30th birthday for Hyde Park's Echo
Two survivors of the 1982 Hyde Park bomb, planted by the IRA, are reunited today to celebrate a special birthday.
Policeman John Davies and his horse, Echo - both badly injured when a car bomb ripped through a Household Cavalry procession killing four men and seven horses nearly 20 years ago - became the epitome of defiance against such attacks.
Today they are marking Echo's 30th birthday at the Home of Rest for Horses at Speen Farm, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, where the 16-hand grey gelding was put out to pasture following his early retirement 18 years ago.
The reunion stirs many thoughts and memories for former constable, now detective, Davies, who said today: "I've not seen him in about eight years so it will be memorable. Sometimes people forget that people and horses were killed that day."
On 20 July, 1982, Pc Davies and Echo were escorting a troop of the Blues and Royals at Hyde Park when the bomb exploded.
Mr Davies, now a 44-year-old married father-of-two, had to have part of his left shoulder muscle removed following the attack but returned to work soon afterwards. Echo suffered a severe shrapnel wound and left frontline policing at the age of 12 because of colic.
Echo has recovered well after a recent heart attack and will enjoy a special carrot and apple birthday cake today.
