The Society is saddened to hear of the death of Mrs Wendy Frank, founder of the Sunwillow Stud, who died peacefully at home on the 29^th November 2023, aged 93.

Wendy and her husband Charles founded the stud in 1966 with one of their early purchases being Coed Coch Serenwen, daughter of the highly admired Coed Coch Siaradus. In 1968, Sunwillow Bernina arrived, and so too began a long line of ‘Alpine’ themed names. Bernina has perhaps the biggest influence of all, producing a long line of successful ponies and her bloodline, through Coed Coch Siaradus, is revered as one of the great and most influential dam lines in the studbook, as cemented by the numerous Royal Welsh, Royal show and International champions descended from these lines.

Wendy also bred Section B’s along with the Welsh Mountain Ponies, again based on the Coed Coch lines, although the Welsh Mountain Ponies gradually took over. Coed Coch Salsbri joined in 1979 after the Coed Coch stud was dispersed, and other stallions used included Ryall Seneddwr, Revel Classic, Pendock Legend, Coed Coch Norman, Waxwing Hurricane and many more.

Wendy was a very well-respected figure with a very good eye for a pony, and will be very sadly missed by all who knew her. She was much loved by her three children, Vanessa, Nigel and Nick and five grandchildren. There is comfort in the fact that her legacy will live on through the continuation of the stud by Vanessa, and the  Sunwillow Ponies and their descendants across the world.

There will be a small family funeral on the 21^st December.