Peter Bridson was Chairman of Windsor Park Equestrian Club (WPEC) from 2007 until his death in April 2022. Throughout Peter’s tenure as Chairman, he was instrumental in making a number of changes to the Club including the move from Smith Lawn to the Deer Park in 2019, and most recently following the passing of WPEC President HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, inviting HRH The Countess of Wessex to take over the Presidency.

Prior to becoming Chairman, Peter spent several years as Driving Organiser for the Club and he also organised and ran the National Championships a number of times. After stepping back from organising WPEC events, he still kept his finger on the pulse by acting as the Technical Delegate for the Club and at regional events organised by WPEC.

Away from WPEC, Peter was a National Technical Delegate (TD). He officiated at many events around the country, including up to Scotland, across to Wales and at the National Championships. He also acted as Company Secretary for British Carriagedriving (BC), a role he had held since 1998. He was also engaged in safety within carriage driving, joining the BC Safety Committee in 1999 and taking over as Chairman in 2005. He was also BEF Disciplinary and BEFAR Chairman and during the 2012 London Olympics, Peter acted as Panel Chairman for equine doping and human selection.

In his professional life, Peter was managing partner and head of dispute resolution for London Law Firm DWFM Beckman. Peter’s specialist expertise was in professional negligence, City regulatory and disciplinary matters, contractual and shareholder disputes, employment law and construction disputes. He was involved in many substantial cases in the UK and Europe, and even acted for an East European Government in a very substantial arbitration proceedings which was referred to the English Commercial Court. Peter retired from practice is June 2021.

Peter freely gave his time and legal expertise to driving, to both WPEC and BC, as well as many individuals over the years. Miss Sally Merrick, Vice President of WPEC, said after his passing, ’Peter and I have been involved with WPEC for many years. He ran the carriage driving at Smith’s Lawn and then became Chairman. He was devoted to the Club and will be much missed’.  A sentiment echoed by those who knew him.

JANE MacINNES adds –

For several years Peter was Technical Delegate at the Raehills Horse Driving Trials in the southwest of Scotland near Moffat. As President of the Jury, I got to know him fairly well, and although we did not communicate much on the first meeting, the following years we spoke more, and he was much more approachable. He also knew his job, and what was required of him very well.