Gill
writes, “I worked for many years as a BBC TV and Radio news reporter and
producer covering all types of stories from hard news to celebrity interviews.
I was a member of the award winning team at BBC Northwest Tonight, based in
Manchester, where my role included setting up, filming and voicing news reports
to be broadcast on TV and Radio news bulletins as well as the main evening
programme. I supplied material for the Today Programme and PM on BBC Radio 4
and presented news bulletins at various BBC local radio stations around the
country. More recently, I have become a freelance reporter, working as a
correspondent for Horse and Hound and Showing World magazines; I write and edit
Chapter 5, the company magazine for WJ Group, the largest road marking company
in the UK and I source and supply news stories to various media outlets.”
With
Gill’s experience in PR, marketing, and connection with various charity fund raising
events, she is an expert in her field. As a showing correspondent for Horse and
Hound magazine, she covers “some of the biggest and most prestigious horse
shows in the country.”
Welcome Gill!
GM:
As a photojournalist, what has been your most exciting assignment to
date?
GK:
I travelled around India for a year on a series of commissions for travel
magazines and it was a truly amazing experience. I worked with a documentary
maker who was making a film about the nomadic people of the Himalayas and we
trekked for days up into the mountains, taking film footage and photographs and
learning about their way of life. The landscapes and the people were truly awe
inspiring. The icing on the cake was living on a houseboat on Dal Lake in
Srinagar, Kashmir. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited
and I would love to go back one day with my children so they can see for
themselves why I fell in love with it!
GM:
As a horse-lover, what horse topic do you enjoy writing?
GK:
I am lucky to be a showing correspondent for Horse and Hound magazine. I love attending
the big shows with their busy atmosphere and ringside attractions and meeting
the people and their horses and hearing all the stories behind the successes!
Many outsiders think the showing discipline is an equestrian soft option, but
it really isn`t! I have been amazed by the lengths some people have had to go
to get their highly strung superstars to behave on that all important big
occasion. One producer was forced to stand with one of his horses in a tractor
shed, with the said machine going full throttle with lights flashing and siren
blaring! The pony had had, until this point, a complete noise phobia but went
on to stand supreme champion at the British Show Pony Society Championship
show; the final was held in a giant marquee with music and spotlights! The pony
stood like a rock.
GM:
You have a great history with horses. Do you have a horse anecdote to share?
GK:
My parents were not horsey in any way but after years of me nagging, they
finally gave in and bought me a lovely little welsh pony called Bubbles. I had
years of fun going to pony club and local riding club shows, where I met
friends who I still have to this day. When our children were born, I wanted
them to have ponies too because I think it is a wonderful lifestyle and teaches
us the importance of being responsible for the well-being of another creature.
It turned out that my children were a lot more talented than me and they all
were fortunate to win their classes at the Horse of the Year Show in 2006;
watching them come down the centre line at that incredible event was the
proudest moment of my life.
GM:
What are you currently writing?
GK:
I am toying with the idea of writing my first novel but it may have to wait
until the winter when we are less busy with our ponies. I am working for Horse
and Hound as a showing correspondent and writing copy on all manner of topics
for my various clients.
GM:
What are you currently reading?
GK:
The Horse Dancer by Jojo Moyes. Moving and poignant story about the love
between a girl and her horse, and her grandfather who had once been a member of
the Cadre Noir.
GM:
In all the world, where have you been?
GK:
I was a bit of a travel junkie and liked nothing better to escape with my
rucksack and a one-way plane/train/boat ticket!! I have travelled all over
Europe and North Africa as well as Turkey. I spent many happy months in India,
Nepal and Ladakh. My husband and I went to Thailand for our honeymoon and spent
three weeks trekking and white water rafting. He wasn`t at all sure about the
whole back-packing malarkey before we went but was a complete convert by the
time we had finished! I would love to visit Tibet and South America,
particularly Peru and Machu Picchu.
GM:
Have you written about your travels?
GK:
I have written and produced broadcast pieces about my travels. My favourite was
doing a radio piece for the BBC about the island of Kerkennah, off the coast of
Tunisia. We borrowed two beautiful Arab horses and went galloping through the
sea. I couldn`t get the sound effects on board the horse as I was worried about
getting the equipment wet so after we had finished our ride, I made my husband
leap around in the water pretending to be a horse so I could record him! I also
managed to record a camel roaring at very close range which sounded brilliant
when we played it back in the studio! I think the other guests thought I was
bit mad, but that goes with the territory!
GM:
What does horsemanship mean to you?
GK:
To me, horsemanship means working to achieve harmony between horse and rider in
whatever discipline we choose to follow. I watched Charlotte Dujardin and
Valegro at the 2012 London Olympics and I was bowled over by the lightness and
sympathy of her riding.
Connect
with Gill…http://gillkapadia.co.uk/wordpress/
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