LOCAL farmer and racehorse trainer Reg Brown had no special plans to celebrate his 80th birthday but his friends and family certainly had! Luring Reg out on the pretext that they were taking him to a Hunt "do", their actual destination was Cross Ash Hall where a This is Your Life evening of surprises lay in store for Reg.
A sea of familiar faces were there to welcome him with a rousing Happy Birthday as he entered the hall, including many old friends from the world of racing. Among them was National Hunt jockey Ron Hyett who rode Reg's best known horse, Space Project, to be a gallant runner up in the Arkle at Cheltenham.
Reg's five sons were present together with his daughter, Hilda, who organised the birthday surprise with family friend David Evans.
At the end of the evening Reg was presented with the famous red book containing photographs, cuttings and memorabilia of his life which has revolved around farming, hunting and racing. He started out as an agricultural labourer but now has the distinction of being the second oldest permit holder in Britain. This season he is looking forward to his blue and brown colours being carried to success by his promising horse Drakestone, named after an earlier horse who won 13 races for Reg, including a hat-trick in the Welsh Grand Annual.
To crown a wonderful birthday, a film of Space Project's gallant run at Cheltenham was presented to Reg by his grandson, Darren, and a letter read out from former jockey and racing commentator Richard Pitman.
He described Reg as "the epitome of the sport's amateur spirit," - a sentiment endorsed by all present at a memorable evening.