Obituary

Dave Watts

5 July 2023

It is with much regret that I write to inform you of the passing of Dave.

He started carriage driving in the mid 1980s and became a member of the Weald Harness Club. Dave was soon promoted to Chairman and his wife Wendy acting as secretary.

Together they organised and ran two day events, the annual show and the very popular Christmas drive with Wendy supplying her excellent mince pies to all that took part.

Dave became friends with Dick Carey and was part of the organising Committee that helped set up Brighton and Normanhurst horse driving trials.

In the 90s Dave competed himself at national level with his Welsh cob Flyer.

He then became a qualified course builder travelling the various club and national events around the country and was a founder and stakeholder of the Indoor Carriage Driving Club.

For many years Dave drove one of the ICD club vans transporting event equipment to indoor driving events around the country.

It was in the early 2000s that Dave and Wendy started bringing the ICD van to Merrist Wood indoor driving events for Brockham Harness Club.

They enjoyed the friendly atmosphere at the BHC events so much that when Brockham bought their own event equipment, Dave and Wendy continued to come and help, travelling a round trip of over 100 miles an all weathers.

Right up to last winter when Dave’s health started to deteriorate and he could no longer drive, Wendy would bring him along to help build the cones course and help timekeeping in the obstacle phase.

He will be sorely missed by all that knew him.

My deepest condolences and sympathies to Wendy and the family.

Dick Lane