In Memoriam: Sherry Lee Belton

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Sherry Lee Belton, Managing Director of Albion Saddlemakers and longstanding supporter of British Dressage, who passed away peacefully on Monday 20 July having suffered from Alzheimer’s for the past few years.

Sherry was the Managing Director of Albion Saddlemakers and along with Chairman and husband Paul they took the company from its early days as Mansion House to the leading global saddle brand that it remains today. The achievement of being the first saddle manufacturer to design saddles with horse welfare, rider and horse interaction at the forefront of their mission, is not to be underestimated and is down to Paul and Sherry’s shared passion and understanding for horses, as lifelong riders.

Sherry worked closely and directly with medal winning Olympic riders in dressage and eventing from 1988 (Margit Otto Crepin, Klaus Balkenhol, Carl Hester, William Fox Pitt, Laura Tomlinson (nee Bechtolsheimer) through to the London Olympics in 2012.

Despite her many achievements Sherry never sought praise or accolade and remained modest and committed to Albion, and an outstanding ambassador for the trade.   

In her life before Albion, she was a talented dancer and was offered a place at the Royal Festival Ballet.  She has had a lifelong passion for all animals but especially dogs.  A regular at the local rehoming centres, ready to offer a loving home particularly to elderly ‘underdogs’ that were so easily overlooked.

Sherry was nobody’s fool, and was known for her strong and resilient character, a driving force at home and at work. She, in her own words, would “make it happen!”, fiercely loyal and committed to all she held dear. It is a cruel irony that one of the brightest minds and hardest workers in the equestrian trade over the last 40 years should have been afflicted in this way.

Sherry was a devoted and loving wife to Paul and mother to Anna and Alex, a constant to Sarah and Richard, and ‘Grandma’ to George, Ava, Henry, Evie and Flossie.

Celebration of her life will be held at a future date will be posted on Albion Saddlemakers facebook page.

Sherry family have asked for any donations in her memory to be made to Hilbrae Rescue Kennels.