It was the end of an era in Brean at the weekend when a well-known local resident who has provided horse and pony rides on the village’s beach for 59 years hung up his saddle for the final time.
John Vowles, 73, first began looking after horses at the age of 14 when he left school early to work with his father.
He has provided rides on Brean beach for over five decades, which have been a much-loved activity for thousands of visitors.
John retired at the end of this year’s summer holiday season and, to mark the milestone, scores of horse riders, friends and family gathered in Brean on Saturday night (October 13th) to wish him well in his retirement.
Kim, his wife, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It’s been an emotional evening when we have seen so many friends from over the decades. John has brought lots of joy to thousands of people over the years.”
Denise Shepherd was among those who John taught to ride and recalls: “I learnt to ride on Brean beach with his help over 40 years ago and loved every minute of it. He changed many people’s lives through riding, boosting their self confidence and their love for these animals.”
Denise, pictured holding a photo learning to ride, said: “John was always on the beach, whatever the weather. It’s been very moving to see so many people come out to wish him well in his retirement.”
Another person who he helped to ride was TV stuntman Robert Cope, who has worked on hit show Game Of Thrones among other programmes.
Robert told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “A lot of what I have done in my job originates from John – he taught me to ride at age seven, gave me confidence, and I carried on the riding that I have used in my work. I remember those beach rides with a lot of affection.”
Jill Whittemore, another of John’s frequent beach riders, added: “I have known John since I was aged eight. I used to come to Brean Beach when his dad Jack ran the horses. He’s taught thousands of kids to ride and the service he provided stood the test of time and brought huge enjoyment to so many people.”
David Scott, owner of Brean’s Northam Farm, added: “John will be missed on the beach after his 59 year run. He’s such a well-known person to thousands of visitors – and we wish him well in his retirement.”
David added that the horses had been stabled at Northam Farm after a freak accident five decades ago. “There was a crash between Brean and Weston, where their horsebox came off the road next to a railway bridge, and all the horses had to be led away to a farm overnight. Well, that began a five decades stay here at Northam Farm! John and his family have always been very welcome.”
John said the night had been a “very humbling evening with so many friends.”
