Dorian Williams
Encyclopedia
Dorian Williams was a British equestrian
, journalist , broadcaster, author and patron of the arts.
prep school , then Harrow School
and served as a soldier.
He was for many years , from the 1950s, the voice of show jumping
on British television. He was largely responsible for making it into a mainstream TV sport that was (and is) enjoyed by millions throughout the 1970s.
His final broadcast was at the Olympic Horse Show in 1985.
In addition to his TV work he was also an author writing the Wendy series which were aimed at children and could be termed "traditional pony books", he also wrote two adult horse novels and several works of non fiction concerning show jumping and equestrianism in general.
He was Chairman of the British Horse Society
, and instrumental in setting up a National Equestrian Centre at Stoneleigh Abbey
in Warwickshire. He was also Master of the Whaddon Chase hunt.
In 1949 he founded the Pendley Open Air Shakespeare Festival
in the grounds of his ancestral family home of Pendley Manor
near Tring
, Hertfordshire.
He married the Hon. Moyra Lubbock in 1938 and the marriage was dissolved in 1949. He died from cancer in July 1985.
In 2005, he was one of the inaugural laureates appointed to The British Horse Society Equestrian Hall of Fame. .
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, journalist , broadcaster, author and patron of the arts.
Life
Williams was educated at HawtreysHawtreys
Hawtreys Preparatory School was an independent boys' preparatory school, first established in Slough, later moved to Westgate-on-Sea, then to Oswestry, and finally to a country house near Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire...
prep school , then Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and served as a soldier.
He was for many years , from the 1950s, the voice of show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
on British television. He was largely responsible for making it into a mainstream TV sport that was (and is) enjoyed by millions throughout the 1970s.
His final broadcast was at the Olympic Horse Show in 1985.
In addition to his TV work he was also an author writing the Wendy series which were aimed at children and could be termed "traditional pony books", he also wrote two adult horse novels and several works of non fiction concerning show jumping and equestrianism in general.
He was Chairman of the British Horse Society
British Horse Society
The British Horse Society is a membership-based equine charity, with a stated vision of "a society which provides a strong voice for horses and people and which spreads awareness through support, training and education"...
, and instrumental in setting up a National Equestrian Centre at Stoneleigh Abbey
Stoneleigh Abbey
Stoneleigh Abbey is a large country mansion situated to the southwest of the village of Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, England. It is a Grade I listed building.The Abbey was founded by the Cistercians in 1154...
in Warwickshire. He was also Master of the Whaddon Chase hunt.
In 1949 he founded the Pendley Open Air Shakespeare Festival
Pendley Open Air Shakespeare Festival
The Pendley Open Air Shakespeare Festival is, as the name implies, an annual festival dedicated to the plays of William Shakespeare. It takes place at the beginning of August at Pendley Manor, a hotel in Tring, Hertfordshire.-History:...
in the grounds of his ancestral family home of Pendley Manor
Pendley Manor
Pendley Manor is a hotel, conference and function center near Tring, Hertfordshire, UK. It is an historic country house and is grade 2 listed as an important example of Victorian architecture.-History:...
near Tring
Tring
Tring is a small market town and also a civil parish in the Chiltern Hills in Hertfordshire, England. Situated north-west of London and linked to London by the old Roman road of Akeman Street, by the modern A41, by the Grand Union Canal and by rail lines to Euston Station, Tring is now largely a...
, Hertfordshire.
He married the Hon. Moyra Lubbock in 1938 and the marriage was dissolved in 1949. He died from cancer in July 1985.
In 2005, he was one of the inaugural laureates appointed to The British Horse Society Equestrian Hall of Fame. .