260 years, that’s the total combined service given to the racing industry by the residents of Racing Welfare’s latest housing project Wilfred Sherman House. The sun shone in Newmarket on Wednesday 22nd April for the guests awaiting the arrival of Mr Wilfred Sherman to unveil the plaque celebrating that the 147th property in Racing Welfare’s portfolio was officially open. The property provides accommodation for retired stable staff and consists of four 2 bedroom flats and one 2 bedroom house; it features full disabled access and a state of the art solar powered heating system that aims to significantly reduce the tenants’ fuel bills.

The property is named after Wilfred Sherman (98) who is one of the founding fathers of the Stable Lads Welfare Trust, a forerunner of Racing Welfare. Mr Sherman now lives in Spain and returned to Great Britain specifically to meet the residents of the property and the trustees, friends and staff of Racing Welfare. Wilfred Sherman House sits adjacent to Jack Jarvis Close which was the first housing association project built by the Stable Lads Welfare Trust and built upon land that Wilfred bought from Jack Jarvis’s estate dispersal sale.

Roger Weatherby chairman of Racing Welfare in his speech to the opening event attendees who included John Dunlop, Jacko Fanshawe and the IJF’s Jeremy Richardson, highlighted Wilfred’s legacy for all staff in racing today. “Wilfred Sherman set out to ensure that stable staff in racing were adequately cared for in time of need, this led to the founding of the Stable Lads Trust in 1969. Today, 40 years later, the opening of this wonderful house shows the respect and gratitude shown not only by Racing Welfare but of all staff who work throughout the British racing industry to a truly remarkable man”.

Amongst its many other housing projects Racing Welfare has recently bought a property in Lambourn that will provide Welfare office space and additional accommodation for youngsters leaving the Northern Racing College or British Racing School who are starting out in the racing industry. The Charity is also planning a similar project in Middleham, North Yorkshire.