The NZTBA honoured the memory of the former Patron Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with a small gathering at Cambridge Stud earlier this week.
Special guests Sir Patrick Hogan KNZM and Sally Cassells-Brown, were joined by former councillors Dave Winn, and Tom Williams to recall the Queen’s 1990 visit to Cambridge Stud, the opening of the NZTBA building in Auckland and how the Queen came to be patron. They were joined by a number of life members, some current NZTBA council members, local dignitaries, and former staff members from Cambridge Stud who were present at the time of the Queen’s visit.
There were lots of tales recalled as old friends caught up and there was great camaraderie amongst the guests.
During the official proceedings, Sally Cassells-Brown was recognised for her efforts in getting the Queen to open the building and become Patron and she shared that story with the audience. A video she had prepared for a fundraising dinner at Government House in 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee was a timely reminder of the Queen’s love of horses and dogs.
It was a day of mixed emotions for Sir Patrick, returning to Cambridge Stud. He was resplendent in his KNZM and CBE medals, the first time he has worn them in public, and although he is very frail and a little hard of hearing the cheeky Irish eyes were still smiling. He took a little while to warm into the questions by the media but was soon the old raconteur of the past regaling all with great stories.
He recalled how he had cheekily asked the Queen to visit Cambridge Stud when dining with her on the Royal Yacht Britannia in 1986 and how he had even offered to pick her up and take her to Cambridge and have her back in Auckland before she was even missed.
He then spoke fondly about the visit and how she enjoyed meeting Sir Tristram and being amongst the horses and the interest she took in their breeding and their plans going forward, before joining Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan for lunch.
“Afterwards I thought I should’ve told the caterer, ‘For God’s sake don’t wash the cutlery and stuff, I want the lipstick on the gin and tonic’,” he quipped.
“She was very relaxed and admired the view from the dining room, commenting that I had something she didn’t have and that was to be able to look out the window each morning and see mares and foals grazing straight outside.
“Little did she know that I had put the mares and foals in that paddock deliberately and then poured half a bag of oats along the fence line so they would graze there.”
Asked if meeting the Queen or becoming a knight were the highlights of his life, he was quick to add that although they were great achievements and highlights, they weren’t his greatest.
“My greatest achievement,” he stated, “was marrying Justine.
“We got married at 21 and went farming and she has been my greatest support ever since, we did everything together. In the beginning it was helping with the calves, and then when the horses came along, she helped with the foaling she’s done everything, looked after staff, entertained guests as well as raising Erin and Nicola.
“I know Justine wouldn’t necessarily like to be a Dame, but I think in most cases where a man like me is successful, his wife has put just as much work and effort into achieving success, and she should be a Dame not just a Lady. Too many women go unrecognised for their husbands achievements.”
Forever a horseman with a great affinity for horses Sir Patrick shared a few moments with Almanzor, before joining the guests in a loyal toast to the new King Charles III and later watching the Cambridge Stud stallion parade. -Michelle Saba, NZTBA
