Nun Who Founded Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre on New Year Honours List
Sister Mary-Joy Langdon awarded the British Empire Medal
Sister Mary-Joy Langdon, founder of the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for her services to disabled and disadvantaged children.
When she set up the pony centre in the south east of Wormwood Scrubs open space in 1989, it was the very first major stable for disabled riders. Since then her riding therapy has helped disabled children build confidence, address fear and acquire balance and other skills.
In the 1970s she became an accomplished horsewomen and volunteered in East Sussex to work with disabled riders. She then founded the pony centre in Shepherd's Bush when she acquired three abandoned Shetland ponies and a piece of scrubland.
The pony centre now has 20 horses and ponies and is a major centre for the Riding for the Disabled Association. Sister Mary’s innovative riding therapy helps disabled children build confidence, address fear and acquire balance and skills that they never thought achievable.
Countless children and adults living in West London with debilitating injuries, degenerative conditions or profound physical disabilities have used the centre and have described their experience as being miraculous or life-changing.
She inspires loyalty and insists that the 60 plus volunteers should all be specially trained for taking important roles in the centre. She receives a modest salary for her role at the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre but as she is a member of a religious congregation, it is paid to the Order of the Infant Jesus Sisters.
Another inspirational woman, Dr Sarah Jarvis,who is a GP in Shepherd's Bush and a regular writer/broadcaster on health issues, on programmes including The One Show, and Jeremy Vine Show, received an OBE for services to General Practice and Public Understanding of Health.
January 5, 2018