Royal Ascot comes to Newbury for Mencap fundraiser, with Desert Orchid jockey offering tips for everyone

All the glitz and glamour of Royal Ascot came to Newbury as a charity hosted its very own raceday, writes George Cummings.

West Berkshire Mencap hosted the fundraising afternoon at the Mencap Centre on Enborne Road, describing the event as “a great success”.

Guests included the mayor of Newbury David Harman and his wife Rosalind Harman, the deputy mayor Sarah Slack and her husband Nigel Foot, who all dressed up and experienced the red carpet treatment, being led into a Union Flag-themed centre.

Once there, the guests were welcomed by the chair of trustees, Graeme Leech, and trustee Gill Leech, where they shared Prosecco and afternoon tea.

Mrs Leech said: “We were delighted that everyone enjoyed the Royal Ascot afternoon tea, which raised much-needed funds for West Berkshire Mencap.

“This will definitely be an annual event on our fundraising calendar.”

Sara Vaughan, CEO of West Berkshire Mencap, also gave the guests a tour of the centre’s facilities, including the Mulberry Garden, a therapeutic horticultural project.

These facilities, and the centre as a whole, are specifically designed to help local people with learning difficulties.

Finally, they watched Colin Brown, former jockey of the legendary Desert Orchid give them horse racing tips directly from Ascot.

The day ended with a sweepstake, raffle and silent auction, with the entire afternoon raising almost £2,000 for the vital services that Mencap provides.