FAR from the maddening crowds and excitement of being trackside to watch Merchant Navy win the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Sunday morning (AEST), Warrnambool businessman Colin McKenna and his wife Janice found time to go back to nature in England … at the Queen’s home.
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The couple received a personal invitation through business and work contacts from the Dean Of Windsor David Conner and his wife Jane to visit Windsor Castle last Friday afternoon.
Windsor Castle is the weekend home of the Queen and the McKennas got a close up view of Her Majesty riding her horse in a field near the dairy.
“The Queen was no more than 20 yards away from us riding her horse when we walked around the corner from the dairy,” Mr McKenna said.
“It’s an image that Janice and I will never forget to see a 92-year-old woman riding a horse and it’s the Queen. It was totally remarkable and incredible to be there.”
Watching 160 jersey cows being milked in the robotic dairy and seeing other farm animals reminded the McKennas of life on the farm back home.
“It was wonderful to get back to nature for a few hours,” Mr McKenna said.
“Janice and I are privileged and honoured to have been invited to Windsor Castle. David and Jane were sensational hosts.
“I was really interested in the dairy operation and standards at Windsor Castle. I spoke to the dairy farm managers and workers. They do a lot of things similar to western Victoria farmers but on the other hand there are always things to be learnt and I’ve come away with some new ideas to implement back home.”