KEY PEOPLE

Frankie Paine : Centre Manager

Frankie Paine

Centre Manager

Frankie manages our Centre, our horses and our volunteers and has her RDA Group Coach Certificate.  She is an experienced rider and coach, with a wealth of equine knowledge.  She has a BSc (hons) in equine sport science and has worked in the areas of equine rehabilitation nursing and nutrition.  She has a passion for coaching, dressage and training horses, and cares for our horses in as natural way as possible so they are relaxed and content.

Fern Stokes : Full Time Groom

Fern Stokes

Full Time Groom

Fern works with our horses, riders and volunteers.  She has her RDA Group Coach Certificate coaching both class and private lessons, and works with Frankie to train our horses and ponies.   She joined us from Heathrow Special Needs Farm RDA and is also a qualified swimming coach.

Kim Brown : Part Time Groom

Kim Brown

Part Time Groom

Kim works on the yard, having previously been a volunteer.   As a teenager she spent all her spare time helping at her local stables, and in 2015 took up riding again.   In 2017 she worked at Snowball Farm as a groom where she passed her BHS Stage One Ride, Care and Complete Horsemanship exam.  She has also passed her BHS Ride Safe exam which took took at the Berkshire Riding School.

Jane Carmichael : Administrator

Jane Carmichael

Administrator

Jane supports our staff and the Trustees with the smooth running of SBRDA, and works closely with our volunteers and riders.   She is a keen equestrian and has her own horses that she enjoys competing.  Jane is in the office weekday mornings.

jane.carmichael@southbucksrda.org
Diane Redfern : Trustee - Group Chair, Group Organiser

Diane Redfern

Trustee - Group Chair, Group Organiser

Diane Redfern is our Chair and Group Organiser at South Bucks RDA. She invited the Group to the Redfern family home 50 years ago.

Through her influence, and guidance South Bucks RDA has developed to an internationally renowned centre, where disabled riders can come and develop their potential. She has been a guiding light in the National Riding for Disabled movement and is an Hon. VP of the National Charity.

di.redfern@southbucksrda.org
Dr Hilary Jones : Trustee - Honoury Company Secretary

Dr Hilary Jones

Trustee - Honoury Company Secretary

Hilary is our company secretary. She became a weekday volunteer on retiring as a local GP nearly 10 years ago, she has been involved with horses throughout her life and became a trustee in 2013.  She still volunteers every week when not busy travelling or with her grandchildren.

hilary.jones@southbucksrda.org
Julie Thomson : Trustee - Finance - Honorary Treasurer

Julie Thomson

Trustee - Finance - Honorary Treasurer

Julie is our Trustee for Finance / Honorary Treasurer. Julie has been involved with SBRDA for over ten years, and is a weekday volunteer.  She previously worked at Berkshire College of Agriculture in equine event management and administration, leaving there in December 2016 to concentrate on her business as a book-keeper.

julie.thomson@southbucksrda.org
Elaine Smith : Trustee - HR, RDAGC Group Coach

Elaine Smith

Trustee - HR, RDAGC Group Coach

Elaine is our Trustee with responsibility for Human Resources, she works with and supports our staff. She coaches on a Sunday. Outside RDA she is a keen sailor, walker and skier.

elaine.smith@southbucksrda.org
Theresa Drake : Trustee - Coaches, Health & Safety, Safeguarding, Training

Theresa Drake

Trustee - Coaches, Health & Safety, Safeguarding, Training

Theresa has been involved with RDA since she was 14, volunteering with the Group since 1987, and is the parent of an RDA participant. She is a BHSAI, UKCC3 and RDAC; and is involved in the RDA South Region as Regional Coach, Showjumping Representative, and Coach Developer, Countryside Challenge Judge for the Region and National RDA.     She is a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for complex needs in Buckinghamshire and has recently qualified as a HCPC registered Equine Facilitated Learning Practitioner.

For information on Safeguarding

theresa.drake@southbucksrda.org
Alan Lawrence : Trustee - Fundraising

Alan Lawrence

Trustee - Fundraising

Alan is our Trustee with responsibility for fundraising. He heads up a team of volunteers who raise funds to subsidise the running of the group. Alan became involved via his sons, who both ride. Alan supports his younger son as a side helper. Alan is also actively involved supporting the maintenance of the Group's horse box.

alan.lawrence@southbucksrda.org
Emma Ford : Trustee, Communication & Volunteers

Emma Ford

Trustee, Communication & Volunteers

Emma is a Trustee and volunteer group coach on a Saturday, she has been volunteering at SBRDA for 30 years.  She is a qualified Executive Coach working in the area of professional development. Her horse Shane lives at SBRDA and is best mates with Wilma.

emma.ford@southbucksrda.org
Charley Holmes : Trustee - Riders & Participants

Charley Holmes

Trustee - Riders & Participants

Charley is a trustee and rider, having joined SBRDA in 2021.  With a love of riding and a diagnosis of dystonia she has first hand experience of the benefits horses can bring to mind and body and is passionate about sharing her experience of RDA with others.

charley.holmes@southbucksrda.org
Alison Tolmie : RDA Coach

Alison Tolmie

RDA Coach

Alison has been a volunteer with SBRDA since she was 14. She used her volunteering with the group as part of her DoE Gold award. She has achieved her pony club C+ and BHS stage 1 as well as being a volunteer Coach. Alison usually coaches on Sundays and is a primary school teacher.

 

Sharon Brockey : RDA Group Coach

Sharon Brockey

RDA Group Coach

Sharon is a volunteer group coach, she volunteers on a Saturday coaching two classes.  She has been volunteering with the Group for over 20 years, and works for British Airways.

Sophie Christiansen CBE : Group President

Sophie Christiansen CBE

Group President

Sophie started her dressage career at SBRDA aged 13. With guidance from Diane Redfern and Clive Milkins, and having the opportunity to ride some incredible horses at SBRDA, she fulfilled her dream of becoming Paralympic Champion. Not just once, but eight times, across four Paralympic Games. Riding for the Disabled and SBRDA truly changed Sophie’s life and has given her a platform to champion disability rights and help others.