Memories of Fyfield's Grand National win 52 years ago

But for one Fyfield woman, the race held extra poignancy as the first without her dad, who passed away in December last year. Linda Price’s dad, John Emlyn Price, worked with horse trainer Toby Balding in the village for many years.

Linda recalls the moment her father and Toby returned from the 1969 Grand National, having won the race with Highland Wedding.

She said: “I recall seeing Dad arrive at the top of the village preparing the horse for a grand welcome home.

“The whole village, it seemed, were waiting to see them arrive home. Photographers and reporters with the Andover Advertiser and national newspapers were also there, while there were gifts for Highland Wedding in the form of honey, carrots and sugar”.

John was born in Ruthin, north Wales, in 1931, and Linda says that he was a proud Welshman.

“He was very proud to be Welsh,” she said, “watching rugby often on TV and placing his red dragon flag on the porch, or growing leeks and daffodils in the garden.”

John met his wife Phyllis, and in 1951 they travelled to Shropshire with their firstborn son, Richard. Sadly, he passed away at an early age, but the young couple managed to survive, and had two more children, Roy and Linda, before moving to Hampshire.

The Prices grew up in Fyfield

“I like to say I was born in a stable,” says Linda. “It was the Weyhill racing stables, where our parents lived, but my brother denies I was born there! He has memories of his childhood in Fairways in a cottage that remains in place and is seen still when driving that way most days.”

Linda has strong memories of growing up in Fyfield, including playing with the Palmers over the road, as well as spending her time in Box Cottage at the stables while the horses were being trained. Being a site of horse training, the house had some unusual features.

The Prices grew up in Fyfield

“Roy’s bed in our childhood was next to the wall of the stable of a horse who loved to graze his teeth over the wood of his window,” said Linda. “We didn’t mind at that age, it good to feel welcome by our neighbours.”

Even at an early age, Linda can remember her father would always be travelling across the country for horse races.

“Dad would travel to the races even on Christmas Day,” she said. “My memories say he enjoyed every minute of his racing life.

“On his return, I would run up to watch horses being unloaded with a slow thud of their horse shoes down the opened box door, reaching the soft earth and straw below.”

Linda would sometimes visit the races with her parents, travelling in the horsebox.

“It was always great to see the horses following the journey,” she said. “Their ears pricked up to the sound of horns tooting, dogs yapping, or smelling the aromas of corn in the fields passed.”

On one occasion, young Linda had her first taste of victory when she had a flutter on one of the horses.

“I will never forget the horse I backed as a youngster winning the race,” she said. “It was so exciting to join the queues of folk collecting their winnings. Lots of smiling faces but ours lit up even more as a chap came over and placed his winning ticket in my hand!

“It was a sheer delight to feel special and rich, especially as I won his £5 too because he was late for the train.”

Linda’s £5 is now worth around £100 following inflation. While the small victory may be a strong moment in her memory, it is the 1969 Grand National that looms largest.

“Dad worked with Toby Balding in Fyfield as THE box driver,” she said. “I have to say THE as he certainly was the first box driver travelling to so many race courses, with one of the furthest being Aintree, Liverpool for the Grand National.

“We all have our memories and particularly Highland Wedding winning the Grand National in 1969, and I recall seeing Dad arrive at the top of the village preparing the horse for a grand welcome home.

“The whole village, it seemed, were waiting to see them arrive home. Photographers and reporters with the Andover Advertiser and national newspapers were also there, while there were gifts for Highland Wedding in the form of honey, carrots and sugar”.

Highland Wedding won the Grand National in 1969

Linda also remembers another celebration taking place, with a married couple with Scottish connections having won big on Highland Wedding.

“Penny Garlick (nee Cook) and Douglas married on the same day as the race was won,” she said. “They held back their honeymoon booked to go to our West Country. She dressed in her bridal gown and him in his suit, leading the horse back down the village lanes.

“They had a bet, two shillings and sixpence, each way on him. As he won at 100-9, that was a great bet to pay for their honeymoon I guess!”

John Emlyn Price passed away in December 2020

Linda’s dad continued working at the stables, and in his retirement enjoyed singing and gardening, before passing away in December 2020 at the age of 89. While looking through the attic of the family home with the family, Linda said many memories came back.

“Dad enjoyed a country life,” she said. “We found memories such as saddle soap from his days with the horses, and we also discovered new ones – I never knew he was registered as a jockey!”

Though the paddocks in Fyfield may have changed hands now, they still hold a poignancy for Linda as they remind her of her childhood, and of her dad’s work. Linda hopes that talking about him will help share his memory during the pandemic.

“We all watched the Grand National 2021 last week,” she said. “Families and friends have memories to share over time but with the lockdown, due to the virus, let’s see if this can do the same.”