EQUESTRIAN: Date fixed for Richard Meade's memorial service at Bath Abbey

Meade, who died on January 8 at the age of 76 after treatment for cancer, was Britain’s most successful equestrian winning eventing team gold medals at Mexico City (1968) and Munich (1972), as well as the individual eventing gold in Munich.

Meade’s son Harry, himself an eventer with Team GB, and based at West Littleton near Chippenham in Wiltshire, announced the memorial details on his website.

Harry said: “He had huge successes in his career as a competitor but his greatest success was not in his achievements on a horse, but in the way he conducted himself – with generosity to others, genuine interest and a real sense of integrity, always standing up for what was morally right.

“He cared deeply about the sport and gave so much to both the eventing and wider horse world.

“Thank you for all the wonderfully supportive letters and messages and many apologies for only answering a small number of them so far.”