OBITUARY


SUSAN BAILEY BEM 1942-2017 S


usan Bailey BEM was a familiar figure at Guards Polo Club for many years. A Board Director for almost a


decade – representing the interests of the social members of the Club – Susan was passionate about ensuring that Guards Polo Club delivered the very best for both players and spectators at all times. This may have caused her to ruffle feathers at times, but she was invariably forgiven when people realised that she always had the Club’s best interests at heart. This was evident in the warm tributes


sent to the Club following her death last December, after a long and courageous battle against cancer, and in the packed church for her funeral in Cranbourne, Berkshire, just days before Christmas. In fact, the church was full of equestrians as Susan did not limit her interests to just Guards Polo Club. She was a dedicated member of the


Windsor Park Equestrian Club, chairing their social committee and so organising many memorable parties for them, especially


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those at Windsor Castle in the presence of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. Susan knew the Duke well, thanks to their shared interest in carriage driving. Susan was the founder member and


chairwoman of the annual Windsor Great Park Sponsored Carriage Drive. Originally set up as a fundraiser for the 1984 Olympics, Susan successfully raised £20,000 at that first event. Such success inspired her to continue to run this popular Drive for many years, regularly attracting some 100 competitors and raising significant sums for charity. In an interview with a local paper, when she was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to charity in the 2014 New Year’s Honours list, Susan recalled: “I particularly wanted us to reach the £¼ million mark when the event reached its 25th year and we did.” Susan was also a key figure in the world


of Riding For The Disabled (RDA) and was the driving force behind HRH The Princess Royal attending an RDA Gala Day at Guards Polo Club in 2014. Susan


was Chair of the Riding for the Disabled Driving Committee for several years and a regional driving representative for Greater London RDA, as well as being an RDA carriage driving assessor. Away from her equine interests, Susan


was a former ladies tennis captain at Wentworth Golf Club and former chair of its social committee. Guards Polo Club was able to benefit from this relationship as Susan created a unique partnership between these two leading sporting institutions, enabling all Guards Polo Club members to access Wentworth’s excellent dining facilities in the polo club’s off-season for several years. Although Susan had no children of her


own, she was deeply fond and immensely proud of her many nephews, nieces and godchildren and would do everything she could to support them on their chosen paths. Emotional tributes from some of them at her funeral was testament to their mutual love and respect. Diana Butler


GUARDS POLO CLUB OFFICIAL YEARBOOK 2018


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