The music of the pack is it’s
 CRY!
Spring 2005

 

 Now must I mend my manners and lay my gruffness by.

The earth is making merry and so, I think, must I.

The flowers are out in thousands, each in a different dress.      

The woods are green and like to fruit

The earth has donned her grassy fleece,        

And blackbirds, jackdaws, magpies, nightingales

Shouting each other down in equal praise

 

So many lovely things, and if a man looks on them,

And his mood is not softened, nor a smile on his face,

An Intractable Clod is he, at odds with his heart is he,

For he who can behold earth's beauty without praising it

Has a grudge against earth's Maker, whose honour all these serve,

Cold winter, summer, autumn, comely spring.

 

Marbod of Rennes (1035-1123)

 

I suppose that we can take some consolation from the fact that even in the eleventh century Marbod of Rennes was able to recognize Intractable Clods but there is no doubt that in the twenty first century we continue to be governed by them. So much has been said or written about the Ban that little more need be said but I have included in this edition of Cry the Times Leader for Thursday November 18th 2004 because I feel that it exactly sums up the current situation and serves to remind us all that – whatever the weasly Alun Michael or Spinmeister Alistair Goebbels might say – the current situation is not of the Government’s choosing and is not of Parliament’s choosing. Also included is a letter from Sir Watkin, the Hunt Chairman and Lord Daresbury which has been sent to all farmers and landowners explaining our current plans for the continuation of the Hunt until such a time as this pernicious Act is repealed – and believe me, it will be.

 

Many Hunt Supporters have already asked how they can help and one way is to assist at the next General Election. There are a number of Labour seats which are considered highly vulnerable, two of which are Chester and the Vale of Clwyd and we have been asked to help eject the current Labour MPs. This is not a question of politics it is a question of righting a wrong. We all appreciate that many of you will already be committed to helping in your own constituencies but if you felt able to put your name forward please fill in and return the enclosed flyer – any help however small will be gratefully received and we hope to group everyone in teams so you will not be expected to go it alone.

 

Also enclosed are tickets for the Grand National Draw – this is a great fund raiser and your help in selling them will be greatly appreciated. And to reassure you that Cry is not all take and no give we have an inaugural competition with a very attractive prize! Finally can I thank all the contributors to Cry that help to make it so appreciated by so many supporters.

 

“The count of the years is steadily growing;

The Old give way to the eager Young

Far on the hill is the horn still blowing,

Far on the steep are the hounds still strung.

Good men follow the good men gone

And hark! They’re running! They’re running on!”

 

FROM YOUR CHAIRMAN

 

Each year the Hunts Supporters Club has been more successful than the previous one with many events and therefore even more money raised. In these unprecedented times there is a greater need than ever for fundraising and directly helping the Hunt. We are all going through the unchartered waters of Mr Blair’s Dictatorship or Uselessness – however you may like to see it – and we must stick together and come through all the healthier for it. With this need in mind it would be wonderful if you could continue to support as many of the parties, rides and other activities as possible so that we can confidently do our part.

 

I would like to thank the Chairmen, Secretaries and Committee Members of our three Areas for their energy and commitment throughout the year and without whom we would have no funds. I am sure that many of you will have seen Bert about in his ‘fire engine’ as it was labelled as soon as we bought him a shiny red replacement Land Rover – replacing the one we bought in Neil Ewart’s time over fifteen years ago!

 

And now to the Future:

 

The Wynnstay Hunt Evening at Bangor on 29th April will feature our very own Handicap Chase and parade of hounds and will, I am sure, be a great evening out. Please, Please take full advantage of the extremely generous offer from the Racecourse, get a party together and send off for tickets using the application form that is enclosed with Cry.  The normal advance booking ticket price is £14 but our special price is £10 and for every ticket sold the Racecourse will give £3 to WHSC. Sponsoring the race is quite expensive but this can be recouped if more than 200 of you come and enjoy the evening and get the chance to win a bottle of champagne.

 

My final thanks must go to Charlotte Percival, a most efficient secretary and to Peter Lawrence for keeping the books. Without them my job and your Club would not run so smoothly.

 

AREA I

 

Many thanks to everyone who helped at the Ride – especially Geoff Dutton who masterminded the whole enterprise. The new venue at Pickhill Old Hall seemed to be enjoyed by everyone and as well as raising money for the Hunt Supporters Club we were able to donate £1,000 to the Macmillan Cancer Fund.

 

Owing to other commitments Deborah Paul has retired as Secretary – many thanks for all her hard work over the years. Katherine Byrne has kindly stepped into the breech and we welcome her to the Committee.

 

We will be holding the Bryn-y-Pys Show as usual – date to be confirmed – and our Ride will be on 25th September from Pickhill Old Hall.

 

AREA II

 

I had my knuckles seriously rapped by the Editor for missing his last deadline – so, sorry about the silence from Area II in the last issue of Cry.

 

Mr and Mrs Geoff Bourne kindly hosted a spectacular Hog Roast at Higher Lanes. Ably helped by Geoff, Liz and Christopher Mayer, Robin Benson and lots of other kind people the whole yard and the Barn looked so smart we could have eaten off the floor! Everyone had a thoroughly good evening with dog agility, shooting and bowling. Delicious homemade ice creams for pudding were kindly provided by Sharon and Timothy Lea. This was our most successful Hog Roast yet – thank you everyone for your support.

 

Our Cross Country Ride was a huge success and thank you to Charlie Barnett, Geoff Bourne and their helpers who organised another fantastic ride. Everyone who came on it was full of praise. We had a huge number of people round and are extremely grateful to all the farmers and landowners. Iscoyd was an excellent place to start and finish – thank you to the Godsals.

 

The Quiz Night held at Welshampton Village Hall in November was a sell out. Thank you to Mudguard for his brilliant list of questions; he does an excellent job as Quizmaster and it is a very popular evening.

 

Mark and Asher ♥♥♥ Congratulations! ♥♥♥ run a great Bar and Mr Widford provides us with a delicious hot-pot. Guy and Elizabeth Hanmer’s table won but they did seem to have a sizeable number of teachers on their table!

 

The Farmers Hunt Ball on the 11th February was – as ever – ably organised by Brian and Mary Probin who gave us all a great party. The tickets were like gold dust as it is such a popular evening. The atmosphere is friendly and fun and it is brilliant value – thank you Brian and Mary.

 

AREA III

 

Area III have had a successful 2004 with a Donkey Derby, held again at The Hollies - what would we do without the Dodd Family? Lots of fun and spills after all the hard work put in by our small committee but realizing a profit of nearly £1,100 and Pat even managed to sell a basset hound pup to visitors!

 

Our Ride in October was superb according to all the reports we have had since. Run from Lord D's land at the Mastiff Lane, after the initial panic to get people onto the field through a slippery gateway where we were very grateful for the help from Hugo Bourne with Mark and Chris on duty for the rest of the day, it was all plain sailing and we broke our record with 464 riders although quite a few others sneaked in from further along the lane!

 

As a result we were able to present Anna Evans of Air Ambulance, North Wales with a cheque for £1,000 at the Opening Meet which was well reported in the Welsh Press. Shortly after this we donated £3,000 to the main committee which went straight to the Garage towards the newish red Land Rover for the kennels.

 

Our AGM on Valentine's Night (the only time Tracy has been taken out for one!) was combined with a skittles evening at the Bickerton Poacher (many thanks to Jonothan and Sally for donating the room too!) where we were very glad to welcome Mrs Janet Randles to our committee which is otherwise continuing as before. The Albany Bassets had met earlier that day at Bradley and they had the audacity to not only win the skittle match but to win half the raffle prizes as well!

 

For 2005 we are trying a new spring ride (Sunday 13th March) from Stretton Dairy. If anyone can help us steward this we would be very grateful; please contact either Henry or Pat asap. There is also a Car Boot Sale in the pipeline for sometime in the summer. Please come and support us (and the other areas too). We are doing our utmost to help hunting in the Wynnstay survive but we can't do it without you; either your money or your body could make a big difference to how well we do this.

 

 

 

Donation Ride

Sunday, 13th March at Stretton Dairy, nr Tilston

(follow signs for Stretton Water Mill off A534 Broxton to Wrexham road)

 

First rider 10 am, last by 2pm. Adults £10, under 14's £5

Approx 8-9 mile. All fences optional. Refreshments available.

 

ANY HELPERS WOULD BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED!

Further details from Pat Adams: 01948 860394.

 

 

HUNTING REPORT

 

On our return from honeymoon early in June, Alice and I were quickly made to feel welcome in the country. I would just like to say how very grateful we are to everyone for entertaining and looking after us so well.

 

Over the summer, the Hounds were taken to one show at Builth Wells where Wynnstay Hazel and Handicap won the Best Couple of Unentered Bitches.

 

Autumn Hunting started on August 14th at Adrefelin where we enjoyed a good morning catching a brace.  We had continued good sport throughout the Autumn but with only a reasonable number of foxes accounted for.

 

The Opening Meet was kindly hosted, as usual, at Higher Barnes by Colonel and Penny Brooks where a good day was had by all. November was a very busy month with several memorable days. On Tuesday 25th the hounds met at Sutton Green, and quickly finding in Captain Ormrod’s covert, a very busy day ensued with hounds catching a brace in good style. The first notable hunt of any distance was on the 30th of November from Captain Ritson’s meet at Ebnal. We found at 2pm in the Hough Banks and ran slowly into Taylor’s Rough before swinging back round to Bradley Common and on to Higher Ash. After crossing the road back to Agden, the pace picked up as hounds ran down into Higher Wych, through Iscoyd Big Wood and on to Mr Kaye’s at Eastwick . From here we saw the fox, the first time it had been viewed, a field in front of the hounds at Bank Farm by the Wrexham road. Hounds hunted steadily back to Higher Barns, helped by a timely view from Steven Creer, before sadly hitting an electric fence. This was a hunt of two hours with a 4 mile point and 9 miles as hounds ran.

 

Although we had some enjoyable days, sport was slower in December but picked up again after Christmas.  On the 13th of December from Derwen Farm, half the pack had a 7 mile point, but sadly no one was with them. On the 15th of January, with Bert hunting hounds, a very good day was had, scoring a 4 mile point from Mrs Leche’s to Aldford.  The following Saturday a very large field enjoyed a good day from Tybroughton Hall. The morning was fast and furious with hounds concluding every Hunt. In the afternoon a very good hunt was had from Whalebone ending up in the Penley Dingles. 

 

February has proved to be a good month once again.  From Northwood Hall a straight fox was found at Gredington giving a fast hunt to Iscoyd.  This was a point of 5 miles. The following week the meet at Bettisfield Stables gave a nice hunt to Northwood and back, to catch him at Gredington.  This was 7 miles as hounds ran.

 

I have had a very enjoyable first season and would like to thank all the farmers for their wonderful support, especially in such trying times. Also Bert and Paul who have given me so much help, as have my Joint Masters and Field Masters. Finally, thank you to the earth stoppers who do vast amounts of work to make the sport as good as it is and to everyone in the Wynnstay country who have made Alice and I so welcome.

 

RMT

 

 

REPORT FROM THE WYNNSTAY CHAPTER OF THE HELL’S ANGELS

 

Helen, Patricia, Margaret and Bronwen would, once again, like to thank The Loyal Car Followers for their generous support. We have collected a huge £6,821 which includes Geoff’s Whisky Draw money – one side or the other of £2,000 – unfortunately Geoff is on holiday so has not been able to confirm the exact amount.

 

I think that we should all thank Richard, Bert and the Mastership for providing us with our weekly entertainment; not to mention the mounted followers who give us an added extra dimension to the day! It has been such a good, busy  season in spite of the cloud hanging over us and ending with the dreaded Ban.

 

I trust and hope that we will all turn out again in force next season to show that our much loved winter days out will not be ruined by an unjust law.

  

HUNTED DOWN

A lamentable failure of leadership from the Prime Minister

 

Oscar Wilde memorably dismissed foxhunting as "the unspeakable in full pursuit of the uneatable". The parliamentary campaign to ban what a minority are entitled to regard as part of their way of life has, though, been a case of the implacable in full pursuit of the illogical. Hundreds of hours of parliamentary time have been wasted, many more hundreds of hours of courtroom time lie ahead and perhaps thousands of hours of police time might be consumed if and when this measure is implemented. It has been a ludicrous spectacle politically and utterly divisive socially. Nothing positive will come of it.

 

This has been an episode of parliamentary madness. It also reflects especially badly on the Prime Minister. On Tuesday night he finally chose to cast a vote in the House of Commons on this question. He opted to back the compromise option, namely allowing hunting to continue but under a strict system of licence and regulation. He did so on the basis that it was “in the best interests of the country". He could not, however, inspire many government colleagues to join him. A reasonable proposal went down by a 117 vote margin.

 

Tony Blair can only blame himself for this outcome. If the "middle way", which he has come round to supporting publicly, is in the best interests of the country now, it surely must have been so for the past seven years. Yet Mr Blair has consistently failed to declare his hand, signalling a distaste for the hunting ban through nods and winks, newspaper leaks and by proxy, courtesy of supporters sent out to be shot politically on behalf of their master. He has continually deluded himself that something, almost anything, might eventually turn up to relieve him of this issue. Now he has been hunted down by Labour MPs as a consequence of his own indecision.

 

Mr Blair might hope that his belated vote will be taken as a conciliatory gesture. It will not. If anything, the Prime Minister has left himself in the worst of all worlds. Labour MPs and party activists will be irritated that his previous claims to favour an outright ban were insincere while those who aspire to continue with their pastime have no reason to thank a man who could have blocked this illiberal measure at an earlier stage in proceedings, but conspicuously declined to do so.

 

The broader impression left is that of a paradoxical prime minister. Mr Blair has shown admirable courage in foreign affairs - not just in Iraq, but on Kosovo and Sierra Leone as well. Yet he has been incapable of mobilising the moderate and rational wing of his party through leadership on the infinitely less awkward matter of the precise methods by which the fox population is kept within sensible numbers. Tough restrictions on foxhunting are appropriate. A total ban is excessive

 

This should not, nevertheless, be an excuse for those who have lost in the House of Commons to engage in anti-parliamentary militancy. There will be an opportunity for them to challenge both the legality of the Parliament Act 1949 and to explore whether the Human Rights Act offers them succour. They should do so patiently and in a measured tone and not suggest that they believe the law of the land - if that is what the ban becomes incorporated within - is a thing that they are entitled to approach a la carte. Responsibility must be the order of the hour. It is an immense pity that Mr Blair himself did not act responsibly when it really would have counted.

 

TIMES MAIN LEADER – Thursday November 18th 2004

 

HUNT PANTO AND CHRISTMAS AUCTION

 Congratulations to John Harvey for finding so much talent among the Wynnstay Hunt and for making such good use of it all! Also for encouraging some of the younger generation to take part. They were a great success and it was grand to see them performing so well.

 

A big Thank You must go to those who gave items and promises for the Auction, to all the buyers, and to John Brereton for his auctioneering expertise.

We were very grateful to all who helped each evening, waitresses, etc. and to Jane Jennings for her hard work as Booking Officer and Treasurer for the Auction.

It all helped to make the evenings successful and we were able to put £6,200 into the hunt funds.

N.S.

(And of course the biggest thank you of all must go to Nancie who is tireless in her pursuit of loot!)

 

HUNTING WITH THE WYNNSTAY IN VICTORIAN TIMES

Researched by J A Wright

Once again I am very indebted to John Wright for this fascinating description of times gone by.

EARTH STOPPING DINNER AT OVERTON BRIDGE

September 27th 1893

The four appointed stations for the payment of earth stoppers in connection with the Wynnstay Hunt are Overton Bridge, Baschurch, Barton and Whitchurch. The earth stoppers of the Baschurch district take the largest share of the £300 voted for this purpose whilst those of Barton take least from this hunt as they get a fair share from the Cheshire Hunt. Wednesday was the pay day at Overton Bridge when over £70 was distributed among the earth stoppers. After business had been transacted Sir Watkin invited them to a dinner which was an excellent one in every respect and reflected the greatest credit on the host and hostess, Mr and Mrs Pemberton. Master Ernest Pemberton who had charge of the decoration and the laying of the tables displayed good taste as the room looked exceedingly well.

Amongst those present were: Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Mr Hanmer Jones, Shellbrook; Mr Frank Cotton, Mr Lockey, the Huntsman; Roberts, Lewis, Jones, Millbrooke; Parry Bedwell, Fowles, Broughton Hall; Fowles and Rd Fowles, Marchweil Hall; Morris, Groves, Wm Roberts, Plas Noble; Burdett, Overton; Pashen, Eyton; Pearson, Porthwgan; S and G Brookfield, Twll; H Davies, Wrexham; Bellis, Llwynonm, etc

Sir Watkin, who was obliged to leave shortly after dinner said that now for the 8th year in succession he had had the pleasure of saying a few words to them. He was pleased to say the earth stopping had been done in a very satisfactory manner. All through the country they hunted last year there had not been an increase in the number of foxes running to ground but there were two or three rather bad cases and when they had to dig a fox out people were not very pleased and he generally caught it when he got home for being late.

He was glad to say that there were only two or three earth stoppers in the district who neglected their duty and he hoped these would try their best for the future to stop foxes from running to ground. It was perfectly useless going out hunting if the earth stopping was bad. He promised them last year that if they stopped the holes he would catch the foxes and it had turned out so, for last season was a record season – ninety two or ninety three days and during that time they had killed seventy six to seventy eight brace of foxes which gave a splendid average. He attributed that to the excellence of the earth stopping.

Last year the earth stopping had been very carefully done and the foxes which ran to ground were much less than they were two or three years ago. The hounds were improving, the huntsmen were improving and he was very sure the earth stopping was improving but on that account they were not to relax their efforts.

When he mentioned to any earth stopper that the fox had no business going to ground he generally got the same old story: “He scratched his way in.” Of course a fox would scratch his way through sand – they should use faggots. It was not the slightest use stopping the holes with sand and then to tell him they had stopped the holes up with branches etc. That story would not go down with him.

And again there was the badger story and that too fell to the ground. He hoped the badgers were getting less. He had even been told that they had taken a chicken or two. He hoped those who came with a clean sheet this time would continue to keep it so and those who did not would try to do so next year.

The number of foxes this time was very satisfactory – in fact he had never seen more. He was sure the earth stopping would be good this time. He had good young hounds and if they could get hold of a fox they would answer for it. Mr Lockey the Huntsman was equal to the occasion and the foxes would be kept down in a proper legitimate manner. He was hunting about twenty miles away lately; they killed two and three went to ground. That showed that the earth stopping was bad. Even that morning a fox went down a hole which he could have got down himself. The earth stopper said sand would do but he hoped now that the man would alter his opinions and the horrible sand business be done away with.

The best thing they could do was to put on the hedge gloves and take a hook and cut some brambles with which to stop the holes. That would answer and it was much better than putting in an elaborate piece of paper. Surely they did not think the fox would stop to read the paper to improve its intelligence. He had seen a fox go clean through a piece of paper. Paper might answer for rabbits as there were no hounds after them.

He thanked them for the way in which they had done their work in looking after the foxes and preserving them and hoped they would try and do the same next season and that he would be as pleased with them then as he was this time.

Sir Watkin on leaving for Wynnstay was loudly cheered. The duties of Chairmanship then devolved on Mr Lockey and right well did he fulfil them. Mr John Pearson, Porthwgan, proposed the health of Sir Watkin. This was received with musical honours. “The Huntsman” was proposed by Mr Joshua Wilson – Mr Lockey in responding said he was much obliged to them for the kind way in which they had drunk his health. He was very pleased to be once more with them. He hoped that the same kind felling would always exist between them. There was a capital show of foxes and Sir Watkin had said that he (the speaker) would kill them. Well if he did not kill them he would frighten them.

The “Host and Hostess” and “The Whips” were submitted to the company and heartily received. A few songs then enlivened the proceedings.

 

FROM MAJOR R KEARSLEY’S HUNTING DIARY

These two excerpts were given to Nancie Shepherd by Mary Lloyd, Major Kearsley’s step-daughter. He lived at Rosehill, Erbistock.

10th February 1927 Meet Shocklach

Drew Grafton blank. Killed a fox in covert at Larges. Drew Castletown blank. Found in Mrs Leechesand ran fast to Tom Irons and killed. Drew Royalty blank. Found at the Beachin and ran fast to the Duke’s new covert, past Aldford withy bed and to Saighton where he got to ground. This was a very good and fast hunt.

31st January 1927 Meet Farndon

Drew Crewe Gorse blank. Found at Mrs Leeche’s Gorse and ran past Grafton Hall covert to the river below Castletown then left handed past Grafton and Tilston and Carden Square Wood towards the Beachin then left handed through Royalty where they changed foxes to the Dukes new covert. They left this fox there and went back to Royalty in the hopes of picking up the beaten fox but were unsuccessful. This was an excellent hunt over beautiful country and was very fast at times.

HUNT QUIZ 2004

 

RAGBAG I

 

  1. Who was the first man on the moon?
  2. What is the Welsh for No?
  3. Who was Henry VIII’s third wife?
  4. What is the Welsh for slow?
  5. In which country is the world’s largest Pyramid
  6. In cooking what does the term Lyonnaise refer to?
  7. In Holst’s composition the Planets the planet Pluto is not included – why
  8. What is the connection between Coronation Street’s Nick Tilsley and a local Cheshire Estate Agents?
  9. During the Jeremy Thorpe trial what was the name of the dog killed in an attempt to silence Norman Scott in 1975
  10. Who was the last man on the moon?

 

HUNTING

 

  1. Apart from cricket where might you be point?

  2. What would you be hunting if your quarry was Sanglier?

  3. Apart from cricket, where might you be ‘in the slips’?

  4. What would you be given if you were presented with a Michael Lyne?

  5. What is the name of a club started by a group of Cheshire sportsmen in 1762?

  6. What is the German word for Hunter?

  7. What would you receive if you were given a Littleworth?

  8. What would you have if you had a pair of Latchfords?

  9. Why should you not use a running martingale with a jointed snaffle?

  10. Where did Oscar Wilde first describe hunting as the “pursuit of the uneatable by the unspeakable?”

 

DEATHS

  1. How did the following meet their end?

  2. Abraham Lincoln

  3. Mark Bolan

  4. Buddy Holly

  5. Edward II

  6. Captain Ahab

  7. John I

  8. Isadora Duncan

  9. Who assassinated Abraham Lincoln?

  10. George V

  11. Aeschylus

INVENTORS

  1. Who discovered penicillin

  2. Who invented dynamite

  3. Who invented the C5

  4. Who invented the Ball point pen?

  5. Widely considered to be the inventor of the computer, he worked at Bletchley Park during the Second World War and committed suicide in Wilmslow

  6. Who invented the corn drill

  7. Who invented the aqualung

  8. Designer of the Spitfire’s undercarriage system, in peacetime this inventor turned his knowledge of how to make things fold up to the benefit of parents. Who was he and what did he invent.

  9. What were Mr Block and Mr Quayle responsible for founding?

  10. Who developed the internet in 1991?

RAGBAG II

 

  1. What is the Welsh for Bridge?
  2. What is Scotch Woodcock?
  3. Who burnt Atlanta and had a tank named after him?
  4. What is a Boston Crab?
  5. Name the US States having only 4 letters in their name
  6. “They dined upon mince and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon” What is a runcible spoon?
  7. The villages of Cayton in Yorkshire, Arkholme in Lancashire and the most inappropriately named Upper Slaughter in Gloucestershire are known as ‘Thankful Villages.’ Why?
  8. At what negative temperature are Celsius and Fahrenheit the same?
  9. What is the Welsh for crematorium?
  10. Home to Polly Garter, Captain Cat, Nogood Boyo and Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard - what is the name of Dylan Thomas’s town nestling under Milkwood?

 

UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS

  1. Princess Diana’s Butler

  2. Bertie Wooster’s manservant

  3. Lady Penelope’s chauffeur

  4. The butler in Upstairs Downstairs

  5. Batman’s Butler

  6. The Queen Mother’s page for 51 years

  7. Sherlock Holmes’ Housekeeper

  8. The butler at Blandings Castle

  9. Sir Clifford Chatterley’s Gamekeeper?

  10. In the boys comic ‘The Valiant’ Captain Hurricane’s batman

 DIALECT WORDS

 

  1. What would you be doing if you were mithering someone?
  2. What are butts and reams
  3. What is a pikel?
  4. What agricultural implement is a Billhook
  5. What would you be if you were parky
  6. What would you be if you were clarty
  7. What is a Bombay Duck?
  8. What agricultural implement is a Gripe?
  9. What useful items of dress are Gallowses
  10. Rozzer as in policeman is a Yiddish word – what is its English translation

 

RAGBAG III

  1. What follows Genesis and precedes Leviticus?

  2. What is the Welsh for Church?
  3. Which 1960’s television series was filmed in Portmerion, North Wales?
  4. What are Glamorgan sausages?
  5. How many Sharps in D Major?
  6. Where did Abraham Lincoln deliver the speech beginning “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation?”
  7. What is the Welsh for Supermarket?
  8. What name is given to the sequence of numbers 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21 in which each number after the first pair is the sum of the two preceding numbers?
  9. The USS Phoenix survived Pearl Harbour – what was its name when it was eventually sunk in battle?
  10. Which building, within a forty mile radius of Malpas, is reportedly the most visited building in Europe

 

 

SIR W W WYNN'S HUNT

Now that the Hunting Act 2004 has become law we thought it important to bring you up to date with our thoughts and preparations for the future.

 

The Government seems determined not only to destroy the ancient and traditional sport of foxhunting but also to destroy the hunts themselves, which, in the case of the Wynnstay, provides amongst many other things a cohesive force for good in the countryside. With the full backing of the Hunt Committee and the Members of the Hunt we are determined that Sir WW Wynn's hounds should continue to provide what assistance it can to you the farmers/landowners/supporters.

 

So far we have had an open meeting attended by many non‑hunting farmers, a number of Committee meetings and a Members' meeting. With the full support of the Hunt Committee Charles Barnett's excellent report on the 'Way Forward' was received and approved by the Members last week. One of its crucial recommendations is that we should not break the law from February 19th - the date the act becomes law - for the remaining six days hunting of this season and for next season it recommends that three main activities should be pursued:

 

•      A fox control service to be carried out within the law, under the exemptions from the Hunting Act. This activity will principally for the benefit of farmers and land owners

 

•      Simulated Hunting Activities (trail hunting), with no intention of hunting the fox, for the benefit of the subscribers and supporters

 

•      Hound Exercise. The key goal is to maintain the hounds and hunt structure for as long as

possible until the law is changed.

 

We will be seeking farmers and landowners agreement and help for all these activities and in order to perfect our plans for next season will visit them during the early summer.

 

With our best wishes

 

Sir Watkin Williams‑Wynn Bt   Brigadier ECW Morrison OBE   The Lord Daresbury MFH

President                                    Chairman                                        Senior Master

 THE HUNT SUPPORTERS CLUB

 

Patron: Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, Bt.           President: Mrs D.W. Hutchinson Smith

 

Vice Presidents: A.R. Hewitt Esq.; J Chantler Esq.; P. Robinson Esq.;

Mrs G. Lea, J.P.; Mrs J. Taylor; J.C. Barnett Esq. Mrs J. Chantler.

 

Chairman:            Mrs G Hanmer 01948 710 634

Hon. Secretary:   Mrs C Percival 01829 782 585

 Treasurer:            P Lawrence Esq.

 

Editor of Cry: David Higham, Rose Farm, Coddington, Tattenhall, Chester CH3 9EN

01829 782 420 david@higham.taurusuk.net

 

Area I (Wrexham)

 

Chairman: Mrs B Jones 01978 780 870

Secretary: Catherine Byrne 01978 351 027

 

Area II (Whitchurch)

 

Chairman: G Mayer Esq. 01948 880 418

Secretary: Mrs S Martin, Lyneal Wood Farm, Lyneal, Ellesmere, Shropshire SY12 0LE

01939 233 227

 

Area III (Malpas)

 

Chairman:  Mr H Tomlinson 01829 782 365

Secretary: Mrs Pat Adams, Greenfield Farm, Bradley Common, Whitchurch, Shropshire

01948  860 394

 

David and Penny Brooks Travel in Nepal

 

Hunted by the Maoists through Nepal or Never Travel without Harv!

 

“We are having a lovely time in this magical place with views of the Annapurnas, sitting by the pool with the noise of sporadic gunfire in the valley below”.  This was the content of Penny’s postcards to family and friends in the Wynnstay Country. It was strictly accurate.

 

Six months before through coincidence, friendship and good luck we were asked to attend a Ghurka Durbar and reunion in Pokhara, Nepal and follow it with trekking, rafting and elephant riding – all accompanied by ex Ghurka officers and wives.  An invitation you tend not to refuse especially at our stage of the great cycle of life.  I can’t really remember why Harv couldn’t come with us, but I think not only had he done it all before but also he was diving in some unpronounceable place in Indonesia.

 

The Durbar itself was amazing.  Two thousand old soldiers and their families came out of the hills, the oldest carried by the youngest.  Three V.C.’s  and any number of beribboned chests such as you seldom see were on parade.  Not only did the soldiers greet comrades from distant valleys, but there was a special relationship between soldiers and officers.  The officers are pretty special, they aren’t farmers, stockbrokers and directors from London, Chester and York; they live and work in Hong Kong, Singapore and Kampala. They now work where they were soldiers and they all speak Nepalese (Ghurkali).  The 2nd Ghurkas were disbanded by the “grateful” British Government in 1994, but their band had become the Nepalese Police Band so the parade not only had emotional military music, but the sight of old men discarding their crutches and wheelchairs to march with their comrades was a true “tear jerker”. The parade was followed by two days of parties culminating in a great Ghurka tradition – the Tug of War.  It is Ghurkas against British with a slight twist.  Excitement builds and more and more soldiers (and wives) grab their end of the rope, then just to add insult to injury the end is tied to a handy prepositioned spike.  The officers seldom win!

 

The trek included fifteen people of different ages and abilities and lasted five days. The length and duration did not worry us but Penny and I are not very good with large groups.  In the event it was perfect.  Everyone speaking Nepalese meant that we could chat to the marvellously jolly and friendly villagers and although the speed was very slow it gave us the opportunity to drop behind and look at flowers, views, birds and still catch up with ease.  As usual the Polaroid camera was in great demand until it broke, only to be the first Polaroid ever to be dismantled and repaired by a handy Ghurka engineer.  Because every employee of the Ghurka owned trek company wanted to be part of this unique expedition we had the owner who had not left his office for three years as our guide, a large hotel owner from Pokhara was his assistant and the head cook was the top instructor in Nepal.  We didn’t suffer!  For fifteen trekkers we had thirty two members of staff, mostly porters.  For some inexplicable reason the cooks and camp staff were Sherpas and the porters were from one of the lowland tribes.  This in no way inhibited them.  Clad in flip flops with 25 kilos on their backs they bounded past us with cries of “Kitchen on the left!”  The Brooks’ personal porter was under five foot tall, carried a full load and Penny had to be forcibly restrained from helping him carrying our kit.

 

Overshadowing this happy expedition, as with everything else in Nepal, was the threat of the guerrilla Maoists.  So called because they could not think what else to call themselves.  Initially we were meant to be on the famous P L Poon trek to Annapurna, but since we would have been held up at gunpoint daily and taxed by the guerrillas we had to change our route each day.  Interestingly whatever they take off most trekkers they double it for the Americans!  For those who understand these things we reached 10,000 feet but the achievement was slightly spoilt because our 82 year old, with two DSO’s, got there first.

 

After returning to Pokhara we all went with trepidation to the white water rafting briefing.  The smart American lady from Kerr and Downey told us it was cancelled, but rather illogically asked us to pay anyway. We didn’t.  It transpired that the previous group had had a wonderful time rafting, but had then been ejected from their mini bus, told to walk and the mini bus burnt.  I, of course, told her to buy another bus – but she rather negatively refused.  No moral fibre.  This change of plan allowed us to stay in that luxury hill top hotel and listen to the Maoists terrorising the poor hapless villagers in the valley below, as described in Penny’s postcards.

 

Phase 4, the tiger tracking and elephant polo, was upon us and we flew south to Chitwan supposedly away from the Maoists. You are very privileged to ride an elephant.  The elephant is not so privileged as it is directed by a Mahout with bare feet and a large ash plant, which when it connects with it’s head makes a noise like a church bell on Sunday.

 

Standing behind the howdah, where we sit facing sideways, is the guide who points out the various elephants and birds.  We saw countless exotic rare birds, rhino, deer, buffalo, things called gaur - which looked like bison and a rare sloth bear, but tiger tracking is a bit of a misnomer. Especially as at that time of year the grass was as tall as the elephant. We of course saw no tigers. And this after 9 elephant rides!  Penny and I stayed for a record six nights at Chitwan, not because we are rich but because we had a wonderful deal with the Ghurkas and the famous owner, Jim Edwards, liked Penny!  We overcame the “no tiger problem”, by buying two very realistic and slightly out of focus snapshots from one of the guides.

 

The high point of Chitwan was the elephant polo match.  Widely trailed all over Nepal as a grudge match between 2nd Ghurkas and the Cavalry, there were one or two problems.  Firstly although I had all the kit and a wife, a polo team should have four players.  But luckily we found an art dealer from Cirencester and an American photographer, made them honorary cavalry officers and we were in business.  The next problem was that elephants are very high, and therefore the stick is very long and very heavy; this means that although you are tied on with a heavy rope behind the Mahout, actually hitting the ball off an enthusiastic charging elephant is quite difficult!  Penny was the saviour of the cavalry team.  She had a very fast baby elephant and with that well known Wynnstay dash managed to score all the goals and with a little gentlemanly cheating we won.  Unfortunately it meant buying champagne at £45.00 a bottle!  (When they started to play elephant polo Jim Edwards used footballs.  But the elephants soon learnt that if you tread on a football it makes a very satisfactory “pop”. Now with proper wooden balls if they tread on one they dig it out with their trunk and give it a good whack down the field).

 

By our last day we were alone at Chitwan with an American stuntman and his girlfriend, who had made the film ‘Sea Biscuit’. During our morning ride there was an ominous “crump” in the direction of the airfield.  The guide said it was thunder, from a completely cloudless sky.  In fact the Maoists had just blown up the control tower trapping us at Chitwan.  The American immediately organised a helicopter for two people at £2,000 and when we met him later told a wonderful story of being “plucked” from the jungle by rope ladders.  He was a stuntman!  Penny and I opted for the more pedestrian method of escape.  We walked for half a day through the jungle, then went down the river in a canoe, followed by a death defying bus ride with the driver unable to see due to a bunch of false roses obscuring his windscreen and finally a plane ride with people standing in the aisle because it was the last plane out.

 

A wonderful time was had by all but next time we will take Harv with us. It all goes so smoothly when he is there. 

 

Footnote:  The situation is Nepal is tragic and the losers are the wonderfully friendly and helpless villagers.  The ineffective royalty dominated government is supported by the Americans and the so called Maoists will always dominate the countryside.  The classic no win situation for the vast majority of the population.

***   ***   ***

 

An extract from the diary [complete with spelling mistakes] an eight year old Brownie had to keep about her pony Dusty in order to gain her Brownies ‘Pet  Lovers’ Badge:-

 

Sunday 20th October Today Dusty and I went with Daddy and sadley had a fall but was ok. Not a lot to jump and it was cold and wet. A nice ride with lots of grass fealds. Last weeks one was a lot more fun.

 

Monday 21st October No day off for Dusty today! We went cubbing whitch we both loved he was very good. We galloped all round the farm  and all round Royalty – saw to foxs being killed and lots that got away. The total was 4 0½ brace [9] foxes a very good day. Dusty went out into the field fore the afternoon and had a jolly good roll.

 

Luckily Brown Owl was married to one of our leading Hunt Supporters!

 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

 

Sunday 13th March              Area III Spring Ride - Stretton Dairy Nr Tilston

 

Friday 29th April                  Wynnstay Hunt Evening Meeting - Bangor on Dee Racecourse

 

Friday 24th June                  Area II Hog Roast - Details to follow or ring Alex Martin 01939 233 227

 

Sunday 25th September      Area I Autumn Ride - Pickhill Old Hall

 

Sunday 2nd October             Hanmer Church Ride - Hanmer

 

Sunday 9th October             Area II Autumn Ride - Tybroughton

 

Sunday 16th October           Area III Autumn Ride – Malpas

 

Thurs 24th November         Area II Quiz – Welshampton

 

Fri 10th February 2006        Farmers Hunt Ball – Whitchurch Civic Centre               

 

 

THE RIDER TO HIS HORSE

 

Down the valley and up the slope we run from scent

                to view.                                                

Steady, you villain ‑ you know too much ‑ I'm not

                so wild as you;

You’ll get me cursed if you catch him first ‑ there's

                                                    at least a mile to go,                      

So swallow your pride and ease your stride, and take

      your fences slow.

Your high‑pricked ears as the jump appears are

     comforting things to see;

Your easy gallop and bending neck are signals flying

               to me.

You wouldn't refuse if it was wire with calthrops

               down in front,

.And there we are with a foot to spare  ‑ you best of

               all the Hunt."

Great sloping shoulders galloping strong, and a yard

               of floating tail,

A fine old Irish gentleman, and a Hampshire

               post and rail.

 

“KLAXON" 1917.

 

SBUCEJT: THE WROD AS A WLOHE

 

Accodrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae.

 

The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

 

knid rgerads

 

eitodr

 

OLD BEACHIN FARM - THRESHING DAYS AND PIG KILLING.

 

The visits of the THRESHING MACHINE was always a good excuse for a small boy not to go to school, The first machine I can remember coming to the farm was Harry Hough’s Steam Traction Engine - some one took me up to the stack yard to see it.

 

With the outbreak of the war we were forced to plough up more of the grassland to grow arable crops to feed the live stock and wheat to sell to help feed the nation.

 

With the advent of the tractor more of the larger farmers and contractors purchased their own machines. The threshing set was: Tractor, Threshing Box and Stationary Baler and required a large team of workers.

 

Two men came with the machine. One to cut the string on the sheaves and feed the box who was the key man on the o00utfit and the one you had to keep sweet as if he happened to be an awkward customer - as was often the case - if it was a windy day or the sheaves had been stacked  wet it was a very dusty dirty job and if he was feeling fed up and wanted a rest he would throw a couple of sheaves in whole which would throw off the long belt  which ran the box and baler from a pulley on the tractor .

 

Number Two worked the Stationary Baler used to bale the straw. This involved pushing needles through the bale chamber, threading bale wire through and tying the wires to make the bales. He could also make life hard for the poor so and so who had to carry the bales away and stack them under the Dutch Barn. When the stack was too high a ladder was needed to stack up the bales and Number Two would tighten up the pressure on the baler and make them BBB…. .heavy.

 

It also required two men on the stack to pass the sheaves to the man on the box. If it had been a good crop and was yielding well you needed two men to carry the sacks of corn to the Granary which was usually up steps in a loft over the mill. Another man was needed to carry chaff to the chaff house to use as bedding in the shippons in winter - this was the lads job - and another one to put the shavings into the top of the baler. Shavings were short bits of straw and chaff which came out of the box under the back of the baler and were returned into the baler with a long staled wide fork. You lifted them up about two feet above your head and put them in the top of the baler, this was about the 0dirtiest and dustiest job you could imagine and was usually done by the odd job man who followed the machine around.

 

One of the most famous in this area was Ham Mellor. He arrived one time with a brand new set of N.H.S. teeth we had only seen him with gums before. The workers always stopped twice in the day for bagging ie. Elevenses and a tea break at three in the afternoon. At bagging time Ham took a red spotted hanky out of his pocket removed his teeth wrapped them in the hanky and put them in his pocket - he said they were alright for threshing but he had not got the hang of them for eating yet.

 

 The threshing men were very competitive with one another to see who could move in the shortest time and get set up again. For threshing this required having the box dead level in both directions. It had built in spirit levels on the side and back so on an uneven stack yard it had to be jacked up and blocked ready to work.

 

The men who came with the machine used to go to and from work on bikes and when travelling from farm to farm on the tractor they put the bikes in the top of the baler. On arriving one day at a farm with a nice new concrete stack yard they saw a chance to break the record, drew every thing up, put the belts on and kicked her up forgetting all about the bikes in the baler and Mr. Jones’ Masterpiece soon made short work of them.

 

Threshing days were organized in the same area if possible and went round the village so everyone helped out with staff and at the Beachin they all came in to the big kitchen for lunch. The fun started when they got down to the last few layers of sheaves and the rats and mice started to run for shelter - great sport for farm dogs and young lads and it was a requirement to put wire netting round to catch rats.

 

The Threshing sets had unprotected belts and working parts and the older ones with the threshing drum open on the top with a man standing in a hole behind it to feed the sheaves in - a safety officers biggest night mare. In a good days threshing they could thresh a bay in the Dutch barn.

 

 

 

Pig killing was another event on most farms during the war. Farmers were allowed to slaughter two pigs a year for home consumption and to make best advantage of this they only slaughtered large pigs. Pigs were always weighed in scores i.e. twenty pounds. A modern bacon pig would be ten score but the ones we are talking about would have been twenty plus. The Ministry of Food issued the license and the local police ran the scheme.

 

As you can imagine you could not keep one poor pig on his own he had to have a mate and pigs of that size were very subject to heart attacks and very often the second one had to be slaughtered to save his life?

0

There were a number of local travelling butchers who went from farm to farm. The one who came to the Beachin was Mr. Jones from Caldecott, better known as Gully. He would come on a Friday and kill the pig and if required save the other ones life. The pigs were then placed in a big wooden bath known as a Pig Turnal. Mr. Moore of Coddington had one and in return for a bit of pork was pleased to lend it to you.

 

The pig was then scraped with the help of very hot water from the old copper boiler in the wash house and was then hung up, dressed and left to hang till Sunday morning. This meant there were less people around and gave the local constable time to get on his bike to make his inspection - he knew not to come too early because he only had to see one pig, and if the job was well in hand he got a bottle of beer and a bit of pork for his trouble. It was hard work pushing that old bike and every one had to do their bit for the war effort and help keep the peace.

 

One keen young bobby arrived a bit early at one farm so someone kept him talking while they removed the pig which had had his life saved but in the rush some one took the same side of each pig. The constable went back to the local nick telling them he’d seen a pig with four left feet - they didn’t miss a trick those fellows.

 

Being big pigs the sides and shoulders were salted for bacon, the hams were salted and hung for ham, and the lower part of the pig was used for pork. With no deep freezes this was shared with other local farmers to be repaid when they in turn killed a pig. The pigs head was used to make brawn and fat was rendered down to make lard which was stored in stone jars.

 

George originally came to fit the vacuum pipeline for the milking machine when I was four and in return for helping to start milking in a morning and helping to maintain the machine he lodged with us until I left school at fifteen. One of his great assets was that he had a sausage machine and was a dab hand at sausage making. The sausage skins were made using the small intestines which were cleaned turned inside out scraped and washed in salt water ready to use. - Hence the old saying “You can eat every part of a pig but his squeal.”

 

The Moore