On holiday in Tenerife
They say that there’s none so zealous as the converted, and that is certainly true of Graham Lee where the benefits of holidaying in Tenerife are concerned.
Graham freely admits to having had serious reservations about joining the IJF’s trip in November, but he enjoyed himself so much that he has already been back. He now can’t speak too highly of the experience, and he’s already eyeing a third visit.
The November trip, when Graham and his wife Becky were among a party of 69 IJF beneficiaries, their guests and their carers staying at the Spring Vulcano Hotel in Playa De Las Americas, was by far Graham’s biggest since the accident in 2023 which left him with a life-changing spinal cord injury.
Graham took some persuading as to the benefits of a potentially arduous journey but it proved a revelation – “too good to be true,” he said at the time – and so when IJF vice-president Jack Berry suggested returning there in March he had little hesitation.
As we all know, returning to places that hold a special place in our hearts can prove disappointing. However, knowing what to expect made the travelling easier and Graham and Becky enjoyed their Cheltenham week stay with Jack and Jo Berry every bit as much as the November trip.
Talking almost two and a half years after his Newcastle accident, Grand National and Ascot Gold Cup winner Graham recalls: “I wasn’t keen at all on going in November because it was my first time abroad since my accident, and when we got to the hotel after all of the travelling I said to Becks ‘That’s it. I’m done. I’m not doing that again’.
“But at the end of our ten days we’d had such a brilliant time that I didn’t want to go home. Jack, the legend that he is, asked me how I was sleeping, and how was the pain, and I had to admit I was sleeping as well as I ever had and the pain was better too. So he suggested coming back in February or March and they’d come with us, and that was it.”
It was no coincidence that Graham chose Cheltenham week, reasoning that the warmth and detachment of Tenerife ought to make it less emotionally difficult to follow the action at a meeting at which he was top jockey in 2005, with wins for Howard Johnson on Inglis Drever, Arcalis and No Refuge.
As it happens there was not much sun to begin with, and it wasn’t that easy on the emotions either, but watching a certain celebrated Irish mare win the Champion Hurdle changed all that.
“I chose Cheltenham week because I thought it would be nice to watch it in the sun, although as it happens the first few days were cold,” Graham says. “That didn’t bother us too much though as we found an Irish bar with TVs everywhere and every screen tuned to Cheltenham. The place was rammed, with a lovely feel about it, and although a couple of lads recognised me it was no bother.
“It was grand, but when we started watching the build-up on Tuesday I got so, so sad that it really hurt. Watching the first few races I wondered if I’d be able to take any more, but then came Lossiemouth, and she was the turning point. I enjoyed the rest of the meeting after that.
“Watching the way Lossiemouth won, the way she carried herself before and after the race, with all of her mannerisms, and the way Paul Townend spoke about her reminded me what an amazing animal the thoroughbred is.
“I had a stupid smile on my face watching her, and I enjoyed the rest of the meeting after that, especially Gaelic Warrior’s unbelievable performance in the Gold Cup and the magnificent ride Paul gave Il Etait Temps to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase. It was brilliant to watch, and we made up our minds there and then to go back next March.”
While Graham, Becky and carer Edith travelled with Jack and Jo Berry independently, the IJF’s travel counsellor Ali Parker helped with the logistics and provided valuable reassurance by insisting she could be called 24 hours a day.
Graham says: “When we went in November the IJF were there to hold our hands and cover every aspect of the trip, but this time we went on our own, although Ali Parker, who organised the November trip, gave us amazing support.”
He adds: “The hotel is set up perfectly for access. We met a full-time chair user from Sunderland called Stu, who has travelled all over the world, and he told us that there is nowhere better, so that was nice to hear. It’s brilliant in every way.
“Jack and Jo were brilliant too. It’s a privilege to be with them. Where Jack finds the energy he has I’ve no idea. He wouldn’t like me saying he’s 88 years old – he’s 88 years young. And he’s so sharp.”
Jack and Jo enjoyed themselves just as much and hope to repeat the trip next March. Jack says: “When Graham enjoyed the November holiday so much that he wanted to go back we said that if he and Becky arranged it then Jo and I would come along too.
“The first couple of days were a little cool to be honest but we’d watch the Cheltenham Festival in an Irish bar, where I promise you the craic was brilliant, and then in the evening we would all go out to a restaurant and enjoy Chinese or Indian food or whatever. Then the last few days the weather was gorgeous and we were able to lie out in the sun.
“It really did Graham good and you could see him coming out of his shell. In all fairness Graham was never the Frankie Dettori type. He was always a bit more reserved, but in Tenerife he came out of his shell and really enjoyed himself.
“He’s in good form now and he’s getting about better. He’s enjoying life, I know he is, and he’s already said we should do it again next year.”
That sounds like a date then.