Nescot students restore Pat Eddery memorial bench at Epsom Downs
Students from Nescot have helped restore a memorial bench dedicated to legendary jockey Pat Eddery at Epsom Downs Racecourse.
The work gave young people on Nescot’s alternative provision programme, for those aged 14 to 16, practical experience in woodworking and restoration while contributing to one of Epsom’s best-known sporting venues.
Eddery, regarded as one of the most successful jockeys in British racing history, rode more than 4,600 winners during a career spanning over three decades. He was British champion jockey 11 times and won The Derby on several occasions.
His achievements at Epsom Downs, and his long association with the Derby Festival, make the restoration of the memorial bench especially significant.
Following the project, the students were invited to Epsom Downs Racecourse to see the bench reinstated in the Parade Ring. They were also given a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic Queen Elizabeth II Stand by Julie Kapsalis MBE, Principal and CEO of Nescot and a member of the Epsom Downs Racecourse Committee.
The group visited areas not usually open to the public and followed the route taken by King Charles III and Queen Camilla during their recent Derby Festival visit, ending at the Royal Box balcony overlooking the racecourse.
Julie Kapsalis said: “Working alongside The Jockey Club on projects like this is a fantastic example of how education and industry can come together to benefit both students and the wider community.
“Our students have shown tremendous dedication in restoring this important memorial, gaining valuable practical skills while helping to preserve a piece of Epsom’s unique heritage.”
Jim Allen, General Manager at Epsom Downs Racecourse, said the restored bench was “a fitting tribute to one of racing’s greatest jockeys”.
He added: “The students have done an outstanding job. The bench looks absolutely fantastic and is a fitting tribute to one of racing’s greatest jockeys.
“We are proud to see it back in the Parade Ring, where racegoers, owners, trainers and jockeys can continue to enjoy it for many years to come.”
The bench restoration is part of a developing partnership between Nescot and The Jockey Club. Nescot students also sang on the Community Zone stage at this year’s Betfred Derby Festival and have begun work on a large-scale mural for the racecourse underpass, intended to mark the 250th running of the Derby in 2029.
The project combines practical learning with the preservation of a small but meaningful part of Epsom’s racing heritage.
Photo: Nescot students with NESCOT CEO Julie Kapsalis
