October 6th, 2006

Lady Bader, OBE, Becomes
Our Group Patron

The campaign to build a world-class garden in Cupar has been boosted by the news that Lady Bader, OBE, has agreed to take a leading position with the ambitious community group fronting the bid.
The wife of World War II flight hero and disability campaigner Douglas Bader has twice visited the Fife town in recent months to lend her personal support for the project.
Lady Bader, OBE has accepted the position of Patron of the Douglas Bader Community Garden group in the hope that her name will add further backing to the scheme.
The daughter of a very successful businessman, she married the late Sir Douglas in 1972 after meeting the RAF legend while playing golf. Lady Bader enjoyed a career as an outstanding horsewoman, regularly competing at The Horse of the Year Show and other major jumping tournaments in the UK and around Europe.
Until very recently she was an instructor for Riding for the Disabled near her home in Berkshire, and her tireless work within the disabled community was recognised in 2002 when she received an OBE from Her Majesty the Queen.
Lady Bader, OBE, said: "I was delighted to accept this position because I really believe in this project.
  "I know that were he here today, Douglas would be so enthusiastic about a design that will ultimately become a focal point throughout Cupar, the Kingdom of Fife and well beyond, and he would want me to offer his hearty congratulations and encouragement to everyone involved.
"For my part, I am just so pleased to see that long association of the Bader name and the town of Cupar is to continue and strengthen."
The announcement was welcomed by members of the Douglas Bader Community Garden group, who have been working for over a year on design plans for a redeveloped garden within Cupar's Duffus Park.
Secretary Susan Blake said: "Joan Bader has been a great supporter of ours from day one and her spirit and determination has been inspiring. This is a marvellous show of support for our plans, and we are honoured she has agreed to take such an important role in our group.
"From the start, we have had superb assistance from organisations including Elmwood College, Fife Constabulary, the RAF and others.
"Officials within Fife Council have also played a major part in helping us to develop our plans. They have put in many hours tirelessly working on various aspects of the scheme and have been a great help."
Keith Delderfield, Director of The Douglas Bader Foundation charity, which is headed by Lady Bader, OBE, added: "This chance must not be allowed to pass by unchallenged; it is a golden opportunity to re-establish Cupar as a centre of excellence which will be fully accessible and an enormous benefit to everyone for years to come."
The group is currently working with specialist design companies to produce a final masterplan for the new garden by early next year.

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