TOURISM TEAM ADOPTS
PIT PONY
From the WMDC Press and Communications Office
Fact-finding
trips to visitor attractions have led to Wakefield Council's tourism team
adopting a pit pony.
Staff
have been visiting the region's attractions and hotels to discover what is
on offer during the coming season in order to ensure customers receive the
best service possible.
But
they came away with more than they bargained for when some of them went to
see Wakefield's National Coal Mining Museum for England to experience the
new audio tour.
"During
the visit we also met the former pit ponies and heard about the museum's
adoption scheme, which helps look after the ponies in their retirement. We
fell in love with Robbie and now we contribute to his retirement," said
Heather Paton, a visitor services assistant.
The
11 members of the tourism and events teams, who are based at the Tourist
Information Centre at The Bullring, collected the £12.50 needed for a
year's sponsorship. Now Robbie's photograph and adoption certificate have
pride of place on the centre's wall.
It
costs almost £2,000 to care for each of the museum's horses every year and
ensure their retirement is a happy and carefree one.
The
pit ponies are an extremely popular part of the team at the National Coal
Mining Museum. Sparky has been a resident there since 1988 and is now 35
years old. He spent 13 years working underground moving materials. Robbie
worked in North Wales and was the last horse out of his mine in 1999. The
celebrities of the group are Carl and Patch, who both performed for the
Royal Family at Windsor in 2002 in the 'All the Queen's Horses' celebration
for the Queen's Golden Jubilee.
Liz
Orme, Development Officer at the Museum, said: "The adoption scheme is
already attracting lots of attention, with many kind people choosing to give
this unusual gift as an Easter or birthday present. The ponies are still
looking for lots more adopters to support them and have been posing for
photographs for their new friends."
Anyone
interested in supporting the museum by adopting one of the ex pit ponies,
Carl, Colonel, Patch, Robbie and Sparky, can pick up a form from the museum
or Wakefield Tourist Information Centre or contact Liz on 01924 848806 or
the tourism team on 0845 601 8353.
Ref:
PR775
Date: 04/04/06
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