The gentle but life-affirming stories of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse have made it a bestseller for artist Charlie Mackesy, and helped Natalie in the dark times when it looked as though the Stables would be lost. But what happened when volunteer Cathy had a chance encounter with Charlie?

Cathy takes up the story:

Sometimes an opportunity in life happens and you have to grab it.

This is exactly what happened one Sunday last December when I went up to Knightsbridge with a friend to view some items at the famous auction house, Bonhams.

We were looking at polar paintings in a room upstairs but downstairs was another viewing of the original illustrations and watercolours from Charlie Mackesy’s iconic book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Pre-sale viewings are a great way to see artwork up close and personal so I went down to have a look. Seeing all those drawings in glass cabinets plus a display of his brushes and paints was a real treat and Charlie was actually there with his little dog.

I’d met him a few years before when he had a sale of work in a gallery in St James. It was pandemonium and we briefly exchanged a few words but he would never remember me amongst that heaving throng of fans.

But strangely he did.

We chatted about his work and the positive impact it has had on people’s lives. I couldn’t miss this opportunity. I started babbling on about Natalie and how his words and pictures helped her through the difficult time when she was trying to save Park Lane Stables.

Charlie knew of her campaign but while I was talking, seemed a bit preoccupied. Then suddenly he held up a piece of paper on which he had written a few congratulatory words and told me to give it to Nat. I looked at it overwhelmed by his kindness ... and then went the extra mile “Oh could you draw a horse underneath?” He quickly started sketching and within seconds he had drawn the four characters from his book.

So this is the story behind the very personal drawing that Natalie now has framed on the wall.

Sometimes in life you have to be a bit cheeky.

Find out more about Charlie Mackesy and see gorgeous books, cards and T-shirts at www.charliemackesy.com