by Philippa Thompson

Wanda Dodd, of Eccles, near Coldstream died peacefully on 24^th November 2018, after a brave fight against cancer. Wanda was born in Edinburgh, the sister of David and daughter of Andrew and Jean Czynski. In 1972 she married Roger and had three children, Holly, Clare and Jamie.

Wanda was renowned and respected in the equestrian community in the Borders of Scotland and made a huge impression on people who knew her.  Wanda was Chair of the BHS Borders for a number of years, a dedicated volunteer who inspired and led her team in equal measure, including being involved with bringing the Household Cavalry to Kelso in 2011 to celebrate the 10^thBorders Festival of the Horse. She also joined the Equine Grass Sickness Fund Committee in 2000 and served for 14 years, as a hugely dedicated volunteer to help combat the dreadful disease that had affected so many of her friends’ horses.  Following her retirement from the committee, she continued to run the trade stand at the Royal Highland Showand Blair Castle Horse Trials, providing endless hospitality with her daughter Clare from her caravan to the other volunteers with a glass of wine and “Granny Dodd’s Cut and Come again  fruit cake”.

 Prior and during her marriage shewould rescue various assortments of horses – one a skewbald and barely a horse, who she qualified for Badminton, but sadly due to lameness did not compete. She also represented British Pony Club in Asia- Pacific Games in New Zealand. Many people were influenced by her common-sense approach to horsemanship and her friends recall great times hunting, team chasing, eventing, racing and most recently, carriage driving.  She would spend her days with horses and teaching at the Berwickshire Pony Club, but also loved a good party – often providing lunch and Gin at her beloved Glebe House.  In recent years the Irish Carriage Driving community adopted her, not only for her endless hospitality and sense of fun, but also her direct and justified way of dealing with horses which she loved in a firm but always correct way.  They also shared her competitive and fearless attitude of “he who dares, wins”.

Wanda will be hugely missed not only by her family but also by all those people who were close to her.  A memorial service was held at Eccles on 7^thDecember 2018.