Book Read Free

Not Enough Time

Page 25

by Henrietta Knight


  You are everywhere. Your spirit will live on for ever.

  ~

  We hope you enjoyed this book.

  For more information, click one of the links below:

  Picture Section

  Acknowledgements

  Index

  ~

  About Henrietta Knight

  An invitation from the publisher

  Plate Section

  Hen, aged three, on her mother’s point to point horse, ‘Mr Pippin’.

  Hen and Ce appear in The Tatler with their guinea-pigs in 1957.

  Terry, aged 11, show jumping at a local gymkhana.

  Terry on his favourite horse, Coral Diver, at Cheltenham, 1972. Photograph © Bernard Parkin

  Tony and Terry at the wedding of their sister, Sue, to Bob Davies in 1970. Photograph © Bernard Parkin

  Hen and her mother at a dance given by Uncle Christopher Loyd at Lockinge in 1965.

  Hen’s parents, sister and nephew, William, at a Cirencester Polo Match in 1987.

  Hen and Terry on the day of their engagement, 1995.

  Hen and Terry at their reception at Lockinge Manor in 1995.

  Dave Dick and Terry shooting at Stowell Park, 1995.

  Terry’s photograph of Hen in the Poppy field at Lockinge, 1995.

  Sam and Celia Vestey with Karshi after he won the Stayers’ Hurdle in 1997. Hen’s first Cheltenham Festival Success.

  Terry congratulating Karshi after the race.

  Hen and Terry at Royal Ascot Races, 1996.

  Hen with Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, at Hester Knight’s funeral, November 2001.Photograph © Bernard Parkin

  Greeting Terry after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup, 2004.

  Greeting Terry after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup, 2004.

  Terry with Henry O’Toole at the Ballyconneely Pony Show in 2008.

  The Hen and Terry Charity Open Day, 2004. Terry Court auctioneering the Best Mate rocking horse.

  Terry fishing at Ballynahinch, Connemara, with Cyril Biggins 2000.

  Best Mate in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, 2004.

  Hen and Terry at an owners’ open day, 2003.

  Flowers for Hen from Terry at another West Lockinge open day.

  Terry and John Oaksey at Best Mate’s Open Day, 2003. Photograph © Jean Ashdown-Coates

  Terry and his five children at his 70th Birthday Party in 2011. Left to Right: Laura, Robert, Lucy, James, Libba. Photograph © Matthew Webb

  Terry and Hen at their official wedding at Didcot Register Office, 2011.

  Terry in hospital with Mick Channon, 2013.

  John Francome, Hen and A. P. McCoy at Terry’s Memorial day at Cheltenham Racecourse, February 2014. Photograph © Matthew Webb

  Hen and Nigel Twiston-Davies arriving at Terry’s funeral, 17 January 2014. Photograph © Matthew Webb

  Acknowledgements

  I owe a big thank you to my editor, Rosie de Courcy, for the expert guidance she gave me while I wrote the book. Her attention to detail and her insistence that my story was written in a coherent chronological way were invaluable. She has a gift for the correct use of the English language and although, at times, she put me under extreme pressure, I could not have organised my thoughts without her. She was my mentor and I always listened to her comments. We had many fascinating discussions and some good laughs.

  I would also like to thank my agent, Heather Holden-Brown who seemed happy to take me under her wing from day one and without whom I would never have got started. She has been supportive and understanding throughout the 10 months that it has taken me to complete this book. She has been a jewel and I value her sensible advice. A true friend.

  Finally, I could not have written my story without the backing of Andrew Longmore. He assisted me with my books on Best Mate and inspired me to get started on my latest venture. He kindly wrote the synopsis for this book which was subsequently handed over to prospective publishers. He too gave me plenty of encouragement and I hope that he approves of the finished article. I have removed most of the exclamation marks because I know he disapproves of them!

  Numerous people at Head of Zeus have helped me along the way and their support has touched me. They too deserve a big thank-you. I have enjoyed working with them and I am now more able to understand the complicated issues associated with a successful publishing house.

  The many friends who supplied me with anecdotes to include in most of the chapters have been wonderful. I could not have written my book without their co-operation and as a result of their recollections I have learnt plenty – particularly regarding lifestyles in the last century.

  Overall, I have enjoyed writing about my years with Terry but it has been a challenge and on occasions extremely hard. There were days when I laughed and days when I cried. But I will always be proud of him and I know that I am extremely lucky ever to have met him. We believed in each other from the very beginning and I whole-heartedly adored him. To me he was special – the love of my life. I will continue to miss him for as long as I live but I instinctively know that he would have been pleased with Not Enough Time, and touched by the memories. His life was unique and my world is empty without him.

  Index

  HK = Henrietta Knight

  TWB = Terry Biddlecombe

  Aldaniti (horse) 129, 231

  Allen, Clare 65

  Allen, Darina 96

  Allen, Ivan 96

  Allen, Myrtle 96

  Allen, Rachel 96

  Amarind (horse) 176

  Archdeacon, Louis 97

  Ardenbar (mare) 168

  Arkle (horse) 233

  Arthey, Ben 170

  Ascension (horse) 242

  Attenborough, David 58

  Australia 20, 29–30, 57, 86, 150, 162, 228, 304

  Aziz (owner) 116

  Balding, Toby 33

  Ballabriggs (horse) 172

  Ballantine, Violet 18

  Ballincurrig Stud 95

  Ballinger, Jo 235

  Bamford, Lady 140, 197

  Bamford, Alice 140–1

  Bamford, Sir Anthony 140

  Bannister, Sir Roger 166

  Barry, Ron 230–1

  Batchelor, Matty 66–7

  Battleship (stallion) 13

  Be My Manager (horse) 102, 103

  Beef or Salmon (horse) 202

  Bennett, Gemma 205

  Best Mate (horse) 119, 146, 171, 183–6, 188, 190, 191, 200–16, 248, 255

  Channel 4 film 52, 184

  Chasing Gold/Triple Gold 188

  Cheltenham Gold Cup 64, 83–4, 175, 183, 184–5

  2002 win 155, 170, 184–185, 309

  2003 win 171, 184, 185, 187

  2004 win 185, 210, 303

  Culloty as jockey 64, 159

  death 207–10, 264

  found 99–104

  purchased by Lewis 103–4, 179

  Reddy and 274

  stabled by HK’s mother 189

  statues of 212, 255

  Best Mate Open Day 162, 200

  Betteridge, Roger 199, 264

  Bewicke, Verly 169

  Biddlecombe, Bert (TWB’s grandfather) 133–4

  Biddlecombe, Christopher (TWB’s nephew) 143

  Biddlecombe, Mrs Gemma (TWB’s daughter-in-law) 259

  Biddlecombe, James (TWB’s son) 79–80, 84, 258, 266

  Biddlecombe, Laura (TWB’s daughter) 84–9, 258, 305

  Biddlecombe, Libba (TWB’s daughter) 84–7, 88, 258

  Biddlecombe, Lucy (TWB’s daughter) 79, 83–4, 258, 266

  Biddlecombe, Mrs Nancy (TWB’s mother) 23, 29, 30, 88

  Biddlecombe, Robert (TWB’s son) 79, 80–3, 84, 258, 259, 266

  Biddlecombe, Mrs Sandra (TWB’s sister-in-law) 30, 31, 39, 87

  Biddlecombe, Sue (TWB’s sister) 24–5, 221

  Biddlecombe, Terry

  advice to jockeys 44, 66, 230, 245–6, 248, 254

  alcohol 91, 154, 157–8, 210, 233–4, 271, 278, 279, 285, 294, 299–300

&nb
sp; as weight loss aid 26–27, 223–225

  alcoholism 30–31, 86–87

  arthritis 2, 136, 165, 247, 251–2, 272, 279

  Australia 29–30, 57, 162, 228

  background 23–31

  blackout 105–6

  camel racing 79–80

  children 28, 29, 30, 79–89, 258, 266

  cricket 25, 146–7

  death 1–3, 294, 296–300, 301, 302

  fishing 114, 124–5, 127–8, 130, 256, 257–8, 277

  food 90–2

  funeral 48, 66, 130–1, 302, 304–5

  gallstones 106

  gout 92, 252–3, 261

  health 27, 186–7, 217, 235, 251–4, 280, 283–7, 290–6, 299–300

  hearing problems 115

  heart problems 124, 252

  HK’s relationship with 11, 19, 21, 31, 33–75, 76, 77, 258–9, 271–2

  HK’s staff and 46–50, 90, 170, 273–4

  HK’s work with 44–50, 59–66, 69–70, 93–119, 149–75, 185–9, 195–214, 245–6, 247–8, 252–4

  injuries 28, 98–9, 177, 229–30, 236, 243–4, 251, 252, 260

  Biddlecombe, Terry (cont.)

  interview techniques 49–50

  jockey 11, 25–9, 58, 67–9, 160, 173–4, 196, 217–44, 249, 310

  at Cheltenham 29, 36, 160, 175, 176–177, 178, 182, 196, 227, 230, 243, 273, 299

  for Charles Cadogan 169–170

  for Fulke Walwyn 115

  for Guy Harwood 143

  kidney problems 51, 224, 244

  marriages 28, 29, 30, 71–5, 87, 88, 121, 139, 258–9

  memorial service 48, 233, 302, 304, 308–13

  mobile phones 43–4, 61, 98, 117, 137, 277, 293

  mobility problems 98–9, 144, 247, 251–2, 268, 271, 276–7, 279, 281, 285–7

  mother-in-law and 55–6, 190–1, 192

  nosebleeds 147–8, 260, 282

  personality 2, 150, 195, 198–200

  public speaking 145–6

  Russell, Baldwin and Bright job 31, 33, 38, 43, 45, 151

  shooting 51–2, 57, 114, 115, 127, 133–43, 253

  socialising 89–90, 162–3, 186–7, 278–80

  stroke 259–71

  television work 29, 34–6, 129, 152

  training permit refused 28, 29

  trucks 62–3

  vocabulary 47

  weight loss before races 26–7, 115, 221, 223–6

  wildlife-watching 57–8, 290–1

  Biddlecombe, Tony (TWB’s brother) 23, 25, 38, 144

  help during TWB’s health problems 266, 285, 292

  help with TWB’s alcoholism 30, 31, 86–7

  HK introduced to 39

  jockey 24–5

  riding accident 242

  TWB’s 70th birthday 258

  Biddlecombe, Tony (cont.)

  TWB’s death 297, 300

  TWB’s move to Australia 29

  Biddlecombe, Walter (TWB’s father) 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 242

  Biggins, Cyril 130, 256

  Billing, Sid 173

  Bindaree (horse) 107

  Birch, Elizabeth 304

  Birchall, Ted 163–4

  Birtles, Henry 214

  Bishops Island (horse) 77, 118

  Bissett, Donald and Kim 257

  The Black Moth (horse) 169–70

  Blacker, Philip 212

  Bolger, Enda 99, 240–1

  Borderline (horse) 15

  Bowsher, Vanessa 286–7

  Brackenbury, Jane 77

  Brasher, Chris 69, 92, 166

  Brasher, Shirley 92, 166

  Breakspear, Tony 259

  Breisner, Yogi 118

  Broad, Chris 247

  Bromley, Anthony 107–8

  Broughton, Jocelyn, Lady 109

  Broughton, Sir Martin 108–9

  Broughton, Stephen 109

  Brown, David 146

  Brown, Hector 56, 126–8, 312

  Brown, Pam 56, 126

  Bryan, Dr Paul 295, 299

  Bullock, Bob 262, 268, 273–4

  Bumble Boy (horse) 273

  Bunn, Douglas 144

  bus as viewpoint 154–6, 165

  Cadogan, Charles (Lord Cadogan) 58, 70, 81, 103, 169–70, 187

  Cadwallader, Muriel 312

  Calgary Bay (horse) 104, 269

  Call Equiname (horse) 179

  Campbell, Naomi 167

  Candy, Henry 279

  Carberry, Paul 205, 207, 208

  Carberry, Tommy 178, 233

  Carrickbeg (horse) 237

  Carver, Mrs 221

  Castle, Jo 273, 274

  Cecil, Henry 187

  Champion, Bob 129, 231, 232–3

  Channon, Mick 203, 264, 275, 285, 294, 297

  Chapman, Roger 285

  Charles, Prince 152, 304

  Charlie Potheen (horse) 230, 231

  Chiles, Adrian 153–4

  Chives (horse) 171

  Clanwilliam, Catherine 74

  Clark, Katie 49

  Clarke, Simon 142

  Clarke, Sir Stanley 142

  Coe, Seb and Peter 112

  Coleman, Aidan 65–6

  Collins, Chris 20, 237–8

  Collins, Martin 201

  Comedy of Errors (horse) 234–5

  Contraband (horse) 205

  Cool Ground (horse) 105

  Coonan, Andrew 118–19

  Cooper, Henry 287

  Cooper, Tom 118

  Cooper, Valerie 118

  Cope, Barry 90–1

  Cornwall, Duchess of 16, 304

  Costello, Tom (sr.) 100–104, 105, 107

  Costello, Tom (jr.) 105, 278, 281

  Costello, Adrian 105

  Costello, Avia 278

  Costello, Dermot 105

  Costello, John 105

  Costello, Tony 105

  Court, Terry 31, 45, 95, 150–2, 290, 304–5

  Cousins, Eric 249

  Culloty, Jim 63–4, 117, 143, 159, 182, 201, 205, 248

  Cundell, Peter 111

  Curran, Ciaran and Gearoid 131

  Curtis, Tim 141

  Davidson, Bruce 112–13

  Davies, Bob 221

  Delahooke, James 230

  Dennison, Katrina 270

  Dennison, Wilson 107, 270

  Dick, Dave 220–1, 225, 311

  Dickinson, Michael 229–30

  The Dikler (horse) 230, 231

  Direct Route (horse) 180

  Dodging Bullets (horse) 109

  Domacorn (horse) 232

  Douglas Home, Christine 36, 75

  Down, Alastair 309–11

  Doyle, Jack 33

  Dunwoody, Richard 108

  Durdon Smith, Neil 147

  Dwyer, Mark 166

  Easterby, Mick 108

  Easterby, Peter 187

  Easterby, Roger 147

  Easthorpe (horse) 44, 109

  Edimbourg (horse) 116

  Edredon Blue (horse) 107, 170, 190, 200, 255

  purchased by Lewis 103, 179

  ridden by McCoy 113, 159

  wins 175, 179–80, 182, 189, 192

  Egerton, Charles 258

  El Vaquero (horse) 141

  Elizabeth II, Queen 52–3, 165, 182, 304

  Elizabeth, Queen, the Queen Mother 180–2, 192, 220

  Elliott, Andrew 290, 305

  Elsworth, Dominic 244, 245, 264, 287

  Endicott, Mr 17

  Enright, Phillip 249

  ESB (horse) 221

  Faucon Bleu (horse) 197

  Ferguson, Ian 107

  Fisherman’s Song (horse) 173, 280

  Fitzgerald, Mick 44, 244, 245–6

  Florian (pony) 14

  Florida Pearl (horse) 100–1

  Foly Pleasant (horse) 107

  Forster, Tim 15, 35, 81, 170

  Fosdick, Raymond B. 313

  Fox, Andy 263

  Fragrant Rose (mare) 81

  France

  holidays 123, 238

  horses 107–8

  Fra
ncome, John 52, 187, 235–6

  Full of Oats (horse) 116, 117

  Gamble, John 178, 241

  Game Spirit (horse) 182

  Gandolfo, David 64

  Gay Trip (horse) 158, 228, 244, 312

  Geary, Rachel 311

  George, Tom 142

  Gifford, Josh 89, 143, 146, 177, 178, 220, 221, 237, 238, 311

  Gifford, Macer 178, 220

  Gillespie, Edward 308–9

  Glasker Mill (horse) 171–2

  Glenn (horse) 177

  Glide Scope (horse) 232

  Graham, Dawn 259, 306

  Griffin, Reg 187

  Griffiths, Sarah 199–200

  Ground Ball (horse) 205

  Hall, Bob 129

  Hardy, Thomas 8

  Harringay (mare) 254

  Harris Bay (horse) 168

  Hart, Claire 65

  Hartigan, Brian 157–8

  Harty, Eddie 233

  Harvest Song (horse) 165

  Harwood, Guy 143

  Hati Roy (mare) 106

  Head, Richard 174

  Hedgehunter (horse) 172

  Hemingway, Ernest 300

  Hemmings, Trevor 171–2

  Henderson, Nicky 81, 143, 165, 245

  Hepburn, Katharine 309

  Hern, Dick 174

  Hern, Major 203

  Heyhoe Flint, Rachel 147

  Highland Wedding (horse) 233

  Hills, Barry 24

  Hobbs, Bruce 13

  Hobbs, Reg 13–14

  Hodgkins, Ann 29, 30, 83

  holidays 121–32, 236–8

  France 123, 238

  Ireland 56, 124–32, 171, 184, 236–7, 256, 259, 281–4

  Italy 121–2, 124

  Mull 172–3, 257–8, 277–8

  Hughes, Dessie 233

  Hughes, Richard 233

  Humphries, Ann 105, 106

  Hurt, Sir John 129

  Hyde, Timmy 233

  Hydra Dor (horse) 236

 

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