Farewell to Rose

04 March 2010

Rose Crawford with her horses

MORE than 500 people celebrated the life of a legendary horse riding teacher who dedicated her life to a school in Havering-atte-Bower.

Former students, friends and colleagues packed into St John's Church in The Green, Havering-atte-Bower, on Wednesday of last week to say a final farewell to Rose Crawford who died on February 7.

David Smythe, proprietor at Havering Park Riding School, which is next to the church, said: "I have never seen such a collection of people so happy to celebrate the life of one person. It was a very fitting tribute to such a larger than life character."

Before the church ceremony, a procession, which included Rose's former students and favourite horses, made its way from Bedfords Park in Broxhill Road, Havering-atte-Bower, to the church, pausing outside the riding school for a minute's silence.

Rose's passion for horses started at an early age, and at 17 she started working as a stable hand at the riding school in North Road.

Over her time at the school, Rose, who grew up in Forest Gate, taught thousands of people to ride, many of whom have gone on to become world class riders.

Former student David Heather said: "She was fantastic. I ended up as a university lecturer, but the discipline she instilled in me was something that was invaluable for my education and later life.

"She has left a huge hole, but everyone remembers her with affection and she always taught us to put the horses first."

In the mid-1960s, Rose, who had no children and did not marry, moved into the horse riding school.

In 2006, her friends organised a surprise garden party to mark her turning 80 and donated money to buy her a mobility scooter, so that she could continue to get around the riding school, despite her arthritis.

Janet Rising, Editor of Pony Magazine and a former student, said: "Rose might not have had a family, but we all felt that we were her family."

Two years ago, Rose moved from the school into the Abbey Care Home in Collier Row Road, Collier Row, because of ill health, where she died aged 83.