Only Heroes and Horses

The story of the incredible Park Lane stables in Teddington, SW London (which has all the feel-good factor of Captain Tom + animals), from conception to now. The stables were splashed across the news beginning of 2021 because they were going to be closed down - the landlord was selling up and unless they could come up with 1million in a week to buy it off him they'd have to leave. The Park Lane Stables is a charity that caters for young people with disabilities, and it's a refuge for old horses - they didn't have anywhere near 1 million in funds. But Natalie, the owner, is an incredibly determined and hopeful woman, and she reached out to local celebs and to news outlets, with the community also helping her to spread the word. With help from Rob Brydon, Clare Balding, Rory Bremner, Good Morning Britain, BBC Breakfast and 32,000 people who donated, they raised the money in the nick of time. Then the queen sent them a letter
Princess Anne has promised to pay them a visit
and they've been invited to Buckingham Palace. The news story only tells one part of the amazing things the stables have done though throughout its existence and during the pandemic - plenty more to be shared in the book,
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