Page 148 - It's a Rum Life Book 3 "Ivy House Tales 1970 to 1984"

relationship with the Royal family. No small part due to the fact that Prince Philip The Duke
of Edinburgh was himself a very keen and accomplished “Whip” and that for many years,
the BDS President was Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Miller, the Crown Equerry to the
Queen. It was Sir John Miller who introduced Prince Philip to carriage driving.

During the late 1970’s, The Driving Society held their Annual Show in Windsor Great Park
and their Annual General Meeting in The Royal Mews, just behind Buckingham Palace. In
fact, the meeting itself was held in the Royal Riding School. After the meeting had finished,
members were invited to tour the carriages and horses in the Royal Mews. Parking for
BDS members attending the AGM was provided within the mews and I must admit that it
was a great honour to be sent a special pass to be able to drive in and park in such special
surroundings.

Picture of the actual Coronation Coach at the Royal Mews.

The last year we were to go to the AGM, parking spaces were not available due to building
work on the site. However after contacting the Police in charge, we were directed to park
at Redbridge Tube Station, virtually at the bottom of the M11 Motorway where we
purchased a “Rover” ticket that took us to Victoria Station, just a short walk from the Mews.

EBONY
It was during this time that Ebony came to stay. Exactly which year is hard to remember
but we received a call one day from the horse breeder who had supplied Juno.
He had a heard of a horse for sale that “would just suit us”!
It was big and young and beautiful and needed a home. At present it was living with its
owner near Gainsborough and he thought we should go and look, as horses like this one
did not come up for sale very often.
We duly travelled to Wharton just outside Gainsborough where we were confronted with

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