died on 20 October aged 72, following ill health.
Mrs James was born in Worcester, and grew up on the Malvern Hills, in Colwall. She and her sister Nicky were members of the Malvern Croome branch of the Pony Club, where their mother Jenny Webb was district commissioner.
She followed her mother’s footsteps into The Pony Club and worked for the organisation at Stoneleigh in the 1970s. One highlight was when she looked after a team of riders, alongside Sue Pennell (née Lupton), who were competing at Luhmühlen, Germany.
Mrs James enjoyed competing in eventing, and one victory was in 1972 at Crookham Horse Trials, which later became Tweseldown. In 1977 she welcomed her daughter Ali, who went on to compete in eventing until she was a teenager on some of Mrs James’ horses.
In the 1990s Mrs James became district commissioner of the Clifton upon Teme branch of the Pony Club, and alongside chief instructor Karen Nicholas, took teams from their branch to The Pony Club championships for the first time.
She later became a well-known horse trials organiser, when in 1998 Sheila Berry asked her to help run Berrington horse trials. Mrs James went on to organise Homme House horse trials with Stella Robinson, which ran for 12 years.
Mrs James was given the Pony Club Cubitt award, which honours those that have passed the landmark of at least 20 years of voluntary help to the organisation. She was also a long-term volunteer with the British Horse Society, and will be remembered for her huge contribution to equestrianism in the UK.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
A British Eventing spokesman said Mrs James was a “valued and well-respected organiser for almost three decades and will be very much missed by the organisation, and the wider eventing family.”
Mrs James is survived by her parents John and Jenny Webb, sister Nicky, and daughter Ali.
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.