It is a double celebration – not only have the Park Lane Stables raised more than £1 million to avoid their permanent closure, but the winners of a fundraising draw have also been announced.

Kitty Wass, one of our leading local artists and a long-term member of the Teddington Society, generously donated an original painting and five prints to the 'Save Our Stables' appeal.

Last week, Sheena Harold, chairman of the Teddington Society, drew the winning names – and on Monday, Kitty Wass presented Jacky MacKenzie (whose name was first out of the hat) with an original painting, And ARE There Polar Bears? The presentation took place with Melissa Sims, who displayed the prints and painting in the window of Sims Opticians in The Causeway for several weeks.

Jacky, who lives in Harrowdene Gardens, Teddington, runs a professional pet care company, Paws for Thought.

"I stopped to admire Kitty's lovely pictures in the window of Sims Opticians" she said, "and then I noticed the Draw poster. So this was a wonderful way to support Natalie and Park Lane Stables and get the opportunity to win such a wonderful prize.

"Natalie and her team are such an asset to the community, and I know them well – she allows my clients to take their puppies to the stables and introduce them to the ponies there, so the puppies are less reactive when encountering them out in Bushy Park or around Teddington."

Other prize draw winners, who received Kitty Wass prints, are Margaret Ballantyne, Leslie Bossine, Mick Delaney, Nigel Duffin and Diane Howell. Congratulations to them all.