Mourners bid farewell 
to founder of horse trials

Mr Lane Fox was the ninth generation of his family to live at Bramham Park and started Bramham Horse Trials in 1973.

He had followed his father Joe into the Household Cavalry and, after 20 years service, returned home to continue the restoration work started by his mother Marcia after the war.

Back in 1973 the competition at Bramham was a one-day event, with Mr Lane Fox as event director and course designer. Within a year it was a three-day event and seven years later was awarded international status.

It is now one of the most popular outdoor events in the county’s calendar.

Friends recalled that Mr Lane Fox never missed a prize-giving and was always smartly dressed in bowler hat and suit.

Earlier this month his eldest son, Nick, paid tribute to his father’s determination.

“His tenacity in keeping the horse trials going for the first 10 years, when it cost him money, is an example to me and everybody else,” he said.

The funeral of Mr Lane Fox, whose wife Victoria died in 1997, was held at All Saints Church at Bramham. He died earlier this month aged 81 and is survived by three children – Nick, who now heads Bramham Park, James and Edward.