Red Rum visited Somerton Farm in 1980

Do you remember the fantastic record breaking Red Rum?  He won the Grand National in 1973,1974 and 1977.  He was the first horse to do so.  In 1980 Red Rum visited the Isle of Wight County Show, and stayed at Somerton in the stable right next door to the house.  You can find a plaque on the wall to remember it by.  He arrived in a splendid horse box with two grooms to wait on his every need!  He stayed at Somerton for two nights and I remember being very excited to be allowed to stroke him.  He was the most handsome horse.

Red Rum paraded in John Street Ryde before arriving at the County Show in 1980.  At the show a guess the weight of the race horse competition was held to raise money for Haylands Farm and had a grand prize of a weekend for two in Paris.  Somerton was often host to competitors at the Isle of Wight County Show as it was only 10 mins up the road and considered a good place to stay as so close.