The music of the pack is it’s
CRY!
Autumn 2005
“They have given us
into the hand of new unhappy lords,
Lords without anger or honour, who dare not carry swords,
They fight by shuffling papers; they have bright dead alien eyes;
They look at our labour and laughter as a tired man looks at flies.
But we are the people of England: and we have not spoken yet.
Smile at us, pay us, pass us. But do not quite forget.”
G K Chesterton
It now seems an age
ago since the General Election, and with the Summer intervening – when
it is so much harder to communicate with everyone – this is the first
chance to thank everyone who contributed so greatly to the hunting
cause. Whilst we did not achieve everything we set out to, there are now
twenty nine more pro-hunting MPs and some extremely rattled Members of
Parliament who's majorities have been significantly reduced – including
the Member for Chester who saw her majority slashed from 7,000 to 1,000.
The smokes and mirrors of the Government Propaganda Machine have
successfully obfuscated the essential facts of the whole Hunting Bill
fiasco. Their Spin-Meisters insist that the passing of the Bill was the
will of Parliament and an outstanding victory for Democracy. These
latter day Goebbels conveniently ignore some very significant facts –
and have somehow persuaded the media to ignore them too. The published
facts are as follows:-
The House of Lords twice refused to pass the Hunting Bill. As a result
the Government felt obliged to invoke the most powerful constitutional
weapon they possess – the Parliament Act. The unspoken facts are
simple:-
1. Parliament consists of not one but two Houses – The House of
Commons and the House of Lords.
2. The House of Lords did not initially chuck out the Hunting Bill
because they were in favour of hunting.
3. The House of Lords initially chucked out the Hunting Bill
because they said it was badly drafted and unworkable;
for example they pointed out that the Bill does not actually define what
'hunting' is – this is the purpose of the House of Lords in this modern
day and age.
4.The House of Commons hurriedly – having had six years to prepare the
Bill – redrafted it and sent it back to the Lords.
5.See para (3) delete 'initially' insert 'again.'
If any Hunt Supporter has the slightest guilty conscience about testing
the law then they should rest easy. The House of Lords has twice
declared that the Bill is ridiculous and unworkable and the Government
has chosen to ignore their advice and employ the most powerful
constitutional weapon in their armoury to defy Democracy and the Second
Chamber. We – and every other Hunt and Sporting Institution in the
country – will try and test this unworkable and unjust law to the limits
and beyond.
In the meantime it is business as usual. On the back page and mentioned
inside are details of Dinners, Quizzes and other Events that contribute
so much to our hunting community – join in if you can.
And just in passing this has been an eventful year for the Loud family.
Bert and Lynn celebrated their Silver Wedding which coincided with their
completing 25 seasons with the Hunt. Not to be outdone Shane ( -
remember him? - the traitor went off to whip in to the Cheshire) has
proposed to Sally and – much to the regret of many (I understand that
the Owen boys have been put on suicide watch) – she has accepted.
It is 'Ride time' once again and I would each Area committee for their
hard work and dedication in organising our three rides and also to the
farmers who so generously allow us to cross their land and jump their
hedges.
Our Annual Dinner will be held at Bangor on Dee Race Course on Friday
18th November. Robin Page will be our Speaker – a very well known
author, journalist and keen hunting man who I have no doubt will provide
us with a high level of entertainment.
The Legal Challenge Appeal has had a pretty good response from the
Membership but not as great as we had hoped - we sent out 820 letters
asking for support and had 135 replies. It is vital that we continue to
fight this iniquitous Ban with all the weapons we can muster. If you
would like to return a form and haven't yet done so now is your second
chance – please complete the form enclosed in Cry and return it to me as
soon as possible.
Finally I would like to thank Charlotte Percival and Peter Lawrence who
are retiring from the posts of Secretary and Treasurer respectively.
Peter has arrayed the figures for 12 years and feels that that is long
enough! We are looking for a new Treasurer so if anyone is keen to help
please get in touch with me. Charlotte has had two babies whilst being
Secretary. She has done a really efficient job and I would like to take
this opportunity to thank her on your behalf. Jo Roberts has very kindly
agreed to pick up the mantle.
AREA I (WREXHAM)
We had a fantastic response to our ride on the 25th September with over
250 riders enjoying our glorious countryside. This was a tremendous
turnout considering that we were one of five Rides in the near vicinity.
As a result some £2,200 was raised and £300 donated to the Isycoed
Church Stained Glass Appeal and £700 to Nightingale House.
It is impossible to thank everyone individually for their time and
effort but special thanks must go to Geoff Dutton and John Rigby for all
their 'behind the scenes' work making the Ride so enjoyable for adults
and children alike and also to Gerald Williams for providing and
stewarding his jumps.
Although the date is not yet confirmed, we intend to hold a Quiz Night
at Isycoed Village Hall sometime in the Spring with questions on
Hunting, the Countryside, Sports and General Knowledge. Between now and
then – Good Hunting.
AREA II (WHITCHURCH)
Firstly I would like to thank Nick Brunt very much indeed for all his
hard work as Chairman of Area II. He has managed to fit it in despite
being extremely busy at work – and more importantly hunting – so from
all of us thank you Nick!
Under their leadership we had a great hog roast again, this time in
Brian and Mary Probin's immaculate yard. Clearing everything out and
getting everything ready involves a huge amount of work so a Big Thank
You to the Probins. The Mayer family organised manoeuvrings on machinery
ably assisted by Will Lloyd and Linda Clutton and Helen Griffiths are
becoming seriously professional with their dog agility. Brian has a
lovely foal who's name Anna Turner managed to guess.
Thank you to all those helpers and everyone else who put in so much work
to make such a fun and successful evening. Some dates for your diary –
the Quiz Night will be held on Thursday 3rd November in Welshampton
Village Hall and the ever popular Farmers Hunt Ball will be held on
Friday 10th February 2006. Finally our AGM will be held at the Hanmer
Arms at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 28th February.
AREA III (MALPAS)
At our AGM and Skittles Night the Committee were re-elected en bloc but
we are still desperate for people to 'do' things at our events; it
always seem to come down to the same few every time. So if you do have
any spare time please spare a thought for Area III - we have been
raising a lot of money for the Hunt one way and another and could do
with some 'physical' help please.
We held our very first Spring ride from Stretton Dairies which was very
well supported as it was a first for us with 260 riders. It was nice to
see a lot of Hunt members supporting us too; it was very much
appreciated. A great highlight of this ride was being able to use the
gallops at Carden by very kind permission of Richard Francis; quite
hairy for Dougal to steward apparently but glowing cheeks all around and
the ? 'when's the next one?'! Providing the weather is kind to us this
winter as it was last we might be able to get Henry into gear again but
he is only just recovering from this autumn's ride a Sunday or so ago.
This had 458 riders (6 down from our record of last year but we are
blaming Polly for that as she is competing abroad and the Clarks
supplied at least 6 riders last year!). We had people from as far as
Bridgenorth, Uttoxeter, Oldham and Anglesey this time so obviously the
coverage of adverts by press and flyers worked a treat.
During the summer we were fortunate to be able to hold a Pimms evening
alongside an exhibition by Daniel Crane, one of the leading sporting
artists in this country, at Lower Carden Hall by very kind permission of
Euan and Fiona McAlpine. We were blessed with a lovely evening so were
able to take full advantage of the lovely gardens there. This evening
was very much enjoyed and David's concoction went down a treat! Daniel
was very impressed at how well we as a club pull together with both Hunt
Members and supporters coming together for the general good of the Hunt;
quite unique apparently!
We hope to be able to have a similar evening next year with him, so be
warned, we are on the look out for another lovely big house in Area III
country who doesn't mind being taken over for a few hours or so in a
good cause. That evening we were able to raise £1,600 for funds, which
was also helped by Daniel donating a lovely picture of hounds in kennel
for us to raffle - and which Baz was lucky enough to win.
If anyone fancies some time on our committee we would be delighted to
see some new faces; please give either Henry or Pat a call.
HUNTING NEWS
The Puppy Show on 3rd June was a resounding success, especially as it
was coupled with a surprise party to celebrate Bert's 25th season with
the Wynnstay and Bert & Lyn's Silver Wedding Anniversary organised by
Sally & Lyn.
The hounds were judged by Dominic Jones from the Tiverton and Davina
Featherstonhaugh from the Flint & Denbigh. The Doghounds was won by
Parson walked by Mrs T Rigby, second was Teacher walked by Mrs Slater &
third was Preacher walked by Mrs G Hanmer. The Bitches and overall
Championship was won by Harriet walked by Mrs G Hanmer, second was
Tempest walked by Mrs S Martin & third was Teacup walked by Mrs Slater.
The Best Working Hound went to Landgirl who was walked by Mrs Piggott.
The Chairman presented Bert with a Daniel Crane print as a thank you for
his 25 year's service.
The Hounds were shown at Builth Wells where the Entered Doghound Couples
was won by Wynnstay Hamlet & Halifax. At Peterborough, in the Old
English section, Parson won the Unentered Doghound class and Primrose
won the Entered Bitch and Bitch Championship which was a great result
and earned her a picture in Horse & Hound.
The Opening Meet will be held on 5th November. We look forward to seeing
everyone there.
HUNT BRIDGE COMPETITION
This season we again had over 80 pairs competing. As a result I was able
to give £600 to the Whitchurch Support Branch of the Severn Hospice and
the same amount to Hunt Funds.
We had the Finals of the tournament at Broad Oak in June.
Congratulations to Richard Christmas and Geoff Heap – regular players at
Trumpers Bridge Club at the Cholmondeley Arms – who won the Cup after
playing Martin Cooke and Stephen Trowbridge.
A lot of good players end up competing in the 'Plate' and this year was
no exception. Margaret Waterhouse and Bep Lemiere did well to win after
playing two finalists from North Wales, Bill Williams and Richard
Heaton.
Diana Warburton-Lee
We are all extremely grateful to Di for her supreme organisational
skills – unless I have got my maths wrong she has seamlessly organised
upwards of 120 games of Bridge and generated a large sum for the Hunt
and Hospice. In addition many non-hunting people have participated and
been brought into the fold – yet another reason why Sir Watkins Williams
Wynn's Foxhounds will continue to thrive.
FROM THE HUNT CHAIRMAN
The introduction of the Hunting bill in November and its subsequent
implementation as an Act in February did nothing to lessen the
outstanding quality of the hunting that we enjoyed last season. The hard
work and dedication of our Masters, Field Masters, Hunt Staff and Earth
Stoppers has been remarkable and they deserve all our thanks. As always
we are also enormously indebted to our farmers and landowners who
continue to let us cross their land so willingly and give us such
wonderful support.
It is pleasing that after such a successful season I am able to report
that we have reversed the worrying trend of overspending that has
occurred in the previous two seasons and achieved a modest excess of
income over expenditure of £1,539. Thanks must go to everyone who has
helped to raise money and achieved the target that we had set ourselves.
I single out the Committees of the three big money raisers namely the
Hunt Ball, the Point-to-Point and the Hunt Review with Auction for
particular thanks. Mention should also be made of the monies raised from
the Whisky Draw and Car Capping that reached a record of £6,750. Finally
I would like to thank the Hunt Supporters Club for their vital financial
help with the Wire Area Fund. Without their donation of £5,000 we would
not be showing an overall profit for the season. Thus all in all it has
been a good season financially and this will help considerably with the
unknowns that we face in the coming season.
I am very happy to report that the current Mastership has agreed to
continue for another season albeit on a much reduced guarantee adjusted
to meet the changes resulting from the Hunting Bill. The Committee’s
initiative of requesting early payment of subscriptions and the use of
standing orders has received good support which is immensely
encouraging. Furthermore the response to my begging letter sent to
Members who no longer hunt has been magnificent. We therefore start the
new season with some degree of financial confidence particularly when
not knowing how successful the new arrangements will be or how well they
will be supported.
As you will all know a great deal of work is being done by the
Countryside Alliance supported by the Council of Hunting Associations
and the MFHA to over turn the hunting ban. Even as I write these notes
the legal challenge to the validity of Hunting Act under European Human
Rights law is underway. All these legal challenges cost money and I hope
you will support them as best you can. We, as a hunt, have been given a
target of collecting 600 ‘ponies’ and we have yet to achieve it. If you
have not given please do so through the Hunt Supporters Club as soon as
possible.
The General Election now seems to be an age ago, but a huge vote of
thanks to all who rallied to the flag to tread the streets, deliver
leaflets, stuff envelopes and generally help. We were particularly asked
to help in Chester and many Hunt Supporters spent many hours there with
noticeable effect – although we narrowly failed to defeat the Labour
candidate her majority was reduced from 7,000 to a meagre 1,000 and
there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that this was as a result of
your labours. As hunt co-ordinator I received a heartfelt letter of
thanks from the Chester Agent who was amazed at the support they had
received. Space unfortunately does not allow for publication but this
letter from Charles Mann who ran the 'Vote-UK' Office echoes its
sentiments.
“Now the dust has settled and we are all regaining a semblance of
'normal' life again I wanted to put pen to paper, on behalf of all of
the HQ team, to thank you for all you did to make the Vote-OK mission
such a success. Someone remarked, on the morning after the Election,
that Vote-OK must be the only ones pleased with the outcome of the
Election, indeed your efforts paid huge dividends. We can confidently
say that there are 29 extra MPs who will be willing to listen to, and
promote, the concerns of the rural voice. This could not have been
achieved without the work done by you, on the ground. Your enthusiasm,
energy and commitment were boundless and it just goes to show what can
be achieved when we all work together for a common cause. This seam,
into which Vote-OK was able to tap, is unique. No political party can
call upon this sort of cross country support and it is something we are
thinking quite seriously about - it is something which should not
lightly be given up.
Vote-OKs catch phrase - "Putting People Back into Politics' - has
certainly become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I think we can safely say
that everyone has gained by their experience to a lesser or greater
degree - from those who have undertaken canvassing for the first time to
those who are actively seeking to enter politics at a local level.
Meanwhile many, many thanks for all you have done. -
A fantastic effort in Chester, now definitely a marginal. Best wishes
Charles
Vote-OK Successes ... out of 137 target constituencies ... a 84.7%
favourable result
29 unfavoured MP's ousted, replaced with a favoured MP
78 majorities reduced of unfavoured MP's(21 of which now have less than
a 3% majority)
9 favoured MP's retained their seats with increased majorities
POINT TO POINT NEWS
As many of you will now be aware the committee has taken the decision to
relocate the Point to Point from Eaton Hall to Bangor-on-Dee racecourse.
In recent years with pressure from both owners to provide ‘consistent
ground’ and the need to improve Health & Safety, it has become
increasingly difficult to lay on a day’s racing on intensively farmed
land. At Bangor-on-Dee we will now have the use of a dedicated course on
the inside of the National Hunt track, along with access to all the
usual facilities.
After some 40 years of racing at Eaton Hall we are indebted to the
Westminster family for their generosity and support and I thank them
again.
The format for both meetings will change little with car passes being
distributed to farmers in the usual way, there will however be the
opportunity to guarantee parking locations via a premium parking
service, which will be offered at a modest rate. Details will be
circulated in due course.
The committee is looking forward to the new and different challenges
that lie ahead, but its success will be dependent on the support of the
hunting community. I trust you and your friends will provide it.
Racing is scheduled for Sunday 26th February 2006 (Flint & Denbigh) and
Sunday 2nd April (Sir Watkin Williams Wynn).
Dominic Curran
Hon Secretary
Once again I am indebted to John Wright for the following extracts
describing days hunting in 1894. It is particularly nice to know that,
110 years later, the comment “When in the neighbourhood it was following
the usual course of things to try Sutton Green where a good going fox
was found.” applies equally now as it did then.
EXTRACTS FROM A VICTORIAN WYNNSTAY HUNTING DIARY
March 1894
The hounds met at the Trotting Mare on Thursday. The first draw was the
Dukes Wood, where Reynard was discovered at home. After running round
the wood he took the direction of Lightwood but unwilling to travel far
he retraced his steps to the Dukes Wood. The hounds were too close for
him to stay long, so Reynard had consequently to make a hurried
departure in the direction of Gredington where he was lost. On again
drawing Dukes Wood another find resulted but this fox only ran as far as
Penley when he went to ground. He was dug out and killed. Penley Dingles
and another wood in close proximity were drawn blank. Another fox was
found in the Dukes Wood and after providing a spin for about twenty
minutes he was lost. This concluded the days sport.
The hounds met at Bangor on Monday when there was a good company
present. A move was made to the Cottage Gorse, which proved blank as did
Broughton cover but on the way from Broughton cover to an adjoining one
a fox was found in a field. Reynard bolted to the right and came round
to Broughton cover then making a detour to the left he led the chase
through Shocklach village. After running round the village for a time or
two he eventually made for Stretton Hall. On reaching Carden the fox
made for the Park,where Sir Watkin decided not to go and consequently
the hounds were whipped off. Shocklach was again resorted to where a
cover was tried but nothing was found. Larges cover was next tried and
here a good going fox was found. He turned to the left and looked as if
he would make for Shocklach but turning sharply to the right he made
straight away for Edge Green and through there to the Duckington Hills.
The hounds met at Wynnstay on Friday. The morning was spent in trying
the covers in the immediate neighbourhood but no fox was found. Park
Eyton was then tested and a capital going fox was set on foot. He made
for the river which he crossed near Pen-y-lan, then through Morrel's
Dingle right away to Sodyllt. Taking the circuitous route Reynard made
for Overton Cross. Musleigh was next crossed after which a detour was
made to the left. The Cloy Lane, Bangor road and Bryn-y-pys covert were
successively passed, Reynard then dashing off on the right along the
Eyton Meadows again crossing the river and after running through the
Hopyard was lost in a large meadow near Bangor. This was a very quick
run and lasted upwards of forty-five minutes.
The Wynnstay hounds had a pleasant morning's sport and a rather singular
experience on Saturday. The Meet was at Styche but the Big Wood proved
blank and none of the other covers were tried. The hounds were taken on
to Shavington although the Styche keeper knew of an outlyer on one of
the ploughed fields. In the Shavington Big Wood a fox was met with that
ran from cover to cover within the Park then off for the far Lodge, past
the Gashouse and onto the Bow Hills where he was killed after a very
fast twenty minutes. When returning across Shavington Park it was
suggested by the keeper to try an old tree and after a time Reynard was
spied in the branches and shortly afterwards dropped almost close to the
hounds one of which in fact tried to grab him. Making the best of his
way close alongside the Park wall he soon put 100 yards between his
brush and his pursuers and when opposite Clovely Dale scaled the wall
and made off into Clovely Big Wood. Hunted out of this he made straight
across country to Newstreet Lane and away to Styche. Skirting the Big
Wood he took his way into the meadows below and crossed the noted Styche
Brook which none of the horsemen essayed to jump, so fox and hounds had
it all to themselves till they got to Tittenley, when the field joined
in again. From here Reynard led his pursuers across Adderly Lodge Farm
and at last beat them, getting to ground just in the rear of some
cottages at Spomley after a very fast and exciting run.
The hounds met at Flannog on Friday. The morning was spent in drawing
the covers in the immediate neighbourhood. A move was afterwards made to
Lightwood where a fox sprung from his couch and made off in the
direction of Kilhendre. The chase from here led to the Rock. Retracing
his steps Reynard fled through Morrel's Dingle and away to Llan-y-Cefn
Woods. It was now a desperate game, the fox being very hard pressed by
the pack. He tailed in the direction of the Overton cemetery. Crossing
the road he made for the Bryn-y-Pys covers and then along the river
side. Campbell's Gorse was next visitied and from there Penley Dingles
and Gredington. At Welshampton with night coming on the hounds were
whipped off and Reynard was allowed his liberty. The run lasted two
hours and twenty minutes.
On Monday the hounds met at Cefyn. Llwynknottia Cover is generally good
for a fox and so it was on this occasion. After taking a circuitous
route Reynard again made for the cover. He was not allowed to stay there
very long and on being again driven out he took the direction of Llwyn
Own. On reaching there he turned sharply to the left for Marchweil Hall.
From there he made for Pickhill and when near the Smithy he sought the
refuge afforded by mother earth but he was subsequently dug out and
killed. When in the neighbourhood it was following the usual course of
things to try Sutton Green where a good going fox was found. From the
cover he made for Isycoed but afterwards again sought the protection of
the covers. Being again dislodged Reynard ran through the meadows to the
Dee. Running along its banks he came to Worthenbury and then on to Emral
Park where all trace of him was lost.
IT'S A LONG STORY
In the mists of time just before I left the Army I was a Company
Commander at Mons Officer Cadet School. In 6 months we turned untrained
school boys into Officers and one or two turned out quite well. His
Highness General Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktourn turned out to be
one of these success stories.
Pennny and I have half heartedly watched Sheik Mohammed's progress over
the years, particularly with his success on the flat race track. He was
a favourite of ours all those years ago and not only did we take him
around London, have him to dinner and generally introduce him to English
ways, but also because he was particularly able I made him boss of 90
other Cadets. A real break through for an Arab from a place no-one had
heard of - Dubai.
Nothing happened for 40 years until 2 years ago a rather indifferent man
turned up at Higher Barns to say he was writing a biography of Sheik
Mohammed. After checking his tenuous bona fides I told him all I could
remember about the Sheik. Not a lot after 40 years. Nothing happened for
12 months then suddenly a written invitation arrived out of the blue
from John Ferguson the Sheik's Newmarket Racing Manager. This stated
that Sheik Mohammed would like Penny and I to be his personal guests at
the Dubai World Cup 2005. Business and first class fares, a suite at the
Jumeirah Beach Hotel and all passes for the racing. Unsurprisingly we
accepted and told all our friends in that order.
We had no idea what to expect. John Ferguson said that there were about
500 racing guests, but we were the only private guests. His Secretary
Marie Sullivan attended to the very important matter of Penny's
wardrobe. Our first surprise was at check-in at the hotel. We produced
passports and were immediately conducted to the VIP reception for a club
executive suite. These rooms were only marginally smaller than Higher
Barns and certainly more comfortable. Amongst other things it had a
wonderful view of the Burg al Arab Hotel, the only 6 star hotel in the
world, and was full of fruit and orchids.
The next day we attended the draw for the big race along with the other
500 guests, all very high powered flat racing celebrities from around
the world. We very much stayed on the outside until to our horror after
the ceremony in front of everybody and the world racing press Sheik
Mohammed strode across the room saying 'how very nice to see you again,
welcome to Dubai.' This little episode caused our pictures to be on the
front page of the local paper and on Sky Racing News. Not quite our
style but it was great fun.
Marie Sullivan now told us that 'the boss' as all the racing people
called him, had instructed that we should have a tour of Dubai, we
should have all our bills paid including food and we should race from
his private Godolphin box. The fact that we were issued with a driver
and a new 7 series BMW seemed not worth mentioning.
The tour of Dubai was conducted by no lesser figure than the Chief
Executive Officer of Dubai Holdings. This company owns everything in and
outside Dubai and they have just bought the Tussauds Group. One or two
statistics and facts may be interesting. The water is desalinated as a
by-product of electricity generation. Therefore the more power generated
from limitless supplies of natural gas the more fresh water becomes
available. The fresh water in Dubai is cheaper than in most of Europe.
They are building a park the size of Singapore with 8 theme zones,
including one for dinosaurs and one for space. It will dwarf Disneyland
and will be finished in 7 years.
They have laid the foundations of the tallest sky scraper in the world
in the centre of the new financial area. Through the building of four
huge offshore residential developments including The Palms and The World
they are increasing the usable coast line from 60km to I500km. This
takes no account of technology, sport and other commercial activities.
Our tour comprised a cavalcade which included two minders to go ahead of
us to clear any people who might be in the way and summon lifts to be
ready for us. Firstly we went to the headquarters of Nakheel which is
masterminding the development of the offshore islands. There we had a
wonderful demonstration and presentation from the Executive Chairman of
this company. The final part of our tour included a quick visit to the
Burg al Arab Hotel to see the facilities and also go to the top to look
at the islands. This hotel has only two floor suites, each suite has a
private butler and it is the only 6 star hotel in the world. When we
arrived our minders and the Manager held the lift for us so that all
these multi-millionaires had to wait while the Brooks' made their
stately way to the top floor.
We returned to the hotel for a quick change ready to be collected by
John Ferguson who was taking us to the Arabian Nights party in the
desert. We were half way there when we suddenly realised why our
Chauffeur was the head of Sheik Mohammed's world wide horse empire.
Sheik Mohammed had summoned us to his desert palace. When we arrived the
scene was like that from any romantic desert film. There was a huge fire
in the middle of the garden with three separate carpeted areas each
littered with cushions and camel saddles. Standing waiting for us was
the boss, his new very attractive young wife Princess Haya, the daughter
of ex-King Hussein of Jordan and his eldest son Rashid and about 20
white robed friends and assistants. He greeted us and sat us down on one
of the carpets with Simon Grisford, John Ferguson and two lovely
salukis. The next hour and a half was surreal. Here was this amazing
man, who has single handedly transformed Dubai from desert village to
world phenomena and on the side developed the biggest flat racing
operation in the world, chatting about old times with the Brooks'.
We talked about everything. Dubai, Mons, his hunting expeditions,
racing, Penny's riding adventures in Aldershot and endless memories from
forty years ago. He was a fascinating man and great story teller and
when he wanted to make a point he shuffled across the carpet to Penny
and explained how he had started Emirate Airlines. Princess Haya is
gorgeous. Aged about 28 she speaks five languages, went to Bradfield
College and Cambridge and is an international showjumper and endurance
rider. She pretended she was very impressed I had ridden a Badminton and
Burghley. Son Rashid who had just left Sandhurst was briefly introduced
to us, but was quickly dismissed as being not important enough for our
company!
The Arabian Nights party involved huge tents filled with cushions and
low tables, and endless selections of delicious food. I managed to eat
four lobster tails before I felt sick, while the service was so slick
that Penny had her lobster tails cleared away before she had started.
Although we did not manage to take advantage of everything, we were
still reeling from our recent experiences, the dancers and musicians
were amazing perched on a manufactured cliff top and although alcohol
flowed the atmosphere was wonderfully relaxed with hundreds of children
and locals everywhere.
The next day Penny could have gone to a ladies lunch party with much
glamour and fashion shows, but following the strong advice of the
wonderful Marie Sullivan we both spent the day on the beach. That night
another episode evolved. Thinking that really we ought to pay for
something ourselves we went to a fish restaurant in the nearby Souk. The
menu was fantastic, the drink excellent and the final meal of very high
quality, but as expected not cheap, in fact just £100. I handed over my
credit card and within 30 seconds the Manager was at our table
confirming that we were Mr and Mrs Brooks. When I said yes he said
'that's alright then, the bill has been taken care of.' In some
miraculous way the system knew that we were guests of Sheik Mohammed.
Saturday was Dubai World Cup day. We thought long and hard about how we
were going to play it but in the end decided to spend the day on the
beach with the attentive Everton Radcliffe and only go to the racecourse
at 6.00pm after the second race. In fact the festivities started at
2.00pm, the first race for Arabians at 5.00pm and the World Cup the last
race at 9.20pm. But since we had a 7 series BMW we could do what we
wanted, couldn't we! When we finally arrived with Penny looking fabulous
in hat and dress provided by Sue Clarke, none the worse for a quick trip
around Africa, and me in my best suit and panama hat, we had a bit of a
problem. We were festooned in very important badges, but of course all
the ushers and guides had gone racing.
We started at a side entrance to the Maktourn stand and were turned away
and shown to a grand marble entrance. This led through smart corridors
to a very elegant box full of royal families and white robed Sheiks,
this did not look right so next we tried the press box. Finally having
unknowingly barged most of the Dubai Royal Family out of my way we found
a lady who said we had to go up in the lift to the Godolphin box.
Because it was between races the lift got over loaded and made alarming
noises, but my neighbour who owned Punches saw Lester Piggott
approaching and shouted 'go and find your own bloody lift Lester'. We
realised we were in very grown up company. Finally we found the
Godolphin box which was full with 30 charming Godolphin employees and a
few Americans and South Africans. There was everything to eat and drink
but guess what, mostly lobster and Champagne.
The five races we watched were all brilliantly flood lit and a very high
definition television screen was just in front of us. Only one race was
on grass, the rest including the World Cup were on 'dirt'. The
atmosphere was very different from the UK with no drink and no betting
everything was quieter and more relaxed, in fact all together much more
civilised. All the visitors both guests and payers were in a separate
area where very expensive drink was available, and the local Dubai
residents were allowed on to the course free and mostly picnicked on the
grass by the rails.
One interesting difference was the treatment of the winners and losers
at the end of the races. The winner was escorted with much pomp into
beautifully decorated enclosure in the middle of the paddock. The second
and third and all the other runners dismounted and unsaddled in the
middle of the track just past the finishing post. Nobody seemed
interested in them, they hadn't won. Just before the last race, The
World Cup, there was a very entertaining show involving hundreds of red
and white cloaked figures, presumably Philippino, with horses heads
looking rather like Ku Klux Klan. They were joined by about 20 or 30
Arabian horses ridden flat out through their ranks which was very
impressive. The Arabians are magnificent to watch with flowing manes and
tails, somehow they are much wilder than European horses.
Our amazing experience was nearly over. We had one more relaxing day on
the beach with the great Everton who was in charge of our very
comfortable executive beach, unfortunately mostly spent in the hotel
room because it was raining and then a last dinner over looking the
lights of Burg al Arab and it was time to fly business class back to
Manchester. Not first class because Manchester does not know how to
handle first class passengers. I don't know how we managed to slum it in
business class but at least we got a very smart car to drive us from
Manchester back to Higher Barns with the compliments of Emirates.
All I can say at the end of this account is thank you The Boss - Sheik
Mohammed.
David Brooks
There are many contenders for my favourite bird – thanks to the
Countryside Stewardship we once more have Lapwings and I love the
contrast between their aloofness on the ground and the sheer
exhilaration and exuberance of their flight. They have mysteries of
their own and can camouflage their nests on bare soil to such an extent
that even the most voracious predators do not detect them. They are one
of not so many birds that will lay a new clutch of eggs should their
previous clutch fail for some reason.
This was why in the supposed 'Bad Old Days' Plovers eggs were rightly
considered a delicacy – you could take their eggs without endangering
their breeding because they had this ability – like a domestic hen – to
re-lay their clutch. Because they are so good at hiding their nests
Keepers would plant pikels in a field a suitable distance apart in the
late afternoon as the sun was setting. The shadow caused by the shaft of
the pikel would persuade the mother Plover that it was dusk and she
would hop off the nest, allowing the Keeper to mark its location on a
simple map and collect the eggs.
However once mother Plover had had enough of egg laying she would
arrange the eggs in the nest with the pointed ends all pointing towards
the centre and at this stage the eggs were left undisturbed to produce
the next generation.
Owls of all sorts I adore and I have always loved waking up in the
middle of the night to hear their various and varied cries. Curlews
remind me of late Spring in Yorkshire when the same pair would return
with their haunting song to our neighbours the Garbutt's field year
after year. Oystercatchers remind me of sea trout fishing in wild and
far away places, Partridges are fun to shoot and my favourite gamebird
to eat. Grouse are undoubtedly the most exciting shooting quarry, but
hardly indigenous to Cheshire.
But there is only one bird that is present wherever I may be on a
sporting jolly. At the end of April – at about 9.50 pm – it will be
flighting across the Scottish Dee just as my dream salmon is about to
rise to one of Mark Purvis's exquisitely tied 'Toucans.' At the end of
June it will be nesting next to Pretty Hut in the same location – and
perhaps ferrying its young across the river on its back in the dusk as
we start fishing for sea trout. Shortly after the Opening Meet – when we
draw Mrs Leeche's – I will stand in a certain spot and it will virtually
knock my hat off as it follows a primeval flight line. After Christmas,
if fate decrees it, I will certainly meet up with it again in Cornwall
where it gathers in large numbers to celebrate the 31 days that comprise
the average Cornish winter. Shooters collect their pin feathers as do
artists and other members of that ilk for alternative practices. Here is
an account of a Woodcock experience:
In the middle of the Jack Russell terriers' tartan travel rug stood a
fine adult woodcock. It showed no sign of fear or alarm. Instead,
something entirely unexpected occurred. Its feathers slowly began to
rise, not fluffed out but gradually lifting and swelling across its
whole body as though it were being invisibly inflated. It angled its
bill downward to almost vertical so that the black stripes on the top of
its finely sculpted head stood high and proud. Its dark eyes neither
blinked nor wavered, but fixed me with a deep, saturnine glare.
Its wings began to lift and loop menacingly downwards reminiscent of a
cowboy about to draw, further increasing its size into what I now
realised to be a posture of threat - yes, of threat! This small woodland
wader, no larger than my two hands placed together, had recovered
consciousness and was bravely puffing itself up to threaten me - the
arch predator - to insist that I back off. But I had seen nothing yet.
I was transfixed by this brazen display of avian bravura. Then my
woodcock's tail began to tremble. The spiky feathers emerged and erected
themselves into a broad, spreading fan that grew and grew until they
were tilting forward over its arched back: a black, white and ginger
array of quite startling haute couture that would have graced any
catwalk. The tremble changed gear, into rapid vibrations. Slowly at
first, with increasing vigour and a clearly audible snare-drum roll, the
rigid feathers rattled with menace. The woodcock rose up on its legs and
started to dance. It strutted and posed and flicked its postured bill as
though shaking a stick.
.
Then it uttered a thin sneezing call as though to spit its defiance
finally home. This seemed to drive it to yet further heights of
self-belief. It rose higher on its legs and pouted yet more petulantly,
every few seconds snorting this bill-shaking yelp of exasperation. Its
black eyes grew wide and burned with rancour. It was throwing a fit of
wader fury, a tantrum of astonishingly courageous avian umbrage. In
defence of its own life this exquisite creature was performing an
ancient fan dance choreographed in the damp woods of its long,
mysterious origins.
In total awe I stood and watched for several minutes. Finally, fearing
that it was about to explode in a cloud of feathers I picked it up in
both hands and carried it gently out on to the lawn. It never faltered.
Even in my hands it sought to buck and wing its bird bolero. I placed it
on the grass and backed away. The vibrations suddenly stopped. For a
full minute the bird stood still; it looked faintly ridiculous with
wings akimbo and spiky tail up rearing. It seemed to sense its own
absurdity - that its moment of ire had passed. The bill righted, the fan
subsided and the wings returned to its sides.
Appearing momentarily embarrassed, it took three short steps forward in
a little run as if to chcek itself out to be quite sure it was a
woodcock again - then it lifted off and winged away into the
rhododendrons with that familiar and unmistakable looping flight I love
so well.
Once again I am very indebted to Don Rutter for his reminiscences of an
age that is now slipping beyond most people's ken – when farmers and
farming were appreciated by a grateful and hungry Nation. Today's
politicians – for whom 'History' only began in 1997 – would do well to
reflect on the fact that food rationing continued after the war until
1954. The fact that this country is now only just over 60% self
sufficient in home grown food appears to give them no concern
whatsoever.
OLD BEACHIN FARM
BOB, LAND GIRLS AND THE W.I.
Bob lived in at the Beachin; family history tells us Mr. Griffiths
senior worked for Granddad Rutter at Green Farm Aldersey. Living in the
Cottage next door, he had three sons that had all left school and
Granddad went round one evening and said “it’s time you lads gave your
Mother and Dad some peace. George you go and live with Frank at Hatton
Heath, Alf you go and live with your sister at Milton Green and Bob you
go and live with John at the Old Beachin, come on don’t mess about get
your things and get off.”
Bob spent the rest of his life at the Beachin. He had left Handley
School at an early age, every evening he would read the daily paper from
cover to cover, if anyone was writing a letter and wanted to know how to
spell a word he could tell them.
One evening someone was doing a crossword and got stuck with a clue
asking for a type of ant beginning with the letter P, Bob knew the
answer but you can imagine the confusion caused by a very excited
gentleman with a very bad stammer trying to tell us it was what he
called one of them Pissymaur ants and he started PPP and by the time he
had finished we had a very wet and very drunk ant.
Bob lived up in the attic and every now and then he would go up to the
White Horse at Churton and get really drunk When he was well away he
used to sing Rule Britannia with a long pause between the two words, on
one such occasion he said he had seen ghosses eating crusses on the
stone posses, The sand stone posts can still be seen now over grown in
the hedge in one of the fields. On return to the Beachin he would then
either bury himself in the hay up the lofts in the buildings or
barricade himself in his bedroom; someone then had to go and search for
him or try and talk him out. The attic door was a solid tongue and
groove job so Dad had a pane of glass put in it so you could get in on
such occasions, like the modern fire alarms.
Sunday morning was shave and hair cut time for Bob and either Dad or Tom
had the job of shaving Bob with the old cut throat razor seated on a
chair in the Wash house. Harry Blake came from Clutton with Mother when
she married Dad and he had the shaving job for a time. Being fond of a
practical joke he arranged for someone to come out when he had shaved
one side of Bob’s face with an urgent message to say he had to go to his
parents house at Tattenhall Lanes, and he left poor old Bob like that
for a week.
Bob spent most of the winter cleaning out the ditches with a long staled
spade and one night he came home and said a Spitfire pilot who was
flying low over shouted “Duck down Old un I won’t hurt you.” The
Spitfires where on the aerodrome at Eaton Hall where the Point to Point
is held now and from the Beachin you could see the German planes being
lit up by the searchlights and watch the dog fights that followed.
The old stagers who worked on the farms had some rare sayings, old Pop
Bennion who worked at Middle Beachin called the Lancasters four inch
bombers and talked about them anti craft air guns. When the Germans
surrendered he had heard the radio news which in those days was always
in the best Oxford English given by Mr Hal Varleydel who had reported
that the Germans had capitulated. Pop came back to work and said “The
war's over the Gerrys had catapulted.”
The Women’s Land Army played a very vital role on the farms throughout
the war and succeeded in bringing a lot of new blood in to the rural
areas when a goodly number stayed on and married into the local
families. Mary Price left her job at Cadbury's Chocolate Factory and
came to live at the Beachin. In those days she was always referred to as
Miss Price because she came from a business family and Mother insisted
she should have her proper title which she kept to the end of her days.
When she left the Beachin she went to manage the then small Home Farm at
Thornton Manor. I can remember going to stay with her in the school
holidays as a small boy and in the evenings you could see the bombs
falling on Liverpool and Birkenhead, and see the fires burning. On one
such visit I remember seeing under the avenues of Horse Chestnut trees
on the private roads radiating from the Manor rows and rows of wagons,
tanks and guns all under nets hidden by the big trees ready for the
Normandy landings.
The Home Farm had a small herd of Jersey cows, the milk was taken up to
the small dairy in the back of the Manor and put through a small hand
cream separator. The cream then went to the house keeper for the family
and the skim was divided between the gardeners and staff. The large
walled garden was full of fruit and vegetables and each member of staff
had a wooden basket which was filled each week. During the war the Manor
was used as a military hospital and the family lived in a small
apartment. The household scraps were collected and boiled in a pig swill
boiler at the back of the farm and fed to the pigs.
Miss Price was one of the first people to rear Turkeys on wire floors to
stop them getting Black Head. Before the introduction of medicated feeds
young turkeys were fed for the first few days on chopped hard boiled
eggs and dandelion leaves until you could get them on to chick crumbs.
They then grew like weeds till they started to change the colour of
their necks. If they were anywhere near other poultry they then decided
to die like flies and you had to push pills down their throats with a
pencil or some other long instrument, I speak from bitter experience.
After the war was over she received the M.B.E. for being the first Land
Girl in Cheshire. She was very proud of this Honour and joked she was
glad she got the M.B.E. because it stands for my B. effort not like the
O.B.E. which stands for the other Bs efforts.
We had other land girls some of whom were housed in a hostel in Farndon
and came with a packed lunch which ended up in the dogs dish and they
joined in the Beachin lunch. After a week or two we seemed to find a bed
room and they moved in as family.
The W.I. were also very active in the war days in order to make the best
of everything available in the area. They had a canning machine so every
year when the fruit was in season the local ladies would come to the
Beachin to prepare fruit and use the machine. The process required fruit
to be peeled and sliced and placed in the cans, then covered in syrup a
mixture of hot water and sugar. The cans had a flat flange and a lid
with a rubber seal and flange which was placed on top. You then placed
them in the machine which was fastened to the edge of a table with two
clamps.
You placed the can with lid on top on a platform which was then pressed
up with a lever to push the lid tight on to the can and line it up with
two rollers which were driven with a handle which as you turned came
into the edge of the can and lid and rolled them together. After about
twenty turns of the handle the rollers came out again and you then
removed the sealed can and to make sure the lid had sealed properly you
then heated them up in water till the ends of the can bulged out at
which stage you cooled them down till the ends popped back you then knew
they were air tight and you had canned fruit for the rest of the year.
The reason they came to the Beachin was we had the steam boiler for the
cheese making and it made the last part of the process easier warming up
the water with all the cans in.
During the war the villages held fund raising events, one was called
Wings for Victory and all the village joined in with Churton Band in the
lead followed by the Home Guard, the Land Army, The Nurses, the W.I. and
the local children in fancy dress loaded on farm carts. On one parade
Dad rode in the car trailer with a tar sheet lining to stop the pennies
going through cracks in the floor. Armed with the long handled copper
bedpan he went collecting round all the villages starting at the village
hall at Coddington, on to Aldersey, then via Holywell to Clutton,
Barton, Stretton and back to Coddington.
He ended up with that many pennies and halfpennies it took ages to count
them. The late Herbert Phillips was only a young boy at the time and
thought it was great fun but in the end he started to cry because he
could not go on counting any longer - we found pennies wedged in bits of
the trailer for ages afterwards. Everyone joined in and made their own
entertainment and everyone was united in the cause.
The dawn comes cold: the haystack smokes,
The green twigs crackle in the fire,
The dew is dripping from the oaks
And sleepy men bear milking-yokes
Slowly towards the cattle-byre
Down in the town a clock strikes six,
The grey east heaven burns and glows,
The dew shines on the thatch of ricks,
A slow old crone comes gathering sticks,
The red cock in the ox-yard crows.
John Masefield
From Dawn