February 2026 Blog

Behind the scenes at Jackdaws Castle are an extended crew that keep the place working. Whether it’s plumbers or electricians or one of our regular horse transporters, these guys are always there for us.

February had a sad start when plumber Bruce Churchley passed away suddenly. From Chipping Camden, Bruce had helped the yard for many years. More than ten years ago, during snow and ice that lasted over a fortnight, the pipes were bursting all around the stables, the old copper piping worn out. On replacing all of those, Bruce was then called to the hostels where more pipes had burst. The light fixtures and switches were waterfalls, the corridor carpet a riverbed and water was free flowing down the outside windows and stonework. Bruce fixed it all with a smile on his face.

Jonjo Junior with Bruce at Warwick races

Photo Credit: Diane Volpe

Even after Bruce ‘retired’, he still happily came here, often sorting out stubborn radiators and, the last time, during January’s cold spell, to sort out more burst pipes in the barn with head of maintenance Madalin ‘Doc’ Radu after January’s cold spell, his silver van parked in at the end of the barn where pipes had created a water fountain. He was also our regular cheerleader at Warwick, Stratford and Newton Abbot races. We will miss Bruce. Huge condolences to his wife Jane, family and friends.

Another of our regulars is electrician Paul Hughes. He lives in the village, Temple Guiting, so is often called out in emergencies. One afternoon, scaffolding was assembled around the Owners’ Suit and clock tower, which points upwards like

wedding cake topper. On one side, the golden hands on the dark green clockface had stopped, time standing dormant for so long that we had stopped looking upwards and the side that was working was slow, dragging time out longer than it should have. Paul sent two lads up there to do the necessary repairs and also clean it. The clock tower shone shiny white as if it was brand new, and the clock kept us all on time.

Our regular postlady is Donna Shellem. She is very bubbly, with crazy blonde hair resembling a halo of sunbeams. Arriving late morning or early lunchtime, she drives the red Royal Mail van into the courtyard with letters and boxes, and a handful of Bonios to prevent her ankles from being attacked by the Boss’ pack of Dachshunds. The vast majority of her delivery is Amazon packages for the staff, which arrive in large quantities after payday then slow up until the next one.

               Jackdaws Castle seems to be the only address in the postcode area that Evri can find; villagers in Ford are always trying to track down parcels that have been signed for at other addresses.   

         If there aren’t enough lorries to drive the horses to the races ourselves, our runners travel with outside transport. On February 21^st, at Newcastle, when Fortunate Man ran in the Eider Chase and Peaky Boy ran over fences, fellow groom Tirana Jukulpi and I went with Chris Jones.

Chris in action at Twiston-Davies' runners at Haydock

I have known Chris for years and he has driven me to the sales and races since 2001 – in fact, I have followed Chris round the counties from Robin Dickin, the late Andy Hobbs, Nigel Twiston-Davies to Jonjo’s. Over the years, he drove for the former transport companies of Front Runner and Cotswold Horse Transport, before buying a two-box and going out on his own. It’s always lovely to go with Chris – the miles pass by quickly by as we reminisce about ‘the good old days’. An ex-jockey and former trainer in his own right, Chris is an experienced person to have on hand to load up and saddle.

Plus, it’s always a good sign when it’s Chris’ idea to get for a service station coffee – he knows the best snack stops!

       Recently, I was perplexed to hear on the yard that Chris was a llama farmer and boosted his transport business by selling their wool. ‘I have known Chris for years and I have never heard that,’ I stated.

The root of the rumours soon surfaced: head lad Alan Berry. A wind-up merchant, joker and prankster. He had been telling staff to, on journeys, enquire about Chris’ llamas, much to Chris’ puzzlement.

With deadpan seriousness, Alan (pictured) sends new recruits and younger colleagues into the office for a bucket of steam, glass hammer, tartan paint or a broken fork to be catalogued for repair. As they trot down the yard, green as metaphorical grass, Alan will beam a wicked grin, victorious. If he ever tells us older ones that we’re needed in the office, we always question it first! Even then, we can be caught out and the office people greet us blank-faced as we mutter, ‘You don’t need to see me, do you?’

It just adds humour to days that are getting lighter and warmer as spring arrives.