We were all sorry to hear the sad news that June Webb passed away peacefully on 25th July, aged 86 years.
June Webb was co-founder of The Diamond Centre and many people at Diamond and in the local community will have very fond memories of her and the early days of Diamond when June and her husband Keith, a mounted policeman, established the centre over 50 years ago.
June was an avid horse lover and a truly amazing person. She and Keith shared a passion and enthusiasm for disabled riding and over the years horse riding has benefited many people with physical disabilities and learning difficulties. The fact that their legacy continues today is testimony to their foresight, hard work and commitment.
June was born in North London in1935, the great great niece of Fred Archer, the champion jockey of the 1850s, who had the distinction of winning 21 classic races, including winning The Derby five times. It is therefore not too surprising that June first learnt to ride a pony at the age of six and then went on to gain her BHS qualifications.
Over the years the family moved several times to homes in Middlesex, and June spent some time in Kingswood during the Second World War years.
June spent a considerable time with the late Frank and Flora Welch at Broadlands, Medstead near Alton. Frank and Flora arrived at Broadlands in 1946 with their daughter Suzanne. Flora was inspired by Mme Lis Hartel the Danish equestrian who was a victim of poliomyelitis and who could only walk with crutches but who gained an Olympic Silver Medal in Dressage when competing against those with no disability.
Broadlands was opened in 1955 as Medstead RDA, one of the oldest RDA Centres in the UK and it was there that June’s interest in the therapeutic benefits of riding for disabled was born.
Around this time June met Keith Webb, a London Metropolitan Mounted Police officer and they were engaged in 1958 and married a year later, on 2nd May 1959. It was in 1959 that Keith first saw a child who was normally dependent on a wheelchair, benefiting from riding a pony at Medstead.
By this time June and Keith were living locally. Their first marital home was in Balham and in 1961 they moved Wallington where they stayed until 1982. It was here that June volunteered as a keeper in charge of the Children’s Zoo at Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children, Carshalton.
They had two children, Stuart, born in 1961 and Peter in 1963. They had several grandchildren.
However, the love of horses flourished, and June purchased Forest Park Peanut, a six-month-old, New Forest Pony in October 1966. Peanut gave many years of loyal service.
Going back to 1959, the experience of seeing a disabled child benefit from riding a pony had sown the seed for something bigger but it was not until much later in 1968 when Keith, supported by Dr. Joan Bicknell was asked to undertake a pilot scheme at Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children in Carshalton, to explore the benefits of riding for the patients.
This was the forerunner to Diamond and June was the first Group Secretary from April 1968 – April 1970. Twice weekly sessions were soon under way and in November 1969 The Diamond Riding Group was formed and Diamond became one of the founder members of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA).
It was through Keith and June’s determination that a suggestion was made to have a dedicated centre and in 1970, The Diamond Riding Group was offered six acres of Crown land at Queen Mary’s Hospital on which to create a purpose-built centre.
Lessons continued at the hospital until 1971 when a fundraising drive raised the £75,000 needed to secure the land and develop the first few buildings on the site that is now the Diamond Centre. Construction began in January 1973 with the first lessons in the arena started in September 1973. It took two years to plan and a further two years to complete and the centre was opened by Princess Anne on 13th May 1974.
June met Her Royal Highness on several occasions during her visits to Diamond. She was fortunate to be invited to two Royal Garden Parties, an Evening Reception at Buckingham Palace, and a Royal Variety Performance at Fairfield Hall, Croydon attended by the Princess Royal in aid of what was then the Diamond Centre for Handicapped Riders.
It was in those early years from April 1970 to April 1982 that June was appointed as the first Group Co-Ordinator and was responsible for organising all the classes plus training of helpers and instructors. She also served on the Management Committee from 1968 – 1980 and the Executive Committee from 1970 – 1982.
In 1974 June was awarded The Martini International Award 1974, for services to the Equestrian World. Among her other achievements, June was co-author of “Guide To Riding” that enabled disabled people to get the best out of riding. It has been used in many countries world-wide.
June and Keith retired to the Forest of Dean in 1986 where June fell in love with the Forest and its history, and the forest became their adopted home. Keith died in 2012 but until recently June continued to live in Marefold, a beautiful cottage set in its own four acres of gardens, paddocks and orchards surrounded by heath and oak woodlands in the hamlet of Gorsty Knoll, Coleford.
June continued to enjoy her hobbies of walking, bird watching, historical research and natural history. She was also busy in the local community and took an active role in the Forest of Dean Local History Society.
She was equally busy helping to run the local WI, Coleford Country Market and the Forest of Dean Dog Training Club.
Despite moving home, June kept in touch with Diamond and was Vice President of the Diamond Group from 1982 until 1995 and then became the Senior Vice President of the Diamond Centre in 1995.
There are still quite a few people at Diamond who have very fond memories of June and the early days of Diamond when Keith and June set-up the centre. June was a truly remarkable person and the fact that June and Keith’s legacy continues today is testimony to their vision.
June’s name and reputation remain and is still respected by many people at Diamond and RDA; and those who were not fortunate enough to have met her but nonetheless recognise and acknowledge the contribution she made to disabled riding.
Don and Barbara Goodman will always be grateful that “their Downs daughter Kim benefitted greatly from the efforts of June and Keith and derived much pleasure from her years at Diamond”.
Mike and Jill Coleman remember June well, and the fact that “she was an inspirational woman”.
Adrienne Simons, a former volunteer at Diamond, knew Keith and June – “They were amazing people and without their foresight, work and commitment the Diamond Centre would not exist. Their names and reputation remain, and they are still remembered fondly and with respect by many people”.
Steve Axon, Chairman of the Trustees, met June only on one occasion when she visited the centre and chatted to her about the origins of Diamond. Steve remembers “She was able to see how the centre had developed and I am sure we came up to her expectations.” June kept in contact by email and was always keen to hear the latest news and took a keen interest in the work of the centre.
Steve commented “Quite simply, Diamond would not exist had it not been for June and Keith’s vision and foresight and we will always be thankful for all June did for the centre”.