Ralph Brown
A friend of mine died the other day
On Friday 11 January 2008 at 5.30pm Ralph Brown from Wem, Shropshire was killed in a car accident.
The accident happened at Walton which is a very small place along the Wytheford Road in between Shawbury and High Ercall.
Ralph was driving the car but along with him was his friend Paul Murray who was also killed. They both worked for the Post Office delivering mail in and around Whitchurch, North Shropshire.
I had first known Ralph in the Summer of 1993. We both worked for Champion National Hunt Racehorse Trainer David Nicholson.
Nicholson′s stables were at Jackdaws Castle, not far from Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire.
When Ralph first started working for Nicholson he did not ride horses particularly well and more often than not he used to have to ride Nicholson′s hack called Tonto both second AND third lot leading the young horses up the gallops in an effort to gain some sort of horseback experience.
To describe what sort of nag Tonto was one would have to say skewbald in colour (white with patches of brown), a hogged mane and absolutely massive. He had a big head, big knees, big belly and big feet. In addition he was hard mouthed with little to no steering. Poor Ralph was expected to learn how to ride on him.
Ralph may not have been the next budding Dunwoody or McCoy but so what, he′d certainly learned how to ride the hard way and not before too long he had improved enough to be riding out with the string.
The first horses Ralph looked after for Nicholson were Bear Claw, Fixtures Secretary and Shining Light.
Bear Claw was a nice young horse and soon showed promise. He won his first two National Hunt flat races before being moved to Oliver Sherwood′s. While Fixtures Secretary and Shining Light both showed promise in their races but needed more time.
Ralph had shown through his attention to detail with these young horses that he possessed a lot of potential as a horseman.
For the 1994/95 National Hunt Season Ralph was given a new horse to look after by the name of Call It A Day. From day one Ralph had so much faith in the horse and was never afraid to say that he was going to be a good one.
I remember the first time Call It A Day was to run in a race was at Towcester in November 1994. Ralph had been riding him in his work at home and had become very attached to the horse. He was eagerly looking forward to taking the horse racing. The only problem was that "the Duke" had also entered one of Ralph′s other horses Shining Light in the same race.
Which one should Ralph lead up? He thought the world of both of them and I think he had a few sleepless nights coming to a decision.
As I recall Ralph went for Call It A Day but of course the race was won by 40-1 shot Shining Light.
Nevertheless, Call It A Day soon made up for things when winning his next two races at Hereford and Nottingham.
Ralph did seem to have a certain knack with young horses and they seemed to appreciate his considerate handling.
Of course, the best horse Ralph looked after was Call It A Day who in 1998 won the 42nd Whitbread Gold Cup Handicap Chase. Call It A Day was also third in the 1999 Aintree Grand National.
Ralph also led up Relkeel on one of the occasions that horse won the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Although Ralph was quiet and well mannered he did like to stand out from the crowd. He always wore an earring and whilst being very well dressed he did quite often wear clothes that caught the eye. Such as the rather large flat cap and white gloves that he used to lead up in.
Another thing I remember about Ralph was how much he could eat. When we used to go to the pub he would more often than not have two plateful′s of sausage and chips. There was no justice as he would never put weight on!
Ralph was a good friend and we shared a lot of laughs.
I am sure he will be very much missed by his mum Elaine, dad Colin, sister Rachel and girlfriend "Sis". I would just like them to know that my thoughts are with them at this sad time.
Richard Bevan
Ralph Brown Funeral
On Friday 11 January 2008 at 5.30pm Ralph Brown from Wem, Shropshire was killed in a car accident.
The accident happened at Walton which is a very small place along the Wytheford Road in between Shawbury and High Ercall.
Ralph was driving the car but along with him was his friend Paul Murray who was also killed. They both worked for the Post Office delivering mail in and around Whitchurch, North Shropshire.
I had first known Ralph in the Summer of 1993. We both worked for Champion National Hunt Racehorse Trainer David Nicholson.
Nicholson′s stables were at Jackdaws Castle, not far from Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire.
When Ralph first started working for Nicholson he did not ride horses particularly well and more often than not he used to have to ride Nicholson′s hack called Tonto both second AND third lot leading the young horses up the gallops in an effort to gain some sort of horseback experience.
To describe what sort of nag Tonto was one would have to say skewbald in colour (white with patches of brown), a hogged mane and absolutely massive. He had a big head, big knees, big belly and big feet. In addition he was hard mouthed with little to no steering. Poor Ralph was expected to learn how to ride on him.
Ralph may not have been the next budding Dunwoody or McCoy but so what, he′d certainly learned how to ride the hard way and not before too long he had improved enough to be riding out with the string.
The first horses Ralph looked after for Nicholson were Bear Claw, Fixtures Secretary and Shining Light.
Bear Claw was a nice young horse and soon showed promise. He won his first two National Hunt flat races before being moved to Oliver Sherwood′s. While Fixtures Secretary and Shining Light both showed promise in their races but needed more time.
Ralph had shown through his attention to detail with these young horses that he possessed a lot of potential as a horseman.
For the 1994/95 National Hunt Season Ralph was given a new horse to look after by the name of Call It A Day. From day one Ralph had so much faith in the horse and was never afraid to say that he was going to be a good one.
I remember the first time Call It A Day was to run in a race was at Towcester in November 1994. Ralph had been riding him in his work at home and had become very attached to the horse. He was eagerly looking forward to taking the horse racing. The only problem was that "the Duke" had also entered one of Ralph′s other horses Shining Light in the same race.
Which one should Ralph lead up? He thought the world of both of them and I think he had a few sleepless nights coming to a decision.
As I recall Ralph went for Call It A Day but of course the race was won by 40-1 shot Shining Light.
Nevertheless, Call It A Day soon made up for things when winning his next two races at Hereford and Nottingham.
Ralph did seem to have a certain knack with young horses and they seemed to appreciate his considerate handling.
Of course, the best horse Ralph looked after was Call It A Day who in 1998 won the 42nd Whitbread Gold Cup Handicap Chase. Call It A Day was also third in the 1999 Aintree Grand National.
Ralph also led up Relkeel on one of the occasions that horse won the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Although Ralph was quiet and well mannered he did like to stand out from the crowd. He always wore an earring and whilst being very well dressed he did quite often wear clothes that caught the eye. Such as the rather large flat cap and white gloves that he used to lead up in.
Another thing I remember about Ralph was how much he could eat. When we used to go to the pub he would more often than not have two plateful′s of sausage and chips. There was no justice as he would never put weight on!
Ralph was a good friend and we shared a lot of laughs.
I am sure he will be very much missed by his mum Elaine, dad Colin, sister Rachel and girlfriend "Sis". I would just like them to know that my thoughts are with them at this sad time.
Richard Bevan
Ralph Brown Funeral
