tribute


Foxcote in an emotional 1984 final. This was the year that Lord Vestey took over his brother Mark’s Foxcote team after the latter had suffered a paralysing fall while out hunting. However such defeats failed to dim Mr


Heppe’s passion for the game. He went on to create the high-goal Hildon European Open at Smith’s Lawn in 2002, featuring four teams. A year later he formed the Hildon Sport high-goal team, featuring a quartet of all young professionals (Nina Vestey, John Paul Clarkin, Mark and Luke Tomlinson), who went on to win the British Open in that same year, defeating Hubert Perrodo’s Labegorce. Most recently, Hildon sponsored the Guards team that was due to play in an exhibition game as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2015 celebrations last November. Christian Heppe was part of the visiting party in Malta and accompanied Neil Hobday at the official shirt presentations in the Clubhouse at Malta Polo Club on the Friday evening (see page 53). Although Mr Heppe’s death is a sad loss to us


Christian Leopold Heppe 1942-2016


C 236


hristian Leopold Heppe, who died earlier this year, was a life playing member of Guards Polo Club. However his involvement with the sport was not just


limited to his playing polo. He was also a long- standing and generous supporter of the game in general and Guards Polo Club in particular through the company he founded some 26 years ago, Hildon Natural Mineral Water. The name Hildon sprang into life when


the Heppe family bought the Hildon Estate in Hampshire in 1989. They started to bottle the pure water, sourced from the underground aquifer below the estate, and today the blue or white labels can be seen in leading hotels and restaurants around the world. It can even be found in the royal palaces of Britain. Of course it is also the water of choice at Guards Polo Club thanks to the partnership between these two iconic brands. Christian Heppe’s love of polo saw him


play the game at the highest level. He reached the final of the British Open (Gold Cup) with


guards polo club official yearbook 2016


his own BBs team in 1984 and then saw a Hildon House team (Michael Amoore, Tommy Fernandez Llorente, Howard Hipwood and Norman Lobel) lift the trophy in 1990. Sadly the Queen’s Cup did elude him, losing out to


all, Hildon will remain a highly valued Corporate Partner at Guards Polo Club. As the company says on its website: “Heppe was the driving force behind the company for 26 years and will be deeply missed. Hildon will continue to trade as normal ensuring his legacy and his vision live on.” Of course a legacy of his generosity remains


highly visible to us all at Smith’s Lawn. Christian Heppe paid for the construction of the Club’s Royal Box on The Queen’s Ground, firstly in the 1980s and then an improved version in 2002. Sadly his wife predeceased him but we send


our most sincere condolences to the Heppe family and all of the team at Hildon. Pictures by Images of Polo & Mike Roberts.


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