The music of the pack is it’s
CRY!
Spring
2007
I wander'd lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
William Wordsworth "Daffodils" (1804)
Personally speaking I can't stand
the bloomin' things – first sight of a daffodil in flower and you know
that the sands of the hunting season are running out. But here we are,
two years on, hunting within the law and 'confounding their politics and
frustrating their knavish tricks' as we are exhorted to do in the
National Anthem. Mercifully politics has been very low on the agenda of
late, but it was interesting to hear Minister for Northern Ireland Peter
Hain recently declaring the hunting ban to be "one of Labour's proudest
achievements."
But the ban does not apply in Northern Ireland, and this anomaly creates
a rather embarrassing situation. "Hunting with hounds is an ancient
field sport that serves as a practical control of foxes as well as the
financial and productive advantages it creates for people in the
countryside. It is also an equestrian activity enjoyed by horses and
riders alike."states the website of Northern Ireland's Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development. Is hunting somehow cruel in England
and Wales, but fine in Northern Ireland? Perhaps Mr Hain could explain.
What a lot of fun we have had this season; mercifully no serious rider
injuries here but we wish John Harvey, who is recovering well from a
very serious fall in Ireland, a speedy recovery – not least because it
is time to start planning the 2008 Hunt Giggle. The Young Hunt
Supporters have got off the ground with a very enjoyable horn blowing /
hollering / whip cracking competition. It was a great pleasure to
welcome so many keen and friendly followers of the Cotswold Hunt and to
enjoy their generous hospitality in return and likewise we were also
privileged to take our hounds to hunt the Tanatside country.
Please find enclosed some Draw tickets for the Grand National
Sweepstake; this is a great fund raiser and it would be greatly
appreciated if you could do your bit and sell some tickets – the odds
are not so bad on your winning a prize as well. As shown below there are
a variety of functions planned throughout the Summer; hope to see you
there.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Sun 1st Apr Flint & Denbigh Point to Point Bangor-on-Dee First Race 1.30
pm
Sun 27th May Bryn y Pys Show. Contact Catherine Byrne 01978 351 027
Tue 12th Jun C/Alliance Polo and Racing Evening Chester. Contact Guy
Churton 01948 830 345
Fri 29th Jun Daniel Crane Exhibition - Lower Carden Hall. Contact Pat
Adams 01948 860 394
Fri 13th July Hog Roast - Bryn Newydd. Contact Alex Martin 01939 233 227
Sun 23rd Sept Area I Ride. Contact Catherine Byrne 01978 351 027
Sun 7th Oct Hanmer Church Ride. Contact Liz Hanmer 01948 710 634
Sun 14th Oct Area II Ride. Contact Alex Martin 01939 233 227
Sun 21st Oct Area III Ride. Contact Pat Adams 01948 860 394
FROM OUR CHAIRMAN
I have just come back from the Overton Village Hall and apart from being
hounded by David for my 'Cry' report I think we all enjoyed hugely the
new initiative of the Young Hunt Supporters Club and their first event:
A Horn Blowing, Hollering and Whip Cracking Competition. What an evening
of people having a go – some brilliant and others joining in for the fun
of it! We all had a great Hot Pot supper and excellent home made Puds.
Laura Newton and her Committee should be extremely pleased and relieved
it all went so well – well done.
It is nearly five months since our AGM when sadly Jill Hutchinson Smith
retired as our President after 13 years. Jill was a founder member in
the early 1960's and has over the years been hugely supportive of
everything that is good to do with the Hunt and this Club. Jill began
the Wildlife and Conservation competition and ran it for 18 years. She
organised Battlelines encouraging and initiatingthe political lobbying
that has been so important over the last decade or so and has always
been keen to do things correctly with the interests of the Hunt and its
Supporters very much at the heart of any decision. In particular she has
always been a great advocate of us all working together and would not
tolerate an 'Us and Them' attitude under any circumstances. It is
impossible to thank her sufficiently for everything she has done.
David Brooks was elected as our new President and has taken to the task
with his customary enthusiasm and sagacity. One of his first official
duties was our Annual Dinner at Bangor where Charles Moore spoke
brilliantly. I would like to thank Owen and Rose Paterson for 'bagging
him' or should I say knowing him well enough to ask him up here for a
day's hunting on the understanding that he had to sing for his supper!
Although we try to keep the price of the tickets as low as possible in
order to break even thanks to a few 'ancilliary items' we actually made
a record £934 on the night.
This was principally due to Mary Wynn Jones and Pip & Arthur Moore who
organised the Bingo brilliantly and made it all the more successful with
everyone being so generous in buying their bingo cards. The details for
this year's Dinner have yet to be finalised but we are hoping that it
will be on either Friday 16th November or Friday 23rd November with
another great Speaker.
Every Boxing Day Meet John Davies is extremely good and kind at dressing
up as our Father Christmas; a task he has performed for over ten years
but for which he has never been publicly thanked until now. We are very
grateful to him and all those lollipops which the Davies Family produce
for all the children to enjoy. Thank you very much, John, for being
there.
We have just sent a cheque for £6,000 to the Hunt Chairman as a result
of special requests. £5,000 has been donated to provide fencing and
bridging materials for the never ending task of keeping our wonderful
Hunt country accessible and crossable – the 'quid pro quo' being that of
course we use many of the hunt jumps, bridges and wicket gates for our
Rides so what goes round comes round. A further £1,000 was quickly
donated as a result of a large stretch of the Kennel wall being blown
down following the battering it took during the high winds in January
and a rather fundamental necessity to keeping the hounds in!
Finally I must thank our excellent Main Committee, Jo Roberts, John
Godwin, David Higham and each Area Committee for all the time, help and
support that they contribute to make the Hunt Supporters Club so
successful and fun to be part of so that in the end we can continue to
work and support Sir Watkin Williams Wynn's Hounds. Thank You and Happy
Hunting.
AREA I (Wrexham)
Following the success of our annual ride on 24th September at Pickhill,
we were absolutely delighted to donate £750 to Nightingale House
Hospice, Wrexham. Thank you once again to the continued support from
landowners and the efforts of the members, family and friends of Area I
for their support on the day.
By the kind permission of Mr Rosselli & Mr Probin our annual show at
Bryn Y Pys will take place on Sunday 27th May with jumping, ridden
showing, gymkhana and handy pony.
A car treasure hunt will take place in early June; this promises to be
great fun for all the family. We will start at Sutton Green and end at
Isycoed Village Hall for a hot pot supper and prizes!
Area I would warmly welcome new members to support out fundraising
events, for further details please contact Catherine Byrne on 01978 351
027
AREA II (Whitchurch)
The last six months have been a busy time for Area II, starting with
Charlie Barnett's 25th Anniversary Ride which, as every year for the
last twenty five, was a great success and covered the cream of the
Wynnstay country.
By way of a thank you to all the farmers and land owners who have
persevered with us over all these years we entertained some 80 guests to
a splendid supper at the Nags Head, Haughton and had an extremely
enjoyable evening.
November saw another capacity sell out for our Quiz at Welshampton –
despite the questions allegedly being easier than in previous years
Bryan still managed to win the bannanas in time honoured style!
We mustn't upset Bryan – or more importantly of course Mary – as yet
again they pulled all the stops out to lay on an extremely successful
Farmers Hunt Ball at the Civic centre, Whitchurch which once again was
sold out in advance with quite a long waiting list to boot.
I would like to thank all my fellow Committee Members for all their help
in what has been a very busy six months.
AREA III (Malpas)
Our Autumn Ride was a great success again, blessed with a fine day where
we had a staggering 457 riders in spite of the unorthodox parking
arrangements on the very sticky maize field and opposite by very kind
permission of Mr Skelland. Luckily, we had a good team of tractor
.drivers to help anyone needing a bit of oomph!
As a result we were able to donate £500 to the Hunt Staff Benefit
Society (it has a new up to date name but still does the same job as in
the title!) which is so worthwhile to support these wonderful people
when they most need it. We also handed over a cheque to central
committee.
To coincide with the visit by the Albany Bassets, we had another Skittle
Evening at the Bickerton Poacher which was fun and very successful; not
least because of Alice T stoking everyone up to put in an appearance
which was greatly appreciated! Thank you, Alice! Our AGM was held last
week at The Carden where the Committee were once again reinstated en
bloc with the provisio that both the Chairman and Secetary wish to hand
over, at least in part, next year. Our average age has got to be in the
forties; it really is time for some of the younger members in the area
to take an interest too and become involved. Like committees everywhere,
it's no use complaining we don't have enough events if there aren't the
people interested enough to help; events don't run themselves and you
can't always expect the oldies to do it forever. Now would be a good
time to take some responsibility and I'm sure other areas would welcome
new faces too. (Will climb off soapbox now!) If you do feel inclined,
any committee member will gladly point you in the right direction!
STOP PRESS - BREAKING NEWS! We are delighted to announce another evening
at Lower Carden Hall, by extremely kind permission of Euan and Fi
McAlpine on Friday 29th June, where Daniel Crane will again be
exhibiting his wonderful paintings and cards in between a jam-packed
show season for him. Exact details will be available later, certainly at
the Puppy Show, but tickets will be available from committee members
shortly or ring me on 01948 860394. Do come and have a lovely evening
with us, at the same time enjoying Daniel and Ali Crane's company and
helping us donate some extra funds to the main Supporters' Club.
HUNT ENTERTAINMENT & AUCTION
Once again John Harvey and his team put on some excellent performances.
It was good to see so many taking part, and a new addition to the team
in John Croft.
Thanks go to all those who contributed to the Auction either with
donations or buying, and to John Brereton for his professional
auctioneering.
Many thanks to Jane Jennings who ran the Box Office and was cashier at
the Auction and lastly to all the efficient waitresses for their hard
work each night.
N.M.S.
With typical modesty Nancie fails to thank 'tpwwiwafa' (the person
without whom it would all fall apart) – namely, of course, Herself.)
AWAY DAYS
Delighful scene!
When all around is gay, men, horses, dogs;
And in each smiling countenance appears
Fresh blooming health and universal joy.
WILLIAM SOMERVILLE: From The Chase.
It is fascinating to see how different packs of hounds have been bred to
cope with their particular Hunt country and also to see how they manage
when hunting in a different type of country. This season we had three
'away days' planned. The first, to the United Hunt near Bishop's Castle
was, for the second year running, frosted off. However we were able to
return to a Hill country later on when we had an enjoyable day in the
Tanatside country – not an experience for those who suffer from a fear
of heights. Our thanks are due to them for their very generous
hospitality.
On Tuesday 30th January we entertained the Cotswold Hounds at Rose Farm,
Coddington. Because of the eternal problems of negotiating Birmingham in
the rush hour there were many early arrivals – some having set off at
6.00am or earlier to avoid the traffic. All in all there were about
twenty mounted visitors with a fair number of 'Ground Crew' as well. The
Cotswold country is essentially one of large sized fields; a stone wall
and timber country with probably as many hedges in their country as
there are stone walls in the Wynnstay. Many of the followers had never
jumped a hedge in anger before and, not without a little winding up at
breakfast from the assembled Home Team, there were a fair number of
rather nervous pale faced Cotswold riders taking every opportunity to
'use the facilities' as Hyacinth Bucket would say.
A very enjoyable day ensued and there were a gratifying number of coats
taking their fair share of Wynnstay mud back to Gloucestershire, but an
awful lot of smiling faces too. Apart from wounded pride no injuries
thankfully and a lot of fun was had by all judging by the war stories
related at tea. It was particularly interesting to see how well the
Cotswold Hounds, very much the modern type of Foxhound and used to
hunting in wide open spaces, coped with our smaller and more heavily
enclosed fields. Very well indeed as it turned out; a bit quicker than
our hounds to fault perhaps but also quicker to remedy the same.
Saturday 10th March was arranged as the return match with an extremely
generous Meet at Hill Farm, Aylworth; high, high up (ie 800 feet above
sea level) in this gloriously unspoilt part of the Cotswolds between
Cheltenham and Bourton on the Water. Asher counted 112 mounted followers
ranging from the old and bold to a very pleasing number of children who
certainly 'took no prisoners' throughout the day. A very enjoyable day
followed in country that is quite the opposite to our own; deer
everywhere, particularly Roe and Muntjac – the hounds were very steady
indeed, although it has to be said not 100%!
The country consisted of wide, open undulating fields of Cotswold Brash.
This type of soil can vary from 98% soil and 2 % stones – the flat,
dinner plate like ones that are used to make the wonderful Cotswold dry
stone walls – to, in places, 2% soil and 98% stones; some of the worst
fields remain as permanent pasture and overall the country must be an
farm machinery spares dealer's idea of heaven. Another contrast is that
the Masters have to cope with over 85 different shoots within the
country – liaising with the owners and keepers and trying to avoid
conflicts of interest. Judging by the number of keepers following on our
day they must do this very successfully. Every scrap of cover has
feeders in and once again we do not realise how lucky we are in having
so little shooting up here.
Partly because of the height – at 800 feet above sea level the
temperature is already 3° colder than in softy Wynnstay country – but
also because of the mixed arable farming the country has a reputation as
being cold scenting and initially this proved to be the case. However as
the afternoon wore on, and as has happened so often this season, scent
improved greatly and we enjoyed a very quick early evening spin
eventually finishing after 5.30 pm with a delicious tea provided by
Katie Dashwood who has for many years been a regular visitor to the
Wynnstay. The Cotswold hospitality and friendliness was unbounded and we
all owe them a great vote of thanks for two thoroughly enjoyable days.
A LITTLE BIT OF JORROCKS
"Tally ho!" now screamed Jorrocks, as a magnificent fellow in a spotless
suit of ruddy fur now crossed the ride before him at a quiet, stealing,
listening, sort of pace, and gave a whisk of his well-tagged brush on
entering the copsewood across. "Hoop! hoop! hoop! hoop!" roared Mr.
Jorrocks, putting his finger in his ear, and holloaing as loud as ever
he could shout; and just as he got his horn fumbled past his guard,
Dexterous, Affable and Mercury dashed across the ride, lashing their
sterns and bristling for blood, and Pigg appeared a little below,
cantering along with the rest of the pack at his horse's heels. "Here,
Pigg! there, Pigg!' roared Mr. jorrocks; "just by the old hoak-stump.
Gently, now! ah, ware'eel - that's not the vay of him; he's hover to the
left, I tells ye. That's him! Mercury has him. Hoick to Mercury, hoick
get away, get away, get away, 'ounds! hoick together! hoick together!
Oh, Pigg, wot a wopper he is!' observed Mr. Jorrocks, as Pigg joined him
in the ride. "The biggest fox whatever was seen - if we do but kill him
- my vig! I'll eat his tongue for supper. Have it grilled 'cum grano
salis,' with a lee-tle Cayenne pepper, as Pomponious Hego would say."
"Aye," replied Pigg, grinning with delight, his cap-peak in the air and
the tobacco-juice streaming down his mouth like a Chinese mandarin. "Ar'll
be the death of a shillin' mysel!' Saying which he hustled his horse and
turned to his hounds.
Away they go again, full cry across the covert to the utmost limits, and
then back again to the far side. Now the fox takes a full swing round,
but won't quit - now he cuts across - now Mr. Jorrocks views him and
swears he'll have his brains as well as his tongue for supper. Pigg has
him next, and again comes Mr. Jorrocks's turn. "Dash my vig, but he's a
tough 'un!" observed Mr. Jorrocks to James Pigg, as they met again on
the rising ground at the top of the ride, where Mr. Jorrocks had been
fifteen times, and Pigg seventeen, both their horses streaming with
perspiration, and the blue and yellow worsted fronts, of their bridles
embossed with foam. "Dash my vig, but it's a million and a half of
petties," continued Mr. Jorrocks, looking at his watch, and seeing it
wanted twenty minutes to four, "that we adwertised, for there's a wast
o' go in him yet, and he'll take the shine out o' some of our hounds
before he's done with them - send them dragglin"ome with their sterns
down - make 'em cry capevi', I'm thinkin'."
"Niver fear!" exclaimed Pigg. "Niver fear! - whativer ye de keep
Tamboureen a rowlin' - yonder he gans! ar wish it mayn't be a fresh 'un.
Arn't draggled a bit." . . . A sudden pause ensues - all still as death
- not a note not even a whimper! "Who - oop!" exclaims Mr. Jorrocks in
ecstasies. "Who oop! I say - heard the leadin' ound crack his back.
Old Cruiser for a guinea!"
"Yonder they gan!" cried Pigg, pointing to a hog-backed hill on the
left, over which three couple of hounds were straining to gain the body
of the pack - saying which he clapped spurs to his horse and set off at
full gallop, followed by Charles. "Oh dear! oh, dear!" exclaimed Mr.
Jorrocks, the picture of despair, "wot shall I do? wot shall I do?" Gone
away at this hour - strange country - nobody to pull the edges down for
me or catch my 'oss if I gets spilt, and there's that Pigg riding as
though there was not never no such man as his master. Pretty kettle of
fish!" continued Mr. Jorrocks, trotting on the line they had taken. A
bridle gate let him out of cover, and from the first hill our master
sees his hounds going like pigeons over the large grazing grounds of
Beddington Bottoms, with Pigg and Stobbs a little in the rear riding as
hard as ever their horses can lay legs to the ground.
“Ow that Scotch beggar rides!" exclaimed Mr. Jorrocks, eyeing Pigg going
straight as an arrow, which exclamation brought him to his first fence
at the bottom of the hill, over which both horsemen had passed without
disturbing a twig. “OLD UP, 'oss!" roared Mr. Jorrocks, seizing the
reins and whip with one hand and the cantel of the saddle with the
other, as Arterxerxes floundered through a low fence with a little
runner on the far side. “OLD UP!" repeated he, as they got scrambled
through, looking back and saying, "Terrible nasty place - wonders I ever
got over! Should ha' been drund to a certainty if I'd got in. Wouldn't
ride at it again for nothin' under knighthood - Sir John Jorrocks,
continued he, shortening his hold of his horse.
“A LAMENT"
IT falls that blow we first began to dread
When the foul primrose reared its monstrous head,
When first uprose from bank and mossy dell
The flaunting violet's disagreeable smell,
When vicious lambs commenced their savage bleat.
Oh! when they're roasted, won't revenge be sweet
When angry farmers first were heard to shout,
“Now then, ware wheat; where are your eyes, you lout ?”
It falls that blow, and I of heart bereft
Feel as though Bendy hit me with his left;
Hit me just after I had freely dined,
And in that spot which schoolboys call the wind.
The season's over, we have heard this morn
The last sweet note of gallant Percy's horn;
And sweeter still, the last melodious sound
Of deep-toned music from the eager hound.
All now is mute save one word whispered low
To horse and man alike, and that is "Woe."
From: A Lament from the Rufford Hunt, April 1861.
AREA II QUIZ
ROUND 1 – GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
1.In horse racing what is the shortest distance over which a flat
race is run in the UK ?
2.The juice of which fruit is added to champagne to make a Bellini?
3.Coming from the Norse for a landslide what word is given to a
collection of rocks on slopes or at the bottom of cliffs?
4.What name is given to a matador on horseback?
5.What connects a Bird, a Complainer and a Drink.
6.What product was originally known as Johnston's Fluid Beef?
7.In money slang, how much is a 'Pavarotti' worth?
8.In Denmark it is known as Vienna Bread; what is it known as in this
country?
9.If you are having a problem with your crown, nose, mouth and shank,
what are you doing.
10.Which word connects: an Artist, a Fox and 36 ins
ROUND 2 – NATURAL HISTORY
1.What name is given to the flowers of willow and poplar trees?
2.Which animal is the hedgehog's only natural predator in the English
countryside?
3.What is a Hummel.
4.What is the Gestation Period of a dog in days.
5.What is a young Falcon such as a Peregrine known as.
6.What is a Gurnard.
7.What is the collective noun for Capercaillie.
8.What is a Spinone.
9.What butterfly shares its name with a freshwater fish.
10.Which well loved British Bird has the Latin name Troglodytes
Troglodytes.
ROUND 3 – PLACES Whose Headquarters or who lives at the following:
1.367 Kennington Road
2.Marford Mill, Rosset
3.Founded in 1929 with Headquarters at The National Agricultural Centre
Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2RW.
4.West Lockinge Farm
5.101 The High Street Newmarket
6.Honeysuckle Cottage
7.Gainsborough Stables
8.Thames House, Millbank
9.6 St James Street, London
10.Aubagne, Marseille, France
ROUND 4 - GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
1.Which weather phenomenon translates from the Spanish for 'little
boy'.
2.Which mythical creature is half lion, half eagle?
3.In Fawlty Towers what was the name of Manuel's rat?
4.What is the only capital city mentioned in the book of Genesis that is
still in existence today?
5.What was the Roman system of underfloor heating called?
6.If you were Lapidated, what would happen to you?
7.In which Olympic event are you penalized 50 points if you stop
smiling?
8.Who was the stand in leader of the Labour Party before Tony Blair?
9.What connects the following: Autumn King, Ailsa Craig, Musselburgh
10.To the nearest 50 either way how many steps are there to the top of
the Eiffel Tower?
ROUND 5 – RANKS Place the following ranks in ascending order of
precedence or size
1.Corporal, Lance Corporal, Private, Sergeant Major
2.Admiral, Commander, Commodore, Midshipman
3.Baron, Duke, Earl, Marquess, Viscount
4.A3, A4 Legal, A4 Letter, A5
5.An Anti, An Earthstopper, A Master of Foxhounds, The Queen, Tony Blair
6.Bishop, Canon, Curate, Dean, Vicar
7.Junior Deacon, Master Mason, Senior Steward, Worshipful Master
8.Airforce Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, George Cross, Victoria
Cross
9.Acre, Hectare, Hide, Rood
10.In Pony Club terms the colours Blue, Green, Pink, Red, White, Yellow
ROUND 6 – GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
1.What country did Paddington Bear originate from?
2.Give another name for Mountain Ash.
3.Who wears The Fishermans Ring?
4.What is Fly Agaric
5.How much is a one year Game Licence.
6.How many farthings were there in the old half crown?
7.What is the modern day name of the country ruled by the Queen of
Sheba?
8.Name as many members as possible of Birds in the British Crow family –
there are seven
9.In which County is the White Horse of Kilburn
10.The Rules of what game were drawn up by a committee of the MCC in
1875
ROUND 7 – NATURAL HISTORY
1.Who lives at "River Cottage".
2.Name the only species of deer where the females have antlers.
3.Name the smallest British Bat.
4.“The Contemplative Man's Recreation” was the subtitle of which famous
book written in 1653, and who was the author.
5.Name the four members of the Grouse family in Britain.
6.Which Bird has the longest open season and can be shot anywhere when
in season.
7.If you caught a 301b pike, how would you know what sex it was.
8.Perdix Perdix in a Pyrus Communis - how is this more commonly known.
9.Name all five British Birds ending in Finch.
10.Who painted the “Famous Grouse".
ROUND 8 - QUOTES
1.Where, allegedly according to the Duke of Wellington was The
Battle of Waterloo won
2.Who wrote 'Thoughts on Hunting'
3.The lines “Change and decay in all around I see” come from what famous
hymn
4.Complete the lines “As pants the Hart / For cooling streams
5.What was the name of the “invaluable permanent invalid” in “The
Importance of being Earnest”
6.Which verse in the hymn 'All things Bright and Beautiful' has been
airbrushed out by the politically correct Gestapo?
7.Complete the following lines from John Betjeman “Oh, wasn't it naughty
of Smudges? / Oh, Mummy, I'm sick with disgust, / He threw me in front
of the judges.....
8.Which epic poem by a Poet Laureate starts with the lines “The meet was
at the Cock and Pye /By Charles and Mary Enderby”
9.What poem, written by a famous Cheshire personality, covers the
details of a run from Ranksborough Gorse?
10.According to Surtees “Women never look so well as when........
Fishing
Fishing, if I, a fisher, may protest,
Of pleasures is the sweetest,
Of sports the best,
Of exercises the most excellent;
Of recreations the most innocent;
But now the sport is marde,
And wott ye why?
Fishes decrease, and fishers multiply.
Thomas Bastard (1566-1618)
The Angler's Lament
Sometimes ower early,
Sometimes ower late,
Sometimes nae watter,
Sometimes a spate,
Sometimes ower thick,
And sometimes ower clear.
There's aye something wrang
When I'm fishing here.
Anonymous
There were few better Hunting Scribes in their day than Neville
Hill-Trevor who faithfully – and amusingly – recounted the exploits of
our hounds for many years – not only for the 'Nationals' such as Horse
and Hound and the Field but also for the local papers as well. This
article appeared in December 31 1981 – January 6 1982 edition of 'The
Shooting Times.'
THE THREE LEGGED FOX
SUCH IS the uncertainty of the chase that red letter days usually occur
when least expected and seldom when most wanted. In the latter respect,
therefore, the day of the three-legged fox was unusual.
For a few years in the '70s it was our habit to invite the Fourshires
Basset Hounds, which are kennelled in the Heythrop country, to come up
to Wynnstay in the New Year for a couple of days hunting on the grass.
There are several connections between Wynnstay and "Heythropia", not
least of which is the fact that Sir Watkin's huntsman, Bill Lander, was
previously 1st whipper-in and kennel huntsman to Captain Wallace. The
hierarchy of the Fourshires, Derek Meredith, the Lloyd brothers and many
of their followers also hunted with the Heythrop and so brought their
horses too. On a Sunday in January a considerable convoy of assorted
vehicles arrived in North Wales. There would be four days' hunting
ahead; the basset hounds hunting alternate days with the foxhounds and
any amount of 'revelry by night"!
Thus Monday January 21, 1974, found Sir Watkin's hounds meeting at the
Old Vicarage, Threapwood. Monday, being the bye-day in this country when
the rougher areas are hunted, usually draws only a small field of keen
foxhunters. This day was no exception for there was a 5 star meet
advertised for the Wednesday,. However our normal field was nearly
doubled by the visitors, most of whom luckily had decided to pay no heed
to local aversions. As we sat enjoying Mr and Mrs John Minoprio's port
on this cool grey morning no one could have foreseen that before
nightfall they would have taken part in a hunt of marathon and almost
historic proportions.
The day started as planned, in the Wyches, that continuous series of
steep and bottomless dingles which follow the Wych brook as it meanders
the six miles or so from Agden to Sarn. The Wyches are known to some who
only hunt to ride as “the curse of Wynnstay”. Certainly it is a hard
country on horse and hound but it is as full of foxes as Hell is full of
Parsons and provides much sport.
Scent was good. Hounds were busy all morning and caught a fox after a
fine hunt during which a first season bitch, Alpine, which had been
walked by my wife, covered herself in glory. After two further
successful hunts hounds were taken to look for a three-legged fox which
had been doing damage to the hen runs around Threapwood. Second horses
were not usual on Mondays but on this occasion they had been ordered for
the staff as the hunt horses had just recovered from the cough. The
huntsman and the whipper-in had just changed horses when a farmer came
running to tell us that the three legged fox had been seen, 20 minutes
earlier, entering Tinkwood Lane, a very overgrown section of the old
coach road from London to Chester, much liked by foxes. Hounds feathered
slowly into Tinkwood, there was a crash of music and then Lander's horn
could be heard urgently summoning the field. As we jostled and shoved
our way through Tinkwood we could see the huntsman two fields ahead and
galloping hard in the wake of his pack. Hounds ran at a tremendous pace,
leading the horses across some of the finest pasture land between Malpas
and Threapwood, but first the big timber fences and then the black
hedges took their toll. Our fox then changed his tactics and crossing
the Malpas to Bangor road, set his mask for "the cream of the Vale". To
relate all the places hounds ran through would be as tedious for many
readers as Bradshaw's Railway Guide. Suffice to say that hounds ran two
very big loops round the best of the country. They hunted with great
drive, rarely checking and seldom needing assistance. The horses were
sorely tested by the pace and the amount of jumping, and at times it was
only the cry of the pack which kept us in touch. Bold riding was
required and brave deeds were performed.
As I reached the hamlet of Chorlton Lane I was apprehended by a good
farmer who was nearly speechless - but not quite - with admiration for a
feat which he had just witnessed. A lady had jumped her horse over a
hedge quite six feet high, landed in the farmer's yard, then had popped
out over a five-bar iron gate. From the description I recognised this
desperado and having promised that the lady would return to receive the
farmer's personal congratulations, I was released. This interlude,
albeit brief, could have put me out of the hunt but fortunately hounds
had turned sharply and a quick short-cut put me in touch again.
By now weary horses with their equally weary riders were strewn all
about the countryside, but still the pack drove onwards. It was not long
before the remaining horses were suffering such an energy crisis that
they were reduced to a trot between the fences and gates were at a
premium. One after the other the visitors had fallen by the wayside,
then mv Joint Master, Major David Williams-Wynn, was forced to pull up
in the deep going on the Broughton meadows. I still had a little horse
power left and I was quite alone crossing the Bank farm - ahead only
were the hunt staff and hounds. Then as I trotted down the farm drive on
to the Malpas road disaster struck - a fox, as fresh as paint, shot past
me pursued, in turn, by four couple of hounds and then Graham, the
whipper-in, on his feet dragging his horse behind him. A fresh fox and
the pack split after such a great hunt was a tragedy - worse still dusk
was upon us and the horses were cooked.
Lander had gone on with the body of the pack and I caught up with him at
Dog Lane where, with some difficulty, he managed to stop his hounds.
Only Mrs Freda Swain from Tilston was with us at the end. By some
miracle Graham turned up a little later with his four couple already in
the van and that made us all on. The poor, tired horses had difficulty
climbing the ramp of the horse-box but they were soon on the way home to
the comfort of their stables. My own horse, the indefatigable Willow,
which had carried me throughout the entire day, went home, ate up, slept
soundly and was fit next morning. Goodness knows how many miles he had
covered that day.
For the record, in this last hunt hounds had been running for two hours
and 35 minutes and had crossed nearly 20 miles of country before they
had divided, nor was there any clear indication that they had changed
foxes before this point. This caused the huntsman to remark later,
“Three legged fox be blowed! I reckon that beggar must have had six” or
some comment to the same effect!
Just as we had finished loading hounds and horses in the twilight,
parched and near to exhaustion ourselves, Michael and Audrey Downes hove
to in their vast and gleaming Humber “NAAFI wagon” “Whisky everyone!"
shouted Mike with his customary generosity as he threw open the
well-stocked boot. I am sure the amber fluid at that moment would have
caused each one of us to suffer an attack of spontaneous combustion, but
fortunately he had a supply of lemonade as well!
That night our kindly visitors took the home team out to dine at a
renowned local hostelry. There was much to discuss and more to
celebrate, but it was, of course, only fatigue which caused one Master
to fall asleep over his soufflé.
Neville Hill-Trevor
TOMMY ATKINS
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the
wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
Once again I am indebted to John Wright for further extracts of Hunt
history at the turn of the 19th Century.Some of the casual observations
prove enlightening in this day and age; a 'small Field' of a mere three
score (for the benefit of those educated after Shirley William's tenure
as Education Minister that is sixty.) A special train from Manchester
bringing 'thirty Ladies and Gentlemen.” As can be seen by the Draw, the
country was not nearly as well foxed as it is now and it was not
uncommon to draw for several hours before finding one.
EXTRACTS FROM A VICTORIAN WYNNSTAY HUNT DIARY OF 1897
On Friday the Hounds met at Aldersey, it being the first meet since 14th
January; the cause being the severe frost and snow. Rain fell
continuously, everyone being soon drenched to the skin. Under such
unfavourable conditions the Field, naturally, was a small one, not
numbering over three score. The sport could not well have been worse.
The Aldersey Covers did not hold a fox and owing to the sodden
conditions of the ground the Master decided not to go into the Vale. The
beachin supplied the needful but after a short run round by Aldersey he
was lost. The Covers of Duckington, Edge and Gamm's Wood having been
drawn blank the Hunt was abandoned, the rain coming down heavily all the
time.
Saturday, however, was a beautiful day being for this time of the year
quite mild. Painters Green, scarcely three miles from Whitchurch was the
meeting place and the Field, which was a large and brilliant one,
included Sir Watkin and Lady Williams Wynn, General the Hon Savage
mostyn, The Marquis of Cholmondeley, Lord Kenyon, the Hon G R C Ormsby-Gore,
The Hon Seymour Gore, Sir W Ethelston, Captains Verschale and Blundell
(Grenadier Guards), Lieutenant Colonel Rivers Bulkley, Colonel Barnston,
Captain Wallace, Mr and Mrs C H B McPherson, Captain Pocklington, Mr and
Mrs Hugh Peel, Mrs Peel, Bryn y Pys. Mr T Johnson, Master of the
Cheshire Beagles, Mr Kelly, Liverpool, Mrs J Howard and Miss Howard,
Broughton Hall, Miss Copeman, Barmere House. Mr Frank B Cotton,
Erbistock Hall, Mr and Mrs C T Dugdale, Terrick Hall. A special train
from Manchester brought about thirty Ladies and Gentlemen.
Matthew's Wood, Sniggle Bog, Iscoyd Big Wood, Wolvesacre and Bubney
Woods, the Cover by the old Fenn's Hall and several of the Fenn's
Covers, Llanbedwyth and the Black Cover to the right of Hanmer Hall were
all drawn blank and there can be no doubt that the heavy rain of the two
previous days had caused the Foxes to keep underground. To draw such a
number of Covers without the least success was an experience of the
rarest occurrence. A Terrier was then sent to explore the drain by Mr
Bateman's of Hanmer Hall; a never failing supply. A Fox was quickly
moved but the run was of short duration as he made straight for the Hall
Cover and there the Hounds pulled him down.
The party were still destined to have a good run and that was with a Fox
found at the Old Hall, Moss. Very fast and very straight he ran to Mr
Larges Plantation. Then with a sudden swing to the right he ran up to
the Whitchurch to Wrexham road, having crossed which he set his mask for
Horseman's Green and circling round he made over the Arrowery and
Peter's Coppice towards Mr Hallmarks of Hanmer Mill. Here about the
Hounds were at fault and went too much to the left, the Fox going to the
right of the Mill and was viewed in Mr Higgin's garden. By the time the
Hounds had got on the line again the Fox had crossed the road and when
near Hanmer Hall he had apparently given them the go by but Sir Watkin
cast forward and they hung on as far as Llanbedwyth and then the chase
was abandoned. It was a right good gallop for those who remained to the
finish.
THE ERBISTOCK ESCAPADE
It was an autumn morning
when Chive felt like a roll
He said to Aggawagga
Why don't we take a stroll?
Said Aggawagga 'That's OK
I'd like a change of scene
Let's go and try the place next door
And hope the grass is green.'
Chive lifts the catch and gave a shove
To free his stable door
And Aggawagga did the same
What could they ask for more?
So then they jumped the boundary fence
It wasn't very tall
And set off up the rural road
Towards Erbistock Hall.
They went into the garden
To see what they could find
Said Chive to Aggawagga
'I'm sure Sir Charles won't mind.'
Along came Charlie Barnett
To catch the errant pair
And see what damage they had done
it really wasn't fair.
So then he ordered troops to come
And bring some sand and spades
To fill in and repair the mess
Those naughty gees had made.
So will Erbistock look the same
When all repairs are done?
We hope that Charles and Rose will then
Forget what has been done
QUIZ ANSWERS
ROUND 1
1.5 Furlongs (5/8 of a mile)
2.Peach
3.Scree
4.A Picador
5.Grouse
6.Bovril
7.£ 10 (a tenor)
8.Danish Pastry
9.Making a Shepherd's Crook or Walking Stick
10.Brush
ROUND 2
1.Catkins
2.The Badger
3.A Stag with no Antlers
4.63 days
5.Eyas
6.A Saltwater Fish
7.A Tok
8.An Italian Gundog
9.Grayling
10.Wren
ROUND 3
1.Countryside Alliance
2.BASC
3.The Pony Club
4.Henrietta Knight
5.The Jockey Club
6.The Archers – the newly engaged Ian and Adam / Walter or Nelson
Gabriel
7.Ed Dunlop Trainer of Ouija Board
8.MI 5
9.Lock's the Hatters
10.The French Foreign Legion
ROUND 4
1.El Nino
2.Griffen
3.Basil
4.Damascus
5.Hypocaust
6.Stoned to death
7.Synchronized Swimming
8.Margaret Beckett
9.They are all types of vegetable: Autumn King Carrot, Ailsa Craig
Onion, Musselburgh Leek
10.1792 ( allow 1742 to 1842)
ROUND 5
1.Private, Lance Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant Major
2.Midshipman, Commander, Commodore, Admiral
3.Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, Baron
4.A5, A4 Letter, A4 Legal, A3
5.Tony Blair, An Anti, An Earthstopper, A Master of Foxhounds, The Queen
6.Curate, Vicar, Canon, Dean, Bishop
7.Master Mason, Senior Steward, Junior Deacon, Worshipful Master
8.Distinguished Service Medal, Airforce Cross, George Cross, Victoria
Cross
9.Rood, Acre, Hectare, Hide (about 20 acres)
10.Yellow, White, Green, Pink, Red, Blue
ROUND 6
1.Peru
2.Rowan
3.The Pope
4.Fungi
5.£6
6.120
7.Yemen
8.Raven, Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Magpie, Jay, Chough
9.North Yorkshire
10.Lawn Tennis
ROUND 7
1.Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
2.Reindeer
3.Pippestrelle
4.The Complete Angler by Izzak Walton
5.Red Grouse, Black Grouse, Ptarmigan and Capercaillie
6.Snipe - 12th August to 31st January
7.It must be female as males do not get bigger than 121b
8.A Partridge in a Pear Tree
9.Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Hawfinch
10.Roger McPhail
ROUND 8
1.On The Playing Fields of Eton
2.Peter Beckford
3.Abide with me
4.When heated in the Chase
5.Bunbury
6.The rich man in his castle,/ The poor man at his gate, / God made
them, high or lowly,/ And ordered their estate.
7.And now my silly old collarbone's bust
8.Reynard the Fox or the Ghost heath Run by John Masefield
9.The Dream of an old Meltonian by Walter Bromley-Davenport
10.One comes in wet and dirty from hunting
“I love to rise in a summer morn
When the birds sing on every tree;
And the distant huntsman winds his horn,
And the skylark sings with me.
Oh! what sweet company” Blake
LIFE AT OLD BEACHIN FARM
BIG BERTHA AND WEEKLY DELIVERIES
Dad heard from one of his pals in Chester that the Crosville bus Co. had
dismantled one of its old Leyland buses and the chassis and wheels were
for sale, and he had the bright idea of making it into a tractor
trailer. The first job was how to get it from the bus depot in North
Gate Street to the Beachin. He talked the engineers into putting a draw
bar on to the front axle with a short steering rod back to the steering
arm on the bus chassis, this seemed a good idea at the time, but with
only a quarter turn on the front wheels you needed a ten acre field to
turn it round.
Not wanting to go to Chester and back with a Standard Fordson with iron
front wheels and Heath Robinson road bands in between the spade lug back
wheels he managed to talk one of his mates who had a big American car
with a draw bar on the back to bring it out for him which he did without
any problems at all; the Health and Safety and Ministry of Transport and
Road Traffic Police of today would have had kittens to see a car with a
27 foot trailer behind it. When you think this was before the inner ring
road and one way streets he would have come straight down to the Cross
and turned left and come right down the main street forked right and
turned right and come through Huntington and Aldford to Churton and down
to the Beachin.
The next task was to get a top built on to it to make a hay trailer. Sid
Vernon was the accountant and his father Bill was the carpenter and
cabinet maker at the Grosvenor Hotel so he was fully qualified to build
the biggest farm trailer of its time. He rode out on his bike on a
Saturday and Sunday for weeks to build this thing which we christened
Big Bertha. Being war time it was impossible to get good seasoned timber
and he had to use green hard wood of what ever type Musgraves of Chester
could lay their hands on. With no electricity Tom drilled holes in the
chassis to fasten the cross bearers with a hand breast drill. The old
bus chassis was made in Britain with good thick steel and took much
effort and sweat, and the odd few swear words. The cross bearers had to
be 12 inches deep to keep the floor of the trailer off the wheels when
it was loaded and the old bus springs went down, Old Mr. Vernon then had
to bore through the 12 inch timbers with his brace and bit and put a
long bolt through to hold them down.
After many weekends and miles of biking it was finally finished complete
with harvest thrippers and a coat or two of battle ship grey paint the
war time colour of every thing that moved at the time. This trailer was
well before its time we had no Big Hestons or Telly Handlers but we did
have the very latest Bamford Hay Loader which went behind the trailer
and pushed loose hay up to you on the load being 27 feet long. It took
three or four people to get the hay from the back to the front of the
load, Dad took great pleasure in loading it after tea in the evening
with him driving the Old Fordson and the rest of us on the load he would
say we will put a nine yard stack on her in case it rains, and it would
take most of the next day to unload the thing while he had a good rest
before the next night.
The first thing at hay harvest was to get as much of the loose hay in
the lofts over the cows as possible for ease in the winter, this was all
done by hand lifted off the trailer and pushed through the pitch hole
doors and stacked in the buildings. Then when the lofts were full you
started on the hay bays and used the old wooden elevator with the big
spikes that took the hay up to the top driven by the famous little one
Horse Power Lister Petrol engine with an unguarded belt - another safety
officers nightmare. When we were loading it Dad would just keep going
round and round the field until he thought he had a big enough load, we
found the only way to stop him was to drop a couple of good fork fulls
of hay on his head over the front of the load. Thank the Lord for Pickup
Balers and Loaders and so say all of us.
WEEKLY DELIVERIES
All the provisions were delivered not only to the door but were put in
the cupboards and pantry. J Jones and Sons of Tilston and Farndon called
twice a week with Groceries, Cigarettes and Tobacco. They had a special
system of book keeping in that you had two small note books which lived
on the second shelf of the end cupboard and at the end of the month they
took one back to the shop to work out the bill and left the other for
the next month and changed over at the end of each month.
Norman or Les would walk in, go to the cupboard and get the book and
after you had had what ever you wanted they would put the groceries in
the cupboard along with the book after they had entered the goods you
had taken. Norman used to call in the mornings when we were making
cheese in the old dairy which was all part of the house and used to love
to give the dairy maid a friendly slap on the back side as he went by.
This back fired on him one day when a young lady who had come to learn
about cheese making was bending over the vat and he slapped the wrong
back side, she was not amused and he went away with a red face and very
apologetic; we took the mickey out of him for ages.
J.T. Vernon and Son Butchers used to call twice a week and the Sunday
joint was always the same big lump of beef with an H shaped bone in it.
I bet you could still dig one up at the Beachin that some long gone old
dog had buried and forgot about.
Mr Harry Vernon used to arrive while we were having lunch on a Friday
and would come in through the door and say “Good afternoon, Thank You,
pop it through to the pantry for you, Thank You.” He would put the meat
on the big plate that was under the meat cover ready for it, say “Lovely
afternoon, Thank You, see you next week, Thank You” and he was gone till
next week. Tuesday was different in that he would bring in a selection
of Sausages, Black Pudding, Liver, Kidneys or Chops and after Mother had
made up her mind what she wanted he would again pop it through to the
pantry.
The gate post on the front gate had gone rotten and had been knocked
over a time or two and been patched up and put back again. On one of
Harry’s visits he happened to catch it on the way out and before we
could put it up again Captain Aldersey called and asked who had hit the
gate post and someone said Harry Vernon so he ended up with a bill for a
new one but he used to take great pleasure in telling people that it was
His gate post.
Pinningtons of Farndon were the bakers and they called twice a week with
bread and again the delivery man always put the bread in the bread bin
in the pantry. On one occasion a new driver with a new Ford van managed
to put the lot in the ditch on the right hand side of the lane and ended
up facing the opposite way round. Without turning it over we managed to
pull him out with the tractor and send him on his merry way. When asked
what had happened he said a hare had run across the road and he had been
momentarily distracted; as you can imagine this took a bit of living
down and for weeks some wag would take great pleasure in asking him if
he had any broken cakes.
Batemans of Tattenhall had two shops. One a shoe shop and the other a
general store. George Corbett called once a month and took orders for
everything from shoe polish to scrubbing brushes, soft soap, toilet
rolls, mops and mop buckets - you name it he had it; he had a large book
with all the goods they sold and went down the list with mother - it
would take them the best part of half an hour. One regular order would
be two dozen candles and two cases of two dozen boxes of matches along
with six large bars of white soap - a double block nearly the size of a
house brick which you would cut in half.
George drove a little green van and always had a good story to tell
about something or other. One tale he told was he had been to a farm up
at Bosley and had gone out to the van to get something and left the van
door open. Unbeknown to him a dog had climbed in the back and gone to
sleep when he had set off again and gone a short way before the dog woke
up and came and licked the back of his neck; as he put it he didn’t need
any 'opening medicine' for a day or two.
Another of his favourite tales was the night of a regular whist drive at
Burwardsley village hall. Old Fred who collected the money on the door
had been delayed and by the time he arrived a number of people where
already in, so after a short committee meeting a local farmer got up on
the stage and announced Fred would come round with the hat to collect,
and in his best broad Cheshire “ Said all them as anner peed pee in my
hat.”
Dad always went to Chester three times a week in the day time; Tuesdays
and Thursdays to Len Wright’s Auction and Saturday to Lloyd’s Bank for
the wages. When he died in 1965 there where 15 names in the wages book
and the total take home pay was just over £150. The only shopping he did
was on Saturdays when he picked up the bacon from Archie Salmon’s. We
always had between 6 and 8 pounds of bacon every week. On Thursdays he
called at Walsh’s fish shop to get the fish. They knew what the order
was each week and we would pull up outside the shop and it would be
brought to the car. Service with a smile and everyone sent his bill at
the end of the month and you got a receipt signed across a 2d old pence
stamp. Now you can’t get out of the supermarket till you have paid.
We found an old receipt from someone in Malpas dated in the late
nineteen twenties for the Christmas drink one bottle of port one of
sherry and one of scotch for £1 .10. 0. Plus account rendered the year
before £3.0.0 in total - drink was a hell of a price then. The profit
they must have made on that deal. Happy days if a van driver walked into
a house now he would get shot. God knows what he get if for a friendly
slap on the back side?
IRRELIGIOUS THOUGHTS
While away those sermons with Hunting Hymns. With the aid of a copy of
Hymns Ancient and Modern it is amazing how many hymns must have been
written with hunting in mind. From the obvious such as No 238 'As Pants
the Hart for cooling streams when heated in the Chase' we progress to
such treasures as - to be sung when hacking to the Meet - No 597 'As
near the wish'd for port we draw.' On the arrival of Hounds at the Meet
No 737 'The Master Comes!' Or perhaps in anticipation of a hunting tryst
No 117 'At the Cross her station keeping.' The Field Master's
exhortation No 569 'Do no sinful actions' to be followed perhaps by the
Field's reply No 281 'Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us.'
After a long blank draw a fox is found No 53 'Hark the glad sound! the
Saviour comes.' to be followed by No 681 on hearing Gone Away 'Hark! tis
the watchman's cry.' As the hounds get going No 676' Who would true
valour see, Gainst all disaster, Let him in constancy, Follow the
Master.' On approaching a particularly fearsome obstacle No 165 'Oh God,
our help in ages past.'
And, at the end of the Perfect Day No 477 'The day Thou gavest, Lord is
ended....'