OBITUARIES
TONY PIDGLEY
THE major equestrian benefactor and founder of housebuilders Berkeley Group has died aged 72.
Born in 1947, Mr Pidgley was taken in by Barnardo’s before being adopted.
He left school at 15, forming a haulage and plant hire company, which he sold aged 19 to Crest Homes. Mr Pidgley founded Berkeley in 1976 and the company has grown to become one of the UK’s largest housebuilders.
Mr Pidgley had a passion for horses and was a great supporter of dressage along with his second wife Sarah (née Hill) and the couple’s daughters, Annabella and Jessica. He also leaves two children from his first marriage, Tony Jr and Tania.
British Dressage (BD) chief executive Jason Brautigam paid tribute to Mr Pidgley.
“To lose any member of the dressage community is always desperately sad, but as Tony left us so suddenly this has come as a shock to everyone. Our heartfelt thoughts are with Sarah, Annabella and Jessica,” he said.
“Tony was a larger than life character, who often had strong views and opinions, but he was always very generous with his time, offering us his input and guidance based on his immense business knowledge and experience.
“His story is inspirational and proof that hard work can not only reap rewards, but leave an invaluable legacy behind.”
Mr Brautigam added that Mr Pidgley made a significant contribution to the sport, often unheralded at his own request.
“We’ll always be eternally grateful for his backing and what he helped us achieve in a number of areas, but particularly with BD Youth, where he was a passionate supporter of our talent development programmes,” he said.
“He’ll be missed by us all and we offer our deepest sympathy to his family and friends.”
Paralympic gold medallist Sophie Christiansen said Mr Pidgley will be missed in the equestrian world, and she will be forever grateful for his support.
“I was honoured to be given the ride of their Rivaldo of Berkeley (Robin). Together we became double world champions in 2010. Robin taught Clive Milkins and I an awful lot about how to manage such a talented horse,” she said.
The War Horse Memorial, which remembers the contributions of service animals and raises money for horses in need, also paid tribute to its “great benefactor and wonderful supporter of our cause”.
“We at War Horse Memorial remember him as a kind and generous man whose substantial donation enabled us to build Poppy, our national memorial to the horses, mules and donkeys who gave service and sacrifice in World War I,” read the tribute.
“Poppy stands proudly in Ascot and we understand Tony, as a great horse lover himself, took delight in her presence but modestly was reluctant to acknowledge the huge part he had played in her construction.
“When the nation’s Guides and Brownies unveiled Poppy on 8 June 2018, Tony took his place in the line-up of dignitaries, ambassadors and friends laying wreaths at the feet of our wonderful monument, but wanted no special mention or accolade.
“He was a true friend and supporter, and our thoughts are with his wife, Sarah, and his children and family at this sad time.”
ANGIE ANDREWS
THE much-loved head groom at the Horse Trust died on 18 May, aged 42, from cancer.
Born in 1978 in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, Mrs Andrews came from a non-horsey family but developed a love of horses from childhood and enjoyed competing in showing and dressage.
After leaving school she went to work with horses, and in early 1998 joined the Horse Trust as groom. Over the years Mrs Andrews progressed to senior groom, and was later promoted to head groom. She lived on-site with her husband, Horse Trust estate manager David, whom she met at a livery yard where they had both kept horses.
A spokesman for the charity said Mrs Andrews was loved and respected by all, especially the horses in her care.
“She was an amazing teacher for the less experienced and had a wickedly dark sense of humour that gave us all too many smiles and laughs to count,” she said.
Jeanette Allen, the Horse Trust’s chief executive and close friend and neighbour of Mrs Andrews, said: “We cannot believe she has gone, she fought a relentless rare form of cancer so bravely.
“We cannot express the loss and grief we all feel and how much we miss her. Our main focus now is to support David and remember Angie with love and pride.”
Mrs Andrews’ funeral procession was led by former Household Cavalry horse Yeti, and the Horse Trust’s Mull and Teddy.
“It was truly moving and the closest thing to a state funeral we could give her,” said the spokesman.
Mrs Andrews leaves David.