Thu 9th Oct 2014The Hon. Mark Vestey, former Chairman of the HPA, awarded great honourHRH The Countess of Wessex unveils Mark Vestey’s name on the Stoke Mandeville Hall of Fame for his services to British wheelchair sport
The former Chairman of the HPA, The Hon. Mark Vestey has been awarded the honour at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympic movement alongside, David Weir CBE, Eva Loeffler OBE, and Margaret Maughan. The four legends have a deep connection with Stoke Mandeville Stadium, WheelPower (the national organisation for wheelchair sport) and the Paralympic movement and are acclaimed for their extraordinary contribution to British wheelchair sport. Mark was patron of Foxcote, the famous high goal team of the 1970s and was also part of his brother, Lord Sam Vestey’s Stowell Park side. Mark won four Gold Cups and six Queen’s Cups before a tragic hunting accident left him in a wheelchair. His love of polo has been passed on to his two daughters, Tamara and Nina (one of the highest handicapped women players in the world) and his son, Ben who spearheads the Internationally recognised, British Polo Day. Mark has been president of WheelPower, the owners of Stoke Mandeville Stadium, for over 23 years. He has played a key role in providing the facilities and opportunities for disabled people to play sport at the impressive facility. He has served as Chairman of Cirencester Polo Club and led the Club to fundraise for WheelPower for the benefit of wheelchair sport. The redevelopment of Stoke Mandeville Stadium in 2003 would not have been possible without Mark’s influence and the £10.2 million raised by the Sporting Chance Committee, a Committee recruited and spearheaded by Mark. Photograph: The. Hon Mark Vestey has been awarded for his services to British wheelchair sport. |