Editorial Team
Richard James - Editor
Richard's extensive carriage driving career spans more than five decades. A highly respected member of the carriage driving community, Richard is a knowledgeable driver, driving everything from singles or pairs to tandem and team.
Richard has been a member of the British Driving Society (BDS) since 1959 and on its Governing Council and Business Committee for many years. He was also a member of the BDS Show Committee from 1965 to 1998 and the BDS Show Director from 1976 to 1996.
Richard is a senior BDS judge, a BDS Proficiency Test examiner, a Driving for the Disabled Test examiner, a Coaching Club judge, and a British Horse Driving Trials Association Judge. He is a liveryman of the Coach Makers and Coach Harness Markers of London.
In 1980 he was appointed by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the world governing body for equestrian sport, to its international panel of judges and technical delegates for horse driving trials. Richard received the BDS Medal of Honour in 1988 and was appointed a Vice President and in 2000.
He has officiated as an FEI Technical Delegate or FEI Judge in Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States in addition to the United Kingdom, at FEI international and world championship events since 1980 and has been the Technical Delegate for driving at the World Equestrian Games on four occasions.
In 2003 he was appointed to the FEI Driving Committee and was the Deputy Chairman for four years.
Richard purchased Carriage Driving Magazine in 1991, becoming its editor, taking it from its then black and white format to full colour. He held ownership until June 2004 when the title was purchased by the Mark Allen Group, although he remained at its helm as editor.
He also is a highly talented photographer, taking many of the photographs that appear in the magazine, and those for the calendar.
Stephanie Kill - Deputy Editor
Following a career in marketing, sales and event organization, Stephanie joined Carriage Driving in April 2004 as an editorial assistant, becoming deputy editor in June 2005.
Stephanie has a love of the countryside and has edited in-house publications and sat on committees of voluntary organizations including, the National Trust, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, Essex Wildlife Trust and the Forest Enterprise.
Stephanie has a passion for all things equestrian and has owned and ridden horses for many years. She is a novice driver; her ambition being to progress competitively.
Fiona Richards - Publisher
Fiona completed her BA (Hons) in Archaeology / Law at the University of Sydney and her PhD at Edinburgh. She has published two books on Egyptian scarab seals and has spent over 20 years digging and travelling throughout the Middle East. Fiona worked at the Opera House in Sydney for seven years enjoying a number of jobs, culminating in assistant functions manager organising weddings, conferences, parties and state dinners that were held at this amazing venue.
Before working for A&D Media, Fiona organised and escorted archaeological tours to both the Middle East and Europe for three years. She joined A&D Media in 2002 and is Publisher of Wiltshire Life, Hampshire, The County Magazine and Carriage Driving Magazine. Fiona organizes the community awards for both Wiltshire Life and Hampshire, The County Magazine and also heads up the highly successful conference division of A&D Media Ltd.
Advertising Team
Claire Burden - Advertising Manager
Claire joined Carriage Driving in August 2008. Born near Manchester and spent most of her childhood in the beautiful, remote island of Anglesey. Having graduated from Bath Spa Uni with a BA Hons degree in Graphic Design and Illustration, Claire fell in love with Bath and decided to stay. Now getting the best of both worlds with her working week being spent in Hampshire. Both of her favourite cities are Bath and Winchester. Claire has spent most of her working life in Media Sales. Between HCM, planning her wedding to fiancé Paul and looking after their new three year old Mastiff, Claire has very little time left over, but when she does there is nothing she enjoys more than holidays in the sun, good food, good wine and friends.
Production Team
Laura Hawkins
Laura joined A&D in December 08 and works across a range of publications although Carriage Driving is her prime concern. Laura completed a BA hons in Graphic Design at Falmouth College of Arts, graduating in 2005. After a 4 month traveling stint, Laura then began her working life at a Graphic Design consultancy in London where she gained experience across a wide range of design media. She then moved on to an interior design based company for a time before coming to work in the countryside here in Wiltshire.