Mary Selway-Swift Development Fund
This fund was established from a bequest to FRDI from the estate of the late Mary Selway-Swift.
Mary was involved in the field of therapeutic riding over many years – in the United Kingdom and in South-East Asia (specifically in Hong Kong and Singapore). It was Mary’s wish that this fund be used to promote and improve the educational opportunities, training and quality of riding therapy through the development of therapeutic riding programs internationally. She was particularly concerned for those in developing countries, those in poor economic circumstances, or in places which have limited access to training opportunities.
Any payments from the fund will be made annually on 7 OCTOBER.. on the recommendation of the Planning Committee of the FRDI Executive Committee.
Any one grant will not exceed 1,000 Euros.
Contact:
P.O. Box 134
Damariscotta
ME 04543
USA
Tel.: +44 207 1831 256
Members are encouraged to promote the Mary Selway-Swift Development Fund among friends and interested people/businesses. Donations to the fund should be sent to the Office.
Mary Selway-Swift
Sister Chiara Hatton-Hall (former Secretary General of FRDI, and well known to most people in the field of therapeutic riding) recalls Mary Selway-Swift with affection – her energy and commitment to the establishment of RDA in South East Asia will long be remembered in the region and by all those who knew and cared for her.
Sr Chiara reports:
“I first met Mary in 1985 when she asked me to come to Singapore to help with the Singapore Riding for the Disabled Association and introduced me to the British Executive Service Overseas who funded my visit . On arrival Mary took me to meet the Committee and showed me the Toyota car lent by Borneo Motors which was covered , front , back and sides with the picture of a nun in a white habit on a black horse entitled “The Galloping Nun “. I would use this to drive to Bukit Tima Racecourse and to the Polo Club to teach each day ! Mary knew how to promote RDA !!!!
It was a wonderful two months during which time Mary arranged for me to go to Malaysia- to Kuala Lumpur , Ipoh and Penang to encourage them to start RDA there . Mary put her heart and soul into the RDA in Singapore where the first South East Asia Conference was held in 1990 . Later the Selway Swifts moved to Hong Kong when I stayed with them three times between 1987-1992 .
Mary set up the Hong Kong RDA Instructors Examinations at Pokfulam Riding School. She took her RDA Group Instructor’s Examination and passed with flying colours in West Mercia in 1996
Mary sadly died on 7th October 2000 . The legacy she left the FRDI was for the development of training , sending instructors to those countries who were unable to afford travel and accommodate instructors who were accredited to the FRDI .
RDA in Hong Kong set up the “Mary Selway Swift Foundation”in her memory after her death.”