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TORDIS EYLES
[TORDY] 1940 -- 2010
 A
huge gap was left at Rotherwood Stud when Tordy passed away on
August 11th, after a short illness .
She had worked here at the Stud as Head Stud Groom for thirty four
years, though actually ‘semi’ retiring on her sixtieth Birthday ten
years ago. She lived here on the Stud in the Flat above the Stallion
boxes .
Thirty four years covers an enormous amount of memories and I shall
miss all the times we talked about all we did in those early days
and since .
She was a most loyal, dedicated, trustworthy and discreet person
with a passion for the ponies and such a high standard in all she
did .
After leaving school she went to help at the Yard of the very
professional and real ‘Horseman ’ Johnnie Moss and Mrs Rosemary
Cook, where she looked after such Show Hunter Champions as Monbra,
Some Gardener and Rosemary’s Cook’s Cobs Nobby and Alexander. Still
very famous names today.
Absolutely NO-ONE could turn a pony out for the Ring like Tordy. She
was a past Master at it – and no short cuts – all done the old
fashioned way. Her plaited tails were legendry and people often came
here to learn how to do it properly.
Tordy’s other interests were her love of the cats and any kittens we
had [ usually lots!] She was devoted to them and they followed her
everywhere like the Pied Piper. She liked gardening and always saw
that the Bird Table was full of goodies. Then of course she did love
her Racing – National Hunt of course. She always followed specially
at the time, Richard Dunwoody as she had once lived in the village
very near to his family and she often used to push him out in his
pram .
Tordy was very much a part of Rotherwood and as so many said on
hearing of her death – they always thought of her as “always being
there ”--- and she was.
One in a million , Rotherwood mourn her loss and specially me. She
is greatly missed.
Liz Mansfield-Parnell.
Photo by S.Fitt --HOYS 2009 |
Foot-note :
This year, as President of the National Pony Society, I announced
that I wished to give “Long Service Award’s” to any persons who had
worked for many years with the same ‘Yard ‘, or a Family, Stud,
equine institution etc., to give recognition to the ‘backroom
boys’.The Awards are to be presented at the AGM in March 2011. Of
course together with any others who might be put forward, it was
when giving Tordy her Celebration card on her 34th anniversary of
being here last February, that I thought of it and how much I would
want her to be one of the Awards . Sadly she is no longer with us
but I would therefore like to award the Trophy in her Memory .
Footnote 2
Both Tim and I would like to extend our most sincere thanks to all
those who sent their expressions of sympathy and to those who kindly
sent Donations to the World Horse Welfare [the ILPH] in memory of
Tordy .
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