DESPITE a bone-chilling wind, the sun shone for the formal opening of the Osmington White Horse viewing point by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Mrs Anthony Pitt-Rivers, on 12 March, signalling completion of the final stage of the restoration of the carving, and giving the public a safe parking area from which see and to learn about the monument and its history. Representatives of all the groups who had contributed to the project were gathered on the site off the A353 which has been generously made available by Paul and Jan Critchell of White Horse Farm. However, in view of the temperature, formalities there were kept to a minimum. The Lord Lieutenant cut the tape around the information plinth with a few brief words, but further speeches were postponed until people had gathered in the more welcoming atmosphere of The White House, to which Geoff and Christine Codd had kindly invited the assembled company. There, glasses were raised to celebrate the successful conclusion of the 4-year restoration project, which has involved so many elements of the local community, as well as attracting the support of national authorities and organisations..
The Lord Lieutenant congratulated Geoff Codd, as project chairman, on a great community achievement and Geoff, in his turn, paid tribute to all those who had contributed their time, effort and funds to make it possible. In formally winding up the restoration project, he committed the future care of the monument to a group to be led by the Dorset Ranger Service under John Hayes and the Osmington Society, under its current chairman Sally Little, who will ensure that King George III and his favourite charger Adonis continue to dominate the local landscape for many generations to come.
For the full story of the horse and its restoration visit the project website at www.osmingtonwhitehorse.info.
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