About Us

Kelda Wood, MBE is a former GB Para-Canoeist, the first para-rower to solo row over 3,000 nautical miles unsupported across the Atlantic. She’s also Founder of Climbing Out, a charity focused on helping rebuild confidence and self-esteem in people facing life changing injury, illness or trauma.

Kelda’s passion has always been with horses and her goal was to ride for her country and represent Great Britain at the Olympics. Unfortunately, after a serious leg injury in 2002, Kelda’s hopes of competing at an international level seemed to have disappeared. The leg injury had a huge impact on her life, leaving her no longer able to run or play many of the sports that meant so much to her.

And now she brings that wealth of experience, and love for equestrianism to the Cavalier Centre. Her unique understanding of people, overcoming challenges and using physical activity to boost mental health will be a huge asset to the Centre as it continues to grow and serve more people in Shropshire.

The Cavalier Centre is honoured to have Henry Jocelyn Seymour, 9th Marquess of Hertford as its President.  Although he lives at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire, Lord Hertford has been very supportive over the past few years, joining in with fundraising events and attending the grand opening in 2019.  He is a keen horseman himself and understands very well the vital work that is carried out by Riding for the Disabled groups across the country and the amazing difference that horses can make to people’s lives.

Lady Forester attended the formal launch of the campaign to raise funds for the Cavalier Centre at the Severn Edge Arts Centre, and was on hand to cut the first turf when the dream started to become a reality and the builders moved on site.  Catherine Lady Forester, the life vice-president of the Cavalier Centre, is an enthusiastic supporter of the RDA and has delighted in all that has been accomplished at Bradeley over the last few years – perhaps doubly so, because her daughter, Selina Graham, has been involved from the beginning and is also a trustee of the Centre.  Lady Forester regularly attends events and open days and actively champions the work of the Centre.

Practiced as a solicitor for 4 years in London before moving to Zimbabwe and running a cattle ranch with ostriches and paprika for 10 years.  She also set up and ran Asekela painting holidays and when back in England continued to sell African art through the Zimbazaar.  She returned to the family Estate in Shropshire in 2002 where she is currently Chief Executive.  She has worked for many charities both in Zimbabwe and the UK, helping to raise considerable sums for a variety of good causes.

With a particular interest in young people, she built a school in Zimbabwe and helped to set up the first primary free school in Shropshire.  She was a school governor for 20 years and remains an academy trustee.  She has also served for 12 years as County President of St John Ambulance and serves on the boards of several other charities.

Selina is currently president of the Shropshire branch of the CLA, trustee of the Weston Park Foundation, chair of trustees of the Shropshire Community Foundation, and patron of the Footprint Gallery in Jackfield.  She was High Sheriff of Shropshire 2022/23.

A passionate believer in collaboration and co-operation, and that working together nothing is impossible.  Married, with two children and two very needy dogs.

1983 onwards Increased involvement with Riding for the Disabled. Member of National Coaching Committee Chief Examiner and Assessor.

1995 Founded Perry Riding for the Disabled Group. 1997 Founded Perry Carriage Driving for the Disabled. 1998 Founded Perry Equestrian Vaulting Group. 1998 Certificate in Education for Further, Adult, and Higher Education. Open University Degree Course ongoing.

1998 Visited Hong Kong as Examiner for local coaches affiliating to Riding for the Disabled. 2001 RDA Senior Instructor. 2004 Visited Cluj Napoca in Romania to assist small group setting up for disabled riders. 2008 Attended North American Riding for the Handicapped Association National Conference at Hartford Connecticut.

2010 UK Coaching Certificate Level 3 – Assessor and Coach Educator. 2012 Delivered a paper at International Congress for Therapeutic Riding at Munster. 2015 RDA Fellow. 2015 Visited Dubai to assist voluntary group Al Marmoom Therapeutic Riding setting up strategies for taking disabled riders

2023 Awarded MBE in The King’s Birthday Honours List for services to charity and to people with disabilities.

Dennis is a retired career Civil Servant with extensive experience at senior levels in the Change Management and Business Assurance sectors of Government.

Active in the Charity sector for over twenty years – both locally and nationally – Dennis is particularly focused on facilitating assistance for individuals and organisations providing support for the terminally ill, the disadvantaged, the vulnerable, and the homeless.

After completing a BA (Hons) degree in Communication Studies in Nottingham she moved to London to become a media buyer in the advertising industry working on accounts such as Toyota.

Lynn moved back to Shropshire 1996 and in 2000, with her husband Simon and started the corporate financial advisory company, Fox Whittle Financial Management which is still going strong today.

She has been a volunteer on the Cavalier Centre fundraising committee since 2015, helping with among other things the Race night’s, open day at Kingswood Equestrian Centre, Mfest 300 and the zip wire challenge.

Lynn has a particular interest with RDA as her daughter Lydia has arthrogryposis and has seen the wonderful experience riding horses has given her and in particular para dressage. They now share a horse for every day enjoyment.

Educated at Horris Hill and Repton, Bill went on to serve in the military, holding the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Scots Guards.

During his business career he has held many roles, including marketing manager, Managing Director of Granada Motorway Services, Assistant Managing Director of Granada’s UK TV rental operation and Director of European Operations at Norlin Music.

Upon retirement, he is actively involved in start-up business acting as an angel investor.

Val trained as a business analyst, working on two of the largest Business Systems ever developed in the UK, leading one of nine Work Centres to be established.

After 5 years of running the Work Centre Val became part of a policy team in the Cabinet Office moved to the Office of Government Commerce, an office of the Treasury.

Following 5 years living in London away from husband Dennis, distance was taking its toll and it was time to resume a normal life. However, after 12 months of retirement Val was offered another challenge, and became involved in the voluntary sector through becoming chair of the newly built Severn Centre, a leisure trust in Shropshire utilizing her existing skills and combining them with new ones required to integrate the Severn Centre into the community. She then decided to properly retire but guess what, another opportunity to help came along and here Val is, volunteering at the Cavalier Centre.

Sarah obtained her Law and French Degree at the University of Birmingham in 1994 before completing the Legal Practice Course in 1995, achieving Distinction. Sarah began her training contract at leading Midlands firm Martineau and qualified as a Solicitor in 1997 before joining Gwynnes (later to become mfg Solicitors) in 2004. Sarah joined FBC Manby Bowdler as a Partner in 2012 and now heads up the Agricultural & Rural Services Team.

Sarah specialises in all aspects of property based agricultural and landed estate work. She provides clients with a detailed knowledge and understanding of matters arising in the acquisition and disposal of freehold land as well as agricultural, residential or business leasehold matters with particular emphasis on Agricultural Holding Act tenancies, estate management, refinancing, subsidy advice and agri-environmental schemes. Sarah has built her reputation acting as legal adviser to some of the largest landed estates across the Midlands and into Wales as well as multi generational family farmers in reorganising their farming business structures and partnerships.

Sarah was until recently President of the Staffordshire Committee of the Country Landowner and Business Association (CLA) and has also completed a five year term on the CLA’s National Legal, Parliamentary and Property Rights Sub Committee.

Dr Black qualified in medicine at Bristol university in 1979 and early on specialised in mental health, qualifying both in Psychiatry and Medical Psychotherapy.

She has worked in Liaison Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Therapeutic Communities and established a well-regarded Psychotherapy service in Wolverhampton. She worked for the NHS for nearly 40 years and is passionate about addressing inequalities in health care which sadly persist and if anything are getting more pronounced. She retired not long before the pandemic.

Dr Black had a reputation for prescribing much less than her colleagues, believing that non-drug treatments are vital in mental health care and has always been interested in the role of other therapies including Art and music therapy, psychodrama and has run writing and poetry groups for patients. She plays the bassoon in Telford orchestra, having learnt as an adult and also writes both poetry and prose. She is about to publish her first collection of poetry.

She does not need any convincing that the Cavalier Centre can transform disadvantaged people’s lives and is very keen to become involved in the work of the centre.

Mark is Head of Corporate Communications for the West Midlands Fire Service. Having served in the army for seven years, travelling across the world, Mark then worked as Account Director in the advertising industry – for agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi and Euro RSCG – working with clients including Lloyds TSB, Volvo Cars and Procter & Gamble.

During this period of his working life, Mark learned the huge importance of embedding creative thinking into everyday communication and engagement – as everyone has different ways of learning and absorbing information.