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Established 1853 JUNE 2016

The Field &

Country Fair
See the best at Cornbury Park, 10-12 June
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 THE FIELD

ESTABLISHED 1853 JUNE 2016

73
Lords of
the ies

36
Take it to
84
The Blacks
the engraver parade

FEATURES
REGULARS
Cover Westley Richards: Pair of super deluxe 16g hand detachable lock shotguns

14 Join us at the Field & Country Fair 68 Stay dry on the drives 7 Comment
At Cornbury Park, Oxon, this month What qualities should you look for in a 8 Opening shots
shooting coat? Lucy Higginson advises 18 New in the eld
36 Beasts on the beauties 20 Stepping Out
Gun engraving has become an artform 73 Old faithful ies 22 Letters
27 On the market
in its own right, says Douglas Tate What do the professionals use to hook 33 Young in the eld
their quarry? Gilly Bate asks a panel of 35 Younger in the eld
42 EJ Churchill celebrates 125 years experts to name their ies of choice
The history of one of Britains most COUNTRY ESTATE
innovative gunmakers, by Douglas Tate 79 Top hat trick 60 Subscriptions
Nicholas Storey traces the origins and 97 Treasures
50 Making your mind up development of the top hat 98 Country queries
How might the EU Referendum impact 99 My red-letter day
103 Under the hammer
on country life? Charles Nodder reports 84 The Queens birthday parade
108 Cookery
The Household Cavalry Mounted 111 Wine
54 Apethorpe: back in the hunt Regiment prepares to mark Her 112 Gun review
Octavia Pollock witnesses the return of Majestys 90th birthday. By Roger Field 115 Stalking
hounds to this former royal residence 116 Sporting dog
90 The Battle of Jutland 119 Motoring
62 Around Britain with a y rod Allan Mallinson describes the only 120 Books
Why go abroad when theres great sport major naval encounter of the First 123 Classieds
130 Howards way
on our doorstep, asks Marina Gibson World War 100 years on
THE FIELD

Established 1853 Vol 327 No 7343

Published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd

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ISSUE JULY-DECEMBER 2014
 
 




 
   
    
 


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 THE FIELD

ADVERTISING
Head of market
Tim Hanson 01252 555325

Country and classified

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The Field, 0015-0649, is published monthly by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0SU,
England (head ofce). The 2016 US annual subscription price is $121.32. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by agent named Air
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The best, on show
Jonathan Young looks forward to welcoming old friends and meeting new
ones at the Field & Country Fair, 10-12 June at Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
G
OING to the CLA Game Fair used to
be one of the highlights of the
summer, an annual gathering of all
who truly love eldsports and the countryside.
But somehow it lost its way. It grew bigger but
less relevant and while the storm of feathers
emanating from the World Pigeon Plucking
Championship might have surprised some (I
managed to denude a bird in 34 seconds), the
old shows honest earthiness was gradually
buried under a layer of luxury cars and
dinky furnishing stands. So when the CLA
announced last year it was pulling out we were
saddened but unsurprised.
Yet the need for a genuine show that
brought together country people remained.
With the closure of the CLA Game Fair, Time
Inc. (UK) Ltd decided to hold an event that
really served those who love eldsports and
the land as much as the loyal followers of The
Field, Shooting Times, Sporting Gun, Country Life
and Shooting Gazette. These brands are at the
core of the countryside and can draw upon
unrivalled expertise to create a truly authentic
country show as well as a combined reader-
ship running into six gures.
Our Fair has been fashioned for those who
love to tumble a grouse, watch a labrador
retrieve to hand and see a trout take a mayy.
Itll be the show at which you meet old friends
and make new ones, where you can genuinely
learn from real experts and where the stands
will sell the best of what we actually want.
The Fair has attracted key standholders
such as: GMK, the famous importers of
Beretta shotguns and Sako and Tikka ries;
Francis Lovel & Co; Elderkin & Son; Fausti;
Orvis; William & Son; Boxall & Edmiston;
Longthorne Gunmakers; Giles Marriott;
William Powell; Holts Auctioneers;
Sunglasses For Sport; the Countryside
Alliance; the GWCT; and the BASC.
We are especially pleased to have our old
friends from the National Gamekeepers
Organisation with us; a country fair without
keepers is like a full English without eggs.
People will be involved at our show, rather
P. QUAGLIANA
than just being seen as an income stream.
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
Advice and learning will be one of the core
attractions of the Fair, as it used to be when the
original Game Fair was founded, with The
Fields support, back in 1958.
We are thrilled to have George Digweed,
the worlds greatest shot, holding a questions-
and-answers session for all whod like to
improve their game-, target- and pigeon-shoot-
ing. Also on hand to those in thrall to the pur-
suit of woodpigeon will be Shooting Gazettes
Will Gart, Sporting Guns Peter Theobald and
Shooting Times Tom Payne, who will be
delighted to answer queries, share tips and
demonstrate decoying equipment. The game-
shooting section will also feature a range of
experts from the industry ready to answer
queries and offer insights into every aspect of
game-shooting, from bird rearing and beating
to how to get started or what gun to buy.
For the gundog owner, renowned trainer
Howard Kirby will be running a gundog dem-
onstration arena and training clinic. So come
and discover how to make your dog perfect on
the peg. And if your hound courses rabbits,
Advice and learning
will be one of the core
attractions of the Fair
as it used to be
www.theeld.co.uk
THE FIELD COMMENT
the lurcher arena offers a chance to discover
what goes into the lurcher-breeding mix.
Naturally, no country show would be com-
plete without the shenanigans of terrier
racing, so our gamest sporting dogs will be
competing noisily next to the working dog
arena, sporting dog pavilion and gundog eye
clinic, where there will be an opportunity to
speak to breeders and expert trainers.
The shooting line will see daily team ush
competitions with Barbury Shooting School,
have-a-go shooting with Oxfordshire Shooting
School and the chance to hone your eye for
The Twelfth in Atkin Grant & Langs grouse
butt. EJ Churchill will be running a shooting
clinic and BASC will host stands for game and
clay shots; the airgun range is open to all.
Falconry Mews will be staging demonstra-
tions, seminars, exhibitions from falconry
clubs and childrens activities, and Country
Corner is crammed with things to do and
make, so bring the smalls and let them learn.
Or see how the big boys do it at Will Matthews
taxidermy workshop.
There will be proper food and drink avail-
able (for years weve wondered why fast-food
outlets dominated a fair that was supposedly a
celebration of the best of the countryside) and
food demonstrations from Tim Maddams,
formerly head chef at the River Cottage
Canteen, and the Eat Wild brothers (Will and
Calum Thompson) and other great chefs. The
best shoot lunch masterclass is one to add to
the diary though will it include custard with
skin, considered essential by many guns?
As ever, country people like to improve the
lives of others and the Fair will be supporting
the Princes Countryside Fund and Friends of
the Princess of Waless Royal Regiment (which
is kindly providing a military band).
The Field staff and those of our sister titles
look forward to seeing you at what will be the
best in shows.
The Field & Country Fair, 10-12 June, Cornbury
Park, Oxfordshire OX7 3EH. Advance tickets are
18 for adults, senior 16, student 10, under 12s
free; 15 for BASC members. Go to
www.eldandcountryfair.com
7
 This kingsher is part of
her British Wildlife series

8 www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE

SPORTING
ARTIST
Inspired by an old-fashioned dipping pen, Clare Brownlow has put
unwanted pheasant tail feathers to good use, as Janet Menzies
discovered but you might want to stand back while shes working
MARRIAGE and motherhood rarely make life
easy for the budding artist, as Clare Brownlow
discovered while trying to nish her end-of-year
show at Edinburghs Leith School of Art before
the birth of her rst son, Harry. The smell of the
oil paints just wasnt great, she remembers.
Harry has since been joined by Alfred at the
family home, Ormiston House, near Kelso, where
Brownlows husband, Charlie, has businesses
running sporting holidays and recycling waders.
Having enjoyed painting at school, Brownlow
read History of Art and Fine Art before a brief
period in investment management and meeting
her husband. But art still called, so she attended
Leith School of Art. It was so incredible, she
enthuses. Mixing pigments was fascinating. I
did a lot of oil paintings of seascapes and
landscapes. Then Harry was born just two weeks
after the end-of-year show. I was painting as
much as I could when Harry was little but with a
small baby to look after it wasnt ideal.
The idea for using real pheasant feathers to
paint pheasants and other birds came to
Brownlow a little later. I was at my parents
house in Norfolk and my father had a bunch of
pheasant tail feathers in the kitchen. My father
writes his game journals using an old-fashioned
dipping pen and it gave me the idea of using a
pheasant feather like a goose quill as a dipping
pen in different inks. I liked the results of that and
the splatter effects. I took some of the sketches
back up to Scotland with me and people started
asking me for them. So, gradually, I found I was
producing a range of different images and grew
the commercial side of it.
Certainly, this has been successful for
Brownlow, whose paintings can command
3,500 or more. I am branching out to do
the retail side of things now, she explains.
People can have my pheasants on place mats
or mugs and so on. Brownlow is also working
on textiles and fashion prints for a country-
clothing company.
What clients love about her work is that she
so clearly loves it herself. Not for Brownlow the
www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
SPORTING ARTIST
awful struggle with the empty canvas. I love
getting into the studio to paint commissions,
she says. I was asked by a leading milliner to do
one of a pig wearing a fascinator that was
certainly different and so much fun. Then I did
one for the Buccleuch Hunt Ball of a fox in a top
hat. One particularly nice commission was from
a couple in Singapore who wanted me to do a
Singaporean kingsher for them. They had been
trying for a baby for some time and apparently
the kingsher was ying around the house on
the day they got news of the pregnancy, so that
was very special.
Brownlow is ambitious to expand her
spectrum. I am currently working with the
Edinburgh Zoological Society doing some
designs, which is really interesting. I also want to
do lots more exhibitions and a wider range of
subject matter, she explains. I would very
much like the chance to get out to the Middle
East to paint falcons ying, and horse racing is
something else I would like to work on.
But still nothing pleases her more than a
quiet morning painting while her sons play
happily outside, although this might not be as
often as she would like. I would like to do more
work specically for myself but I just dont have
time. The other day was so nice. I had some time
in the studio while the boys were outside
making dens and I loved it but I do really like to
paint things for other people. You would not
want to paint anything that wasnt lovely.
Brownlow sees one of her strengths as a
painter in her imaginative use of pheasant tail
feathers to produce the nished work, and she
hopes to build on this. Compared with the
traditional sporting art, I would like to bring a
modern twist, she explains, something a little
bit extra. In a genre that includes luminaries
such as Charles Audubon and Archibald
Thorburn, and contemporaries Rodger McPhail
and David Shepherd, this is perhaps a tall order
but Brownlow has ticked all her boxes so far.
Clare Brownlow can be commissioned via her
website: www.clarebrownlow.co.uk
9

MATT WILLMOTT
FARM BIRDS COUNTED
More than 970 farmers took part in
the GWCTs third Big Farmland Bird
Count. Of the 130 species recorded,
blackbirds and woodpigeons were
most prolic, with a snow bunting
(above) one of 25 species recorded
from bird organisations Red List.
DAN ABRAHAM/RACINGFOTOS.COM
GARDEN WINNER 2016
Caerhays Castle is the rst Cornish
winner of the HHA Garden of the
Year Award, sponsored by Christies.
Created by the Williams family, the
garden open until 19 June is
famed for its magnolia collection.
DAN ABRAHAM/RACINGFOTOS.COM
LIFE AFTER RACING
AP McCoy has become a patron of
the charity Retraining for
Racehorses. The 20-time champion
jockey said he was, delighted to
assist in promoting the increasingly
varied options available for
racehorses after racing.
To contact the Opening Shots
News Desk send an email to
caroline.bankes@timeinc.com
10
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
Sussex spaniels aim to set record
More than a hundred Sussex spaniels will be gathering in their home county this month to set a new
record for the endangered breed.
It will be the largest gathering of Sussex spaniels ever seen in one place, said organiser Sheila
Appleby. We want everyone with a Sussex spaniel to come along on the day and join us.
The gathering will take place at 2pm in the main arena on the second day of the Sussex Show
(18-19 June). Appleby, vice president of the Sussex Spaniel Association (SSA), said 130 owners,
including four from the Netherlands, have said they are planning to bring their dogs to the show.
We had 73 dogs at our rst attempt in 2010. This year were really hoping to have more than a
hundred, she added. The organisers of the show will be sending a photograph of the gathering to the
Guinness Book of Records.
After the Second World War, there were only seven known Sussex spaniels left. The breed has been
registered as vulnerable by The Kennel Club since 2004. Last year, just 43 puppies were registered.
The SSA will be telling people all about the breed on its stand at the Field & Country Fair on 10-12 June
at Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire. For tickets, visit: www.eldandcountryfair.com
Sussex spaniels: a
vulnerable breed
KEEPING UP ROYAL APPEARANCES
This evening dress by
The largest display to date of The Queens
Norman Hartnell from wardrobe is being staged to celebrate Her
1972 can be seen at Majestys 90th birthday. More than 150 outts will
Holyroodhouse be shown across three ofcial residences, with
the content of each exhibition selected because
of its association with the location.
The exhibitions, Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years
of Style from The Queens Wardrobe, are at the
Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh (21 April
to 16 October), Buckingham Palace (23 July to
2 October) and Windsor Castle (17 September to
8 January 2017).
A magnicent Norman Hartnell evening gown
worn for a performance of Rob Roy at the Royal
Lyceum in Edinburgh is one of the many outts
on show in Scotland.
At Buckingham Palace therell be outts worn
by The Queen from the 1920s to today, including
those from Her Majestys childhood, wedding,
the Coronation and royal tours and state visits.
Outts at Windsor Castle range from evening
gowns and elegant daywear to fancy-dress
costumes worn by the young princess.
ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST
General admission to each residence costs
from 12 for an adult, which includes entry to the
exhibition. Go to: www.royalcollection.org.uk
www.theeld.co.uk
 NEWS

The Naked, Strewth

A monthly exploration of the British fondness YELLOWHAMMERS UP
for removing clothes in a good cause Robin Page, chairman of the
Countryside Restoration Trust,
won a Redlist Revival biodiversity
award for recording the highest
density of yellowhammers.

FUNDS FOR TROUT HABITAT

The Trusts 2016 eBay auction
raised 72,000 to help fund the
charitys work to improve habitat
for wild trout and sea-trout.

AMATEUR HANDLERS TRIUMPH

Four amateur gundog handlers
beat professional trainers to
qualify for Chudleys Gundog
Championship, to be held at the
Midland Game Fair in September.

SPEY SALMON BOOST

The Spey Dam has been classied
as a barrier to sh passage,
raising hopes that a solution will
be found to boost juvenile salmon
numbers in the Upper Spey.

Berwickshire Hunt No saddle sores for the ladies of the Berwickshire Hunt Supporters
Safe passage for salmon?
Calendar 2016 Club, who have wriggled out of those restrictive jods with the aim of
lling the hunts coffers. Give it both barrels, girls!
The Field has contributed to the cause. Calendars cost 10; contact
IAN RENTON

Wendy Turnbull for details on 07738 215067.

ALAMY
Learn to scythe in Devon
Creating meadows
Therell be bee hunts, walks and talks taking place
around the country on Saturday 2 July to mark the
second National Meadows Day.
BUTTERFLY DECLINES
Encouraged by HRH Prince Charles, charity
The Small Copper suffered its
Plantlife along with 11 other organisations, including
worst year on record in 2015; the
the Wildlife Trusts and the National Trust has spent
Swallowtail, Peacock, Heath
the past three years working to create a meadow in
Fritillery and Small Tortoiseshell
every county to mark the 60th anniversary of the
also showed steep declines.
Coronation. The Coronation Meadows project was
launched in June 2013 with funds from private
LYME DISEASE SOARS
donations, the Princes Countryside Fund and Biffas
Warmer winters are to blame for
Landll Communities Fund.
the six-fold rise in cases of Lyme
We have 60 restored meadows so far and 500
disease in pets since 2009,
acres of receptor meadows, said project manager
reports the PDSA.
Dan Merrett. Every meadow is different and will tell a
story. They are just buzzing with life.
THE EAGLE HASNT LANDED
On the day, Chancellors Farm in Somerset will open
It is feared that Englands last
its Coronation Meadow for the rst time; the National
golden eagle has died. The bird
Trust will hold a scything workshop at Knighthayes in
resident at Haweswater in
Devon; and at Osterley Park in Isleworth therell be a
Cumbria for 15 years failed to
barefoot walk, among other things. For details about
appear this spring.
all events, go to: www.magnicentmeadows.org.uk

www.theeld.co.uk 11
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 EVENTS (SELECTED BY CAROLINE BANKES)
GROUSE-MOOR ART
Forty paintings by artist Nicky Brown, depicting
the management of two Yorkshire grouse
moors, will feature in the exhibition A Year in the
Life of a Grouse Moor on 1 July at Clifton Castle,
Masham, North Yorkshire.
A preview and drinks reception is being held
in aid of the GWCT on 30 June at 6.30pm; for
tickets (10 in advance, 15 on day), call Sophie
Dingwall on 07925 597676.
Heather burning
by Nicky Brown
FOOD FOCUS AT SHOW
Food and farming is the focus of the Royal
Bath & West Show (1-4 June), with more than
100 producers exhibiting in the new food and
drink area. Westcountry drink producers will
be championed in the second British Cider
Championships and the shows British
Cheese Awards has a new award for Best
British Cheesemonger.
The opening day of the show is dedicated
to the next generation of stockmen, while
judging of the main livestock classes starts on
Thursday and runs through to Saturday.
More details at: www.bathandwest.com
A feast at the
Bath & West
BOUND OVER
Our new, specially made binders are capable
of holding a years worth of magazines and
could be just the thing you need to
keep your copies of The Field neat
and tidy. Binders are priced
9.95 + p&p each, with a discount
for larger orders.
To order binders, email hannah.
rought@timeinc.com
12
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
DATES FOR THE DIARY
JUNE
GARDENS FESTIVAL
More than 400 gardens will open their gates to
1-2 SUFFOLK COUNTY SHOW Trinity
Park, Ipswich; suffolkshow.co.uk
the public for the National Gardens Schemes
(NGS) fourth Festival Weekend (4-5 June). 4 LOBSTER SHOOT (in aid of CA) East
Meon, near Peterseld, Hampshire. To
bring a team, email: bereleigh@btinternet.com
From a grand country estate to a hidden
urban oasis, theres a festival garden to suit
all tastes, said George Plumptre, NGS 4 CHARITY CLAY SHOOT (in aid of ABF
The Soldiers Charity and GWCT)
Raisthorpe Manor, near Malton, North
chief executive.
Yorkshire. Entry is 2,000 per team. Contact
The NGS will give 2.7m this year to nursing
Sophie Dingwall at sdingwall@gwct.org.uk
and caring charities from money raised in 2015.
Having opened my garden for more than
20 years for the NGS I know the joy that 5 OPEN FARM SUNDAY Farms across the
country open their gates to the public.
Visit: farmsunday.org
sharing your garden can bring as well as the
feeling of raising money, said new NGS ART OF THE HORSE EXHIBITION
president Mary Berry. 7-17 Rountree Tryon Galleries, 7 Bury
Street, London SW1. Equestrian artists past
For details of gardens opening for the
and present, including Lionel Edwards. Visit:
Festival Weekend, visit: www.ngs.org.uk rountreetryon.com
Forest Lodge
in Somerset 9-11 SOUTH OF ENGLAND SHOW
Ardingly, West Sussex (hound
competitions on rst two days); seas.org.uk
10-12 FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR
Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire.
For tickets, visit: eldandcountryfair.com
10-12 CHOLMONDELEY POWER
CAROLE DRAKE
AND SPEED Theme for 2016 is
Supercars: past, present and future. For
details, tel 01829 772432; cpop.co.uk
THE RIFLES RETREAT
The fastest marching bands and bugles in the
17-19 ROYAL THREE COUNTIES
SHOW Showground, Malvern,
Worcestershire, tel 01684 584924;
threecounties.co.uk
British Army are coming to Horse Guards (1-2
June) to celebrate riemen past and present.
The Sounding Retreat by the Massed Bands
and Bugles of The Ries is raising funds for the
18-19 WELSH GAME FAIR Pembrey
Country Park, Llanelli;
tel 07785 975773; welshgamefair.com
regiments Care for Casualties appeal.
Also on parade will be the Band of the
Brigade of Gurkhas, the Royal Gurkha Ries
19 BROCKLESBY COUNTRY FAIR
Brocklesby Estate, North Lincolnshire,
tel 01469 561400; brocklesby.co.uk
Pipes and Drums, the Gurka Kukri Dancers, the
Band of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry from
Canada, the Buglers Association of the Light
22-23 THE LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW
The Showground, Grange-
de-Lings, Lincoln, tel 01522 522900;
Division and Ries, the Quirinus Band and lincolnshireshowground.co.uk
Bugle Corps from Germany, and others.
Tickets (priced 10-30) are available from
Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.co.uk
23-26 ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW
Royal Highland Centre,
Ingliston, Edinburgh, tel 0131 335 6200;
royalhighlandshow.org
Massed bands at
Horse Guards
29-30 ROYAL NORFOLK SHOW
The Showground, Dereham
Road, Norwich, tel 01603 748931;
royalnorfolkshow.co.uk
Top Shots
JULY ISSUE
BUY IT ON 16 JUNE
www.theeld.co.uk

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 Join us at the Fair
A bespoke event for lovers of eldsports, the Field & Country Fair has been launched
to get your summer season off to the perfect start, says Alexandra Henton

T
HE inaugural Field & Country Fair this
month has much to recommend it.
After the CLA Game Fair blew the Last
Post at Harewood House in 2015 there was an
opportunity for those who were interested to
shape their own country fair. The CLA, which
was the backbone of the CLA Game Fair for
more than 50 years, has no presence at any
game fair this summer. Out of this situation
grew the Field & Country Fair, organised by
Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, publisher of The Field,
Country Life, Shooting Times, Sporting Gun and
Shooting Gazette. It is an opportunity to use the
expertise of the magazines you love to read to
create a bespoke country event to kick off your
summer season.
Held at Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, on
smalls and bring your friends for a eldsports
festival without the ounce. Here is what you
will nd at the Field & Country Fair this June.
GUNMAKERS QUARTER
Whats your game? Partridge or pigeon, goose
or grouse? Whatever quarry comes top of your
list, head to Gunmakers Quarter to meet the
experts. Youll nd stands dedicated to game-
shooting, pigeon-shooting and wildfowling,
manned by a range of experts from the indus-
try wholl be ready to answer queries and offer
insights into every aspect of game-shooting,
from bird rearing to beating, how to get started
or which gun to buy.
Artist Owen Williams will be on the wood-
cock research stand, answering questions on
shotgun, there will be a handpicked selection
of the best the gunmaking world has to offer,
including models from: GMK, the famous
importers of Beretta shotguns and Sako and
Tikka ries; Francis Lovel & Co; Elderkin &
Son; Boxall & Edmiston; Ladds; Longthorne
Gunmakers; and William & Son.
ESTATE MANAGEMENT &
GAMEKEEPERS ROW
An area dedicated to gamekeepers, where
they will be able to study best practice, peruse
practical ideas and get first-hand advice. A
deer-management stand is the go-to destina-
tion for anyone struggling with a cervine sur-
plus, while membership organisations BASC,
the GWCT and the Countryside Alliance will
ALAMY/P.QUAGLIANA

10-12 June 2016, the Field & Country Fair is a woodcock migration with the GWCT as well also be supporting the Field & Country Fair.
country show at which you can learn, laugh, as showing some of his exquisite pictures. For The National Gamekeepers Organisation
shop and eat well. Bring your dog, bring the those who want to browse or perhaps buy a (NGO) has chosen the Field & Country Fair as

14 www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
the only show it will attend this summer. This
is a rare opportunity to meet many of the UKs
top keepers. In addition, Shooting Times game-
keeping correspondent and NGO committee
member Liam Bell will oversee a separate
gamekeeping exhibition stand that will take
visitors through all aspects of keepering, from
small DIY syndicates to grouse-moor man-
agement. Featured will be experts in the elds
of predator control, shoot conservation and
bird rearing.
SHOOTING LINE
Bring your gun and visit Barbury Shooting
Schools stands for daily fun ush clay com-
petitions. Oxfordshire Shooting School will be
hosting a Have a Go stand, with fully quali-
ed APSI instructors offering an introduction
to shooting with a shotgun. For the keen
grouse shot, why not take on the 25-bird
sequence from a grouse butt with Atkin Grant
& Lang? The company will also run a high gun
competition daily and therell be prizes for
lady guns, juniors and others. BASC will be on
hand to offer tuition and advice on gun safety,
and there will be an EJ Churchill clinic. An
airgun range will also be operating over the
weekend, with the Air Arms Speed Shot com-
petition and 10 free shots for under 12s, so take
along your aspiring smalls.
MEET THE EXPERTS
The meet the experts sessions at the Field &
Country Fair offer something unique: real
experts, real opinions and unrivalled knowl-
edge. George Digweed, 26-time World Cham-
pion, will be on The Fields stand on Friday 10
June offering advice and answering questions
about how to improve your game- and pigeon-
shooting. It is not everyday the best in the
world is on hand to help. Gunmakers Quarter
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
will also host three of the UKs top pigeon
shooters: Shooting Gazettes Will Gart; Sporting
Guns Peter Theobald; and Shooting Times Tom
Payne. All three will be on hand to answer
queries, share tips and give demonstrations of
decoying equipment.
BRING THE DOG
Theres plenty of fun at the Fair for your four-
legged friends, too. The gundog demonstra-
tion arena and training clinic, overseen by
renowned gundog trainer Howard Kirby,
gives owners the opportunity for one-to-one
or group training, or the opportunity to have
your dog assessed. The working dog ring will
feature parades of working dogs with expert
commentary by Neil Varney, owner of training
club Twistmount Gundogs and a Shooting
Times contributor, and Jim Winters. Varney
and his team at Twistmount will also be in the
ring twice daily with their spaniels and labra-
dor retrievers to show how it should be done.
Meanwhile, Nick Gregory from Misselchalke
Gundogs will be doing a demonstration each
day with cocker spaniels and dont forget to
study the card before the terrier racing gets
underway. There will also be a sporting dog
pavilion, lurcher arena, BASC scurries, a
gundog eye clinic and canine rst aid.
PUGS AND DRUMMERS
Visit Simon Whitehead of Pakeeld Ferrets, a
Shooting Times contributor, and his team of rab-
biting acionados, who will be demonstrating
the skills involved in ferreting. They will also
be showing equipment and offering advice.
FALCONRY MEWS
Dont miss the Falconry Mews where therell
be a wide variety of bird of prey species,
including kestrels, barn owls, peregrines,
Clockwise from top: get advice from Barbury
Shooting School; Simon Whitehead with the
Pakeeld Ferrets; visit Orvis in the Game
Fishing Village; Rachel Green will be in the
Game Cookery Theatre; if you are after a new
shotgun, head for the Gunmakers Quarter
www.theeld.co.uk 15
 hawk eagles and golden eagles. Visit the
arenas for hunting with falcons, training dogs
for falconry, ferreting and childrens sessions
among other topics. The Childrens Area will
be an interactive experience for the smalls;
visit one of the displays to see the birds in
action or visit the falconry clubs for advice on
taking up the sport.
THE REAL FOOD FAIR
The Real Food Fair will make sure visitors to
the Field & Country Fair can take home the
best British, artisan, well-sourced food.
FIELD & COUNTRY RESTAURANT
No need to queue at a dodgy burger van the
Field & Country Restaurant will be offering an
amazing choice of dishes for breakfast, lunch
and afternoon tea. Eat Wilds tantalising menu
includes craysh, rabbit, free-range chicken
jambalaya, smoked mushrooms and kale slaw.
Then there are two fabulous food courts, both
with outside seating, offering hog roasts and
the best fresh farmed produce, which you can
wash down with something from the
Oxfordshire Real Ale Bar or the Lodge, which
will be offering champagne, wine and cock-
tails. Where better to meet up with friends?
GAME COOKERY THEATRE
Come and see some of the best country cooks
demonstrate what they do so well. Rachel
Green will be conjuring up ideas for the best
shoot lunches, the Eat Wild brothers Calum
and Will Thompson will be hosting daily
Below, left to right: try an Eat Wild burger;
watch Tim Maddams in the Cookery Theatre;
enjoy the Falconry Mews. Inset: Oliver Preston
KAY THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY/ GUY HARROP/P.QUAGLIANA
16
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
demonstrations, including how to make game
accessible. Game guru Tim Maddams will be
on hand to advise you how to cook your game
with gusto, and Jose Souto will be cooking off
against the clock daily, preparing dishes for
audience members to sample.
SHOPPING
No country fair is complete without a selection
of shops, selling things we really
want to buy. So if you want
some serious sporting
wear visit William & Son
for elegant shooting outts
(see New in the Field for latest
product details) and luxuri-
ous cashmere. William Powell
and the Beretta Gallery are also
a must for the sporting shopper,
and Sunglasses for Sport are a
go-to destination for grouse glasses. For jolly
illustrations from a Field favourite visit Oliver
Prestons stand. For the fashion savvy, South
West Tens fur-trimmed gilets and Its Got
Souls delightfully coloured loafers are must
haves (see New in the Field).
FLY FISHING
Learn how to cast, pick a rod and nd the right
ies for the job, perhaps even pick up one of
the experts recommendations (see Gilly Bates
feature on page 73). Orvis will be on hand with
expert advice for the novice or dedicated y-
fisher, overseen by the renowned Michael
Evans with Hywel Morgan assisting in the
casting demonstrations.
ARTISTS
Country Lifes artist feature area will see
inspired sporting artists displaying their
www.theeld.co.uk
work, including Daniel Crane, Hamish
Mackie, Belinda Sillars, Tania Still, Rodger
McPhail, Keith Sykes, Dominique Salm, Bill
Prickett and Debbie Harris. Talk to the artists,
see their latest works or just enjoy the display.
COUNTRY CORNER
For the smalls, Country Corner offers a pleth-
ora of opportunities to learn eldcraft, make
friends and be enthused. Teaching Trees helps
them to identify and name the different spe-
cies of trees they see in a specially created
game. Young green ngers will enjoy plant-
ing activities and crafters can make a paper
plant pot to contain a young plant that
they can continue growing at home.
Crafters of all ages can learn to make a
corn dolly and about the history of the
craft, while another craft on offer is felt
making using British wool. Participants will
learn how to make felt and then create owers
from it which they can take home after-
wards. Children often enjoy a competition and
young artists will be encouraged to enter a
drawing competition to paint a picture of the
countryside with a prize awarded to the
winner at the end of the Field & Country Fair.
Finally, tired children can curl up in the story-
telling area and listen to a well-loved tale.
AND MUCH MORE
Holts Auctioneers will be holding two ses-
sions a day, so do bring your shooting memo-
rabilia along with you for valuation.
Taxidermist Will Matthews will be showing
how to tackle a deer head and more; come and
see how you could get stufng with an expert.
And, of course, The Field, Country Life, Shooting
Times, Sporting Gun and Shooting Gazette will be
at the Field & Country Fair, looking forward to
talking to our readers, greeting new enthusi-
asts and sharing the fun and hands-on
approach we hope you will enjoy. We look
forward to seeing you there.
 FIELD READER OFFER FORWARD PARKING PASS

Join us at Cornbury Park, Oxon, on 10-12 June

to celebrate eld and country sports

Special Field Reader offer

Forward Parking Pass
Dear Field Reader,
Buy your tickets NOW at the
Its our great pleasure to invite you to
the rst Field & Country Fair at advance price of 18 each, at
Cornbury Park, Oxon, on 10-12 June.
This will be the show produced www.eldandcountryfair.com
by country people for country using code TF2016
people, the show where you will
meet kindred spirits as well as learn
a thing or two and stock up on
essential kit for the season.
As part of our commitment to
giving you the best possible day out,
we are including a FREE FORWARD
PARKING PASS for you to display
on your vehicle when you buy
tickets online.
We look forward
to seeing you
at Cornbury Park
and sharing the best
on show.
Jonathan Young
YOUR FREE PARKING PASS WILL
Editor, The Field BE INCLUDED ON YOUR TICKET

www.fieldandcountryfair.com 17
 Our monthly guide to everything covetable in the coverts,
tremendous on the Test and bang on in the butt

Compiled by Alexandra Henton. Email alexandra.henton@timeinc.com

KHAKI GILET
SOUTH WEST TEN
Rabbit fur lined and with a fox-fur-
trimmed hood. Seriously sumptuous.
Price 395 Tel 020 3773 6061
www.southwestten.com

DUTCH HARBOR WATCH

FILSON
Wrist furniture with sporting
function and form.
Price 850
Tel 020 7434 3007
www.lson.com

TWILL TROUSERS
ORVIS
Jazzy strides to pinpoint the
Editor at the Field & Country Fair.
Price 89 Tel 0333 400 4177
www.orvis.co.uk

SPORTS JACKET
BERETTA
Classic summer staple in
unlined wool, silk and linen.
Price 345 Tel 020 7408 4411
www.beretta.com

ELEANOR LOAFER
ITS GOT SOUL
Vibrant hues for well-heeled
feet that are busy all day.
Price 115
Tel 0845 1229297
www.itsgotsoul.co.uk

18
 NEW IN THE FIELD
JERSEY SHIRT
OLDFIELD CLOTHING
Traditional collar, 100% cotton
a cricket and summer staple.
Price 95 Tel 07903 485246
www.oldeldclothing.co.uk

IN CELEBRATION
Regal tributes to HM The
Queen. Happy Birthday, Maam

BONE CHINA MUG

HALCYON DAYS
Delicately decorated to
dunk ones digestives.
Price 35
Tel 020 7734 8040
www.fortnumandmason.com

CHOCOLATES
GODIVA
Nine pieces for nine decades.
Price 15
Tel 0800 917 3512
STORVIK JACKET
www.godivachocolates.co.uk
HARKILA
Completely waterproof,
lightweight shooting jacket. ROYAL CROWN KNEELER
Price 470 Tel 01295 701701 CHELSEA GARDENER
www.williampowell.com Arise, without muddy knees.
Price 22
KINTBURY GILET Tel 020 7352 5656
WILLIAM AND SON www.thechelseagardener.co.uk
Smart and quilted herringbone
tweed. Matching items available.
Price 455 Tel 020 7493 8385 LIMITED EDITION
www.williamandson.com PANAMA, LOCK & CO
Sales support the Queen
Elizabeth Scholarship Trust.
Price 250
Tel 020 7930 8874
www.lockhatters.co.uk

CORGI BISCUIT
BETTYS
Youd be barking mad to
miss these treats.
Price 4
Tel 0800 456 1919
www.bettys.co.uk

BINOCULAR BAG
COLLAR & LEAD CAMBRIDGE SATCHEL CO
GUNN LINE Oxblood bridle leather,
Made in Dorset from bridle leather; supporting QEST.
a doggy delight that will last. Price 225 Tel 0800 0855 811
Price 35 each Tel 07789 961782 www.cambridgesatchel.com
www.gunnline.co.uk

www.theeld.co.uk 19
 Billy Vunipola Owen Farrell

Chris Robshaw

Nick Easter

Home Nations Shoot

West Wycombe
IF you are invited to a days clay-pigeon-shooting
with a former England rugby captain, one might
expect something a little out of the ordinary. That
proved to be the case when Chris Robshaw teamed
up with Sir Edward Dashwood to host a shoot at
West Wycombe as part of the England Rugby
Union stars testimonial year, with exploding rugby
balls providing the requisite excitement.
Rugby players from each home nation teamed
up with guests to compete for the hotly contested
title of Champions of Britain. Owen Farrell, Nick
Easter, Tim Visser, Mako and Billy Vunipola and
George Kruis provided the rugby repower,
captaining teams of four.
LEO WILKINSON PHOTOGRAPHY
team won an engraved bottle of Johnnie Walker
Blue signed by the Six Nations champions. The
Robshaw family had the ignominy of taking the
losing team slot, although winning shooting lessons
at EJ Churchill both softened the blow and made it
less likely to happen next time.
GFI elded both the best and worst shots. Nick
Wise won a Barbour jacket for his dead-eye dick
impression, while Nick Robbins tempered his
disappointment with several cases of Heineken.
The day culminated with explosive action at
Horsemans Ride, where rugby balls were kicked
into the air by Owen Farrell and Tim Visser for
guests to shoot at. A tting way to provided some

But competing against a rugby legend is a tough high-octane fun at the end of the challenge.
call. Robshaw, captaining the ABP Beef team, led Dinner took place in the Music Room with a live
from the outset, knocking down clays with aplomb auction and prize giving. After dinner, guns enjoyed
on the stands situated throughout the grounds. The cigars and whisky on The East Portico. Chris Robshaw kicking

20 www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 STEPPING OUT

Tim Visser

Mako Vunipola

Adam Jones

Alex Payne

Owen Farrell

George Kruis

Adam Clayton

www.theeld.co.uk 21
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE

Write to The Editor, The Field, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough,
Hampshire GU14 7BF. Email eld.secretary@timeinc.com (letters may be edited for clarity or space)
ANOTHER COUNTRY
OLIVER PRESTON
Damn, flowers again. Never a bottle of gin.
CLUB STANDARDS
Congratulations on a fantastic
April issue. I particularly enjoyed
Johnny Scotts A blizzard of
blackthorns and Ian Mortons The
Bard as countryman the sort of
articles found only in The Field and
entertaining, educating and
interesting to read.
As a former Irish Guards Ofcer,
I might add that we, too, carry a
blackthorn. The ofcers stick was
always supposed to more elegant
and dandy while the police
sergeant possessed a veritable
club. I remember bringing back a
large selection from Shillelagh and
having to debate the various
22
overcome by the birds.
aesthetic merits of each with the
Regimental Adjutant in Birdcage
Walk. I didnt get too many past his
exacting standards and left with a
gentle admonishment: Puppy,
these clubs simply wont do.
Keep up the good work.
Alexander Durdin-Robertson
Clonegal, County Carlow
FALLING ON DEAF EARS
I and many of my shooting friends
nd that our hearing is not as good
as it used to be. Coupled with the
fact that we all wear at least one
form of hearing protection, we
sometimes struggle to hear the
keepers whistle at the end of a
www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
drive. This is particularly difcult
when ones peg is tucked away
from the rest of the line or the wind
is blowing in the other direction.
How can we encourage keepers to
use a horn instead?
Rosemary Tinney
By email
RAVEN CONTROL
Being an active pest-control
shooter for some years now Ive
seen rst hand the brutal way the
common raven stalks a eld of in
lamb ewes, waiting for the
moment that a ewe goes down to
lamb. At this point, ravens will
descend on her, attacking the soft
tissue areas around the anus,
mouth and eyes, sending the ewe
into shock with the subsequent
loss of her unborn lambs. These
ferocious birds have also been
seen to pull unborn lambs out from
the attacked ewe.
Flocks of up to 30 ravens have
been seen to swoop on mothering
ewes with twins, splitting a twin
from its mother and holding it by
the rail until it goes down. This
tends to draw the ewe to the dead
lamb and she, too, is then
This is a story told daily by
sheep farmers throughout
Scotland and beyond. In response,
Ive launched an e-petition to be
sent to Scottish Natural Heritage
LETTERS
and the RSPB to have the raven
added to the 02/2016 General
Licence. This allows the land owner
or permitted persons: To kill or
take certain birds for the
prevention of serious damage to
livestock The petition can be
accessed at: www.change.org/p/
scottish-natrual-heritage-addition-
of-common-ravens-to-the-snh-
general-licence
Danny Bisset
By email
THE FALL GUY
Reading the article Taking a tumble
(March edition), I was reminded of
the time, in the late 1970s, when my
brother won the award for The
Most Spectacular Series of Falls at
his ski club. His achievement: to
land at the feet of the most
attractive women in the club.
Miss V Hemsley-Flint
Wormshill, Kent
PACKING UP
I have been reading The Field for
many years, enjoying the in-depth
analyses and lighter descriptions
of British idiosyncrasies, but this
Country Query caught my eye: I
have a split-cane rod of the type
issued to servicemen in the Far
East to catch food should they be
shot down. It is a three-piece, with
two y tips and a third for
spinning. Wow. How many
  

    
  
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were issued and which ies,
leaders, lures and reels went with
them? I can only imagine a pilot
going to a risky mission getting his
gear in order: My map, compass,
rst-aid kit, pistol and, oh, almost
forgot, my y rod.
Only in England, I guess, though
Hemingway Jr was said to have
been parachuted into France with
a y rod but it is not evident that
this was to catch his food.
Hubert Pouleur
Lawrenceville, New Jersey, USA
DRONE MOAN
A drone hit the Flying Scotsman
recently. Whose drone? Who
knows. I believe there is a case for
manufacturers being forced by law
to incorporate an irremovable
number to each drone and that
retailers should have to record the
buyers particulars. The potential
for harm far exceeds that of
sporting guns.
Raymond Barry
Laytham, North Yorkshire
HOWARDS ASTRAY
If it is possible to catch Philip
Howard on the ground during one
of his somersaults or, alternatively,
if he is able to read emails while
gyrating at 70mph two foot above
the ground, perhaps I could help
him through his Brexit confusion.
Here, I might interpolate that I
am very old, so he might concede
that I may have seen a bit more
than he. I remember silly old Neville
Chamberlain in 1938 kidding
himself that he had outwitted
Hitler. And Lord Halifax, the Peace
Pledge Union and all the others.
We would have been occupied,
despoiled and humiliated as the
French and all the other members
of the present European Union
were, if we had been persuaded by
such people. That is the state that
our friend nds himself in now. It is
quite wrong, tell him.
Remember, instead, the words
of someone a lot further back and
a lot wiser. William Pitt the Younger
said, in the early 1790s, as the
French Revolution burst outside
France, England will save itself by
its own exertions and it will save
Earth by its example.
Precisely. That sums up the
position now. Buck yourself up
Philip, old bean, and join in the
rescue. But we must come out rst.
AC Hoy
By email
TOP CHOCS
I was entertained by the recent
article on labradors (Our love of
labs, April issue) and the supposed
effect of their colour on ability to
work. The chocolates came out
pretty badly in this article.
I was privileged to have a
brilliant black and now have an
equally good chocolate; they
both point/pointed beautifully, too,
a real bonus for a rough-shooter.
Both were from dual-purpose
stock (the black was a Mansergh
Lola on the grouse moor
from Mary Roslin Williams), with
looks and ability (see Lola above,
last year aged one biddable and
brimming with intelligence).
So, just a few words in defence
of chocolates.
Robert Husband
By email
BUGS LIFE
The Field kindly published an
article I wrote about reed warblers
in its issue of 5 June 1948, while I
was at school in Wiltshire. Now,
nearly 70 years later, I felt I must
write about the disappearance of
small birds.
Reading the small print on the
back of The Times souvenir edition
for The Queens 90th birthday, I
found an article entitled Summer
Song-Birds, a reprint from 22 April
1926. It described summer
migrants as insect-eaters, and

insects appear in no great numbers
until new verdure gives shelter and
pasture for their young. It goes on
to describe the wryneck, many
warblers and other migrants such
as cuckoos, spotted ycatchers,
swallows and house martins. All
these were common in my garden
30 years ago but now we see few.
Why should that be so?
Most birds require insects and
young birds cannot survive without
them. If the insects disappear so do
the birds. One explanation might
be the ever-growing use of
agrochemicals. Some insects may
be zapped or disabled by
pesticides sprayed on local farm
land while the use of herbicides
might mean they can nd no
suitable broadleaved weeds on
which to lay their eggs.
However, it is not easy to
observe, let alone quantify, the
disappearance of insects. We
have seen attempts to ban
neonicotinoids as they are believed
to kill or disorientate. Perhaps they
should investigate the effect of
particulates from diesel engines
and/or unleaded petrol on insect
populations. Clearly more research
into insect populations is needed
to nd ways to halt the destruction
of this essential food chain for our
much-loved small birds.
SH Cooke
By email
WELL MET
I read much about licensing
challenges that the shooting
community encounters with police
forces across the country but
would like to highlight my
experience with the Metropolitan
Police in West London. I possess
both shotgun and rearms
certicates and frequently arrange
for Visitor Permits for friends
sampling our wonderful sport from
abroad. The service levels from the
Met have been, frankly, exemplary.
In a period during which their
budget is being cut and there is
enormous (unfounded) media and
arguably policy pressure on
legitimate licence holders, I have
found the service I have received
efcient, informed and polite.
Moreover, at no point have I been
LETTERS
made to feel that I am lucky to have
a considerable number of rearms
licensed, nor that this is in any way
under threat.
I have constantly felt fortunate
that the service I have received is
one that seeks to support safely
my interests, rather than trying to
prevent them. Let us hope that
other authorities take a leaf out of
the Mets book and follow suit.
Jeremy Young
By email
RUBBISH!
I live in a rural part of Norfolk that,
like so many rural areas, is ruined by
rubbish thrown out of car windows.
I recently noticed the following sign
on a grass verge between Norwich
and Watton: Dont be a Tosser.
Take your rubbish home.
Probably will not make any
difference but it made me smile.
Rob Wilcox
By email
TRADITIONAL VALUES?
Having just watched the 10 April
edition of the BBCs Countryle, I
was surprised by the strongly
inferred support given to salmon
netsmen operating at the mouth of
the River Tweed at Berwick. This
support seemed to be based on
the fact that salmon netting is
traditional and must, therefore, be
of value. Although a good shot of
the net was said to produce 20 sh
(mature sh on their way to
spawn), no mention was made of
the fact that the Atlantic Salmon
remains a UK Biodiversity Action
Plan species and is considered
both vulnerable and endangered.
Neither was any mention made of
the market value of fresh, wild
salmon, so I suppose we are to
presume the maintenance of
ancient tradition is the netsmens
only motivation.
On the positive side, given
Countryles support for traditional
activities, I expect we shall soon
see it encouraging the followers of
other traditional country activities,
especially those that do not involve
the destruction of a valuable and
dwindling resource.
Pat Connell
By email
 PROPERTY

The grain drain

With a higher proportion of farmers cashing in their acres than buying
new ones, Rupert Bates nds predicting values cest impossible

A English farmland
NY barley barons out there fancy a
partnership? We need a beer called
Brexit a distillation of fear and igno-
rance, with hoppy hypocrisy and a scent of
self-interest, designed to make imbibers shout
loudly in a confused manner. Crucially, you
can blame everything on it. Sorry, darling.
Better out than in. Too much Brexit last night.
I am surprised football managers havent
used it as an excuse yet: in or out of Europe;
inside or outside the penalty area. It depends if
the referee is called Cameron or Johnson.
Now we hear from Knight Frank that
English farmland values fell by 3% in the rst
quarter of 2016, with the drop attributed to the
current uncertainty surrounding the possible
exit from the EU. Average price is now under
8,000 an acre and the latest gures show the
largest quarterly decline since the 5% slide in
the last three months of 2008 and we dont
need a reminder of what happened then.
values fell by 3% in the
rst quarter of 2016 due
to current uncertainty
Predicting where values will head is
almost impossible until we know the results of
the EU referendum. In the case of a Brexit
much will depend on for how long Defra
commits to providing a replacement system
of support payments, says Andrew Shirley of
Knight Frank, adding that average farmland
values are still nearly 160% higher than they
were 10 years ago.
But if sterling weakens for a long period as
some analysts predict, this would make UK
grain and meat more competitive on global
markets. UK land, already cheaper than in
some EU countries, may also become more
attractive to international investors, he adds.
Alex Lawson of Savills says farmers made
up 50% of farmland sellers last year, the high-
est proportion in seven years. Low commod-
ity prices and the short-term outlook for UK
agriculture prompted some to capitalise on
high average land values and retire, he says.
Farmers represented 43% of buyers, the
lowest proportion since 2003, with nearly
176,500 acres of farmland publicly marketed
across Britain during 2015, up 24% on the
previous year.
Savills also talks of an east-west farmland
divide, with values falling in the east and rising
in the west thats England, not Europe.
Mines a pint of Brexit, as long as that
doesnt exclude me from the Oktoberfest in
Munich. On second thoughts, make mine a
stein glass of uncertainty. Prost! says the
Prime Minister. Bottoms up, says Boris.

TAKE THREE COASTAL PROPERTIES

CREEKSIDE FORT RICHMOND SEAHORSES

Mylor, Cornwall
Agent Jackson-Stops & Staff
Tel 01872 261160
Guide price 900,000
Originally part of the Carclew estate, this four-
bedroom period house dates back to the 16th
century and was once, in part, a small general
store. It has water frontage and foreshore, with
views over Restronguet Creek. Creekside is
halfway between Truro and Falmouth.
St Saviours, Guernsey
Agents Cooper Brouard and
Chestertons
Tel 01481 236039 and 020 3040 8619
Offers in excess of 2 million
This former coastal fort has not been offered for
sale since it was built 160 years ago. It sits in two
acres on the west coast of Guernsey and, having
once been designated a Protected Building, is
now ready for a residential makeover.
Nedd, Drumbeg, Sutherland
Agent Strutt & Parker
Tel 01463 719171
Offers in excess of 395,000
This two-bedroom house is only four years old
and sits on a remote headland on the north-
west coast of the Highlands 15 miles from
Lochinver. Seahorses is run as a holiday let. The
nearest beach (shingle) is six miles away at
Clashnessie Bay.

www.theeld.co.uk 27
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 

 

 
  
 


 
 
  


 

 
         

    

      
  
  








 

 
   
  



COUNTRY ESTATE OF THE MONTH
OVINGTON DOWN FARM
Alresford, Hampshire
Agent Savills
Tel 01962 857428
Offers in excess of 9 million
This is a residential farming estate near
Winchester with productive arable land
extending to 486 acres. The main property is a
Grade II-listed Georgian farmhouse with
Victorian additions. There is also a pair of semi-
detached cottages and a mix of modern and
traditional farm buildings. Sitting in the South
WOODLEY FARM
Earls Croome, Worcestershire
Agent Knight Frank
Tel 01905 886488
Guide price 695,000
This timber-framed farmhouse has attractive
gardens with lawns and wildlife ponds, and sits
in just over three acres. There are ve bedrooms
but the second-oor storage rooms could be
used as further bedrooms. It is nine miles from
Worcester and 18 miles from Cheltenham.
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
Downs National Park, on a clear day there are
lovely views of North Hampshire and the
Solent. Ovington Down Farm was previously
part of the Tichborne estate, before being sold
to the sitting tenants in the 1950s. Historically,
the farm was mixed, with Guernsey dairy cows
and Charolais beef cows, before concentrating
on arable. The farmhouse is brick and int with
a 19th-century wing and has six bedrooms.
There is an outdoor swimming pool, a large
paddock and an orchard plus grassland and
woodland, with scope for a small family shoot.
TAKE THREE GARDENS
RUCHLAW HOUSE
Ruchlaw, Stenton, East Lothian
Agents Strutt & Parker and Rettie & Co
Tel 0131 226 2500 and 0131 624 9087
Offers over 1.75 million
A residential estate, Ruchlaw House comes
with nearly 18 acres, including a walled garden,
lawns, paddocks, woodland and an orchard.
The main house has seven bedrooms and there
are also cottages in the sale. It is six miles from
Dunbar and 29 miles from Edinburgh.
www.theeld.co.uk
PROPERTY
WRECK OF THE MONTH
STONE COTTAGE
Drinkstone, Suffolk
Agent Bedfords
Tel 01284 769999
Guide price 175,000
This is a derelict period cottage in a rural
position surrounded by undulating farmland. It
needs complete renovation but the current
accommodation includes two bedrooms, a
kitchen, a bathroom, a sitting room with an
open replace and a utility room. The cottage is
built with brick and int elevations and a slate
roof. It has been tenanted for many years, with
little maintenance work or redecoration during
that time. The property is in a pretty location
and there is plenty of scope, given the requisite
planning consents, to develop it while retaining
some of its period features. The gardens extend
to a quarter of an acre and again have been
neglected, but the area could provide off-street
parking as well as cottage gardens. Drinkstone
is eight miles from Bury St Edmunds and 41
miles from the Aldeburgh Heritage Coast.
PALLINGTON LAKES
Pallington, Dorchester, Dorset
Agent Symonds & Sampson
Tel 01258 472244
Guide price 2 million
This property, in 24 acres, is home to Sculpture
by the Lakes, created by sculptor Simon
Gudgeon and his wife, Monique. Described as
an art and wildlife paradise, Pallington Lakes is
a local attraction. Sale includes a detached,
four-bedroom house but not the sculptures.
29
 

 

   
  


    





   

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Travels with my godmother
Heading to the coast in an open-top Morris Minor for a spot of bellyboarding was a childhood
thrill, remembers Jonathan Young, before wetsuits and regulations became de rigueur
A
H, yes, said my friend, admiring my
19-year-old Toyota Corolla in its
fetching livery of peeling turquoise
paint and ourishing moss. It is indeed a clas-
sic, of sorts, but I have something different in
mind. He pulled up a phone image of his latest
acquisition, a 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith.
Shes being restored now and should be ready
for Ascot, he purred contentedly.
Looking at its swept lines and dinner-plate
headlamps, I almost succumbed to car envy.
Almost, but not quite. Ive never been a petrol-
head, happy with anything that takes me from
A to Z without coughing up its entrails. Yet
there is one car I covet above promises of gold
and thats my godmothers Morris Minor.
The chirpy little thing is a convertible, with
cream bodywork and burgundy leatherwork;
Ive known her froggie features for more than
50 years. My darling godmother bought her
new and has never bothered to buy another
car; shes simply replaced engines and body-
work to the extent that the steering wheel and
pedals are still original but perhaps little else.
When I was a small, Godmother would
arrive on the doorstep in the Morris Minor and
suggest an impromptu trip, sometimes to
watch a hatch of marble whites, more often a
hike to the north coast for some bellyboarding.
Such trips were always an adventure as she
hated (and still does) driving on normal roads;
she preferred to let the MM quest its own way
north, like a four-wheeled trufflehound,
through a latticework of Devon lanes, prefer-
ably those with grass growing in the centre
and marked Unsuitable for Motor Vehicles.
Her wayward navigation was guided by a
love of wildowers and there was a profusion
of hedgerow beauties in those unsprayed
banks. Since the car was open-topped, we
were washed by wafts of newly cut hay. This
fresh air would make us thirsty and hungry, so
at some stage the MM was instructed to cease
its meandering and nd provisions.
First stop was a cider farm and there was a
choice of two en route. Inchs was the proper
CHARLES FRASER
one, its cavernous and cobwebbed barrels
offering a choice of sweet, medium, dry and
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
scrumpy. All were delicious but Godmother
always opted for the latter. The second sup-
plier, Mr Snell, had a small orchard and an old
cider-press that was in service when Thomas
Hardy was occupied with milkmaids. It was
wise to park exactly beside the rough cider
for sale sign as this marked the limit of the
collies chain. Somehow, the wall-eyed brute
never learnt this and would come at a snarling
gallop before the inevitable somersault as it
reached the end of its tether. You could buy a
gallon for a quid so long as you brought your
own container and were happy with rough,
the only variety on offer.
Armed with cider and a couple of pasties
from a village bakery, wed nally arrive on the
north coast and slide out the bellyboards. Of
course, wed heard about real surfers who
could stand up and wore wetsuits but the
majority of us waiting to catch the freezing
Atlantic waves did it prone, dressed only in
swimmers, shouting loudly to each other: Its
not so bad when you get used to it!
Under an inspired
new legal requirement,
bass have to be released,
regardless of method
www.theeld.co.uk
YOUNG IN THE FIELD
Four years ago I ventured into the Cornish
waters without a wetsuit, winced after the
immersion of nadgers and wondered why the
local council didnt simply plonk down a sign
offering instant vasectomies with every dip.
That same afternoon I bought the thickest wet-
suit I could clamber into and still move. Very
cool, said the progeny, so long as youre going
for the grey-seal look.
They reminded me of the occasion when a
large bull decided to join us in the surf; while
sharing a wave with a whiskery pal was at rst
disconcerting it became rather a good game.
As with so many areas, our little patch of
Cornwall has seen a boom in seal numbers and
while they add interest I resent the ease with
which they nd and catch decent-sized bass.
I had always managed to winkle out a few
legal keepers with the yrod and shove them
on the barbecue but, as from this month, Ill
have to return them all under an inspired new
legal requirement that insists all bass have to
be released regardless of method. While I
understand the need to conserve stocks from
commercial exploitation, it seems dispropor-
tionate to ban anglers from keeping their
meagre reward after so much effort.
But we cannot let regulations disrupt
domestic harmony on holiday and since mine
is based on frequent escapes to chuck a line,
Im now planning a concerted assault on the
local pollock and wrasse, both of which
abound and will take a y. Neither, sadly, is a
decent table sh, though the larger pollock can
bulk out a sh pie. A better bet for the kitchen
is to take out the big sea-caster rod and hurl
some strings of feathers for mackerel from the
local harbour wall at the top of the tide. Its a bit
of a bugger packing the rod into my car but,
happily, the Godmother has announced her
intention to make a royal visitation while Im
down there, so therell be no problem getting
the 12-footer into her open-top Morris Minor.
The only problem will be nding a cider farm
en route to keep the Godmother content. I fear it
may take a 40-mile detour along lanes covered
in wild owers and mostly marked Unsuitable
for Motor Vehicles.
33
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Bare legs and picnic baskets
Excited as she is by her rst outing to Royal Ascot, Eve Jones nds the dress code
daunting, yearning for the simplicity of point-to-point attire and etiquette
R
ECENTLY, while pondering whether
there was anyone, ever, who had
looked as pale as me while still actually
being alive, an email popped up on my screen.
It was from a friend who hosts a very smart
car-park party on Royal Ascot Friday. As she is
about to pop twins out, she was offering up her
guest passes for the day. Hoorah! I could prac-
tically smell the summer: picnics, polo, barbe-
cues in the sun ready to ditch the vampiric
look and dress in real girls clothes. Bugger!
What was I going to wear?
Apparently, theres some pretty decent
racing at Royal Ascot but, as Ive never been, to
me, it looks more about posh frocks and buck-
ets of fizz. On the one hand, this is excellent
because sloshing back gallons of champagne
in the sunshine is one of my favourite pas-
times. What seems just a little tiresome is all
that competitive frockery, especially as my
wardrobe has often been described as unpre-
dictable and interesting.
Its website says Royal Ascot is synonymous
with sartorial elegance, a notion sculpted by a
baffling amount of rules on hat size, hem
length and strap widths, enclosure dependent.
Googling last years meet Im amazed some of
the designer-clad waifs gliding around the
Royal Enclosure didnt take off. There was one
bunch of girls in the premier stands whod bal-
anced a bumper box of giant Quality Streets on
their heads. Very funny but a bugger if you
were standing behind them, Id say.
Things do look simpler for chaps, though
even top hats can be problematic. A friend
dragged himself back to London one year for a
supposedly absorbent post-racing pub
supper but ended up instead at The 151 Club
with the similarly well-oiled Ascot overspill.
All ne until the end of the night when a ght
broke out over whose top hat was whose of the
several lost to the dance oor.
Beyond the millinery mineeld Ascot poses
further conundrums, such as competitive car
parks. Where else could the position of ones
grandfathers gazebo or, for that matter, the
quality of his quiche be a genuine social
barometer? But the atmosphere, no doubt, is
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
electrifying. Royal pageantry, millions of
pounds exchanging hands and legends being
made, quite different from the rst Ascot race,
Her Majestys Plate in 1711, when seven English
hunters, each carrying 12 stone, ran. It was
more akin to a P2P eld than todays at races.
Now a P2P is far simpler to negotiate. Park
car, whip out picnic hamper, locate beer tent,
loos and other tasty picnics to scoff, done. Car-
parking spaces are on a first-come-first-
served basis and the dress code is, essentially,
mud. Even if the rest of the country is basking
in early June sunshine, no matter which
course you are at you will need a thermal vest,
T-shirt, wool jumper, eece waistcoat, tweed
coat, scarf and decent swathe of fur to stop the
wind actually freezing your internal organs.
There is an exceptionally good dog turnout
at a P2P. While breeds and practicality vary
silliness is usually proportional to distance
from London. This year the Beaufort offered
some excellent dog outfits it seems that,
for the canine Glossy Posse, this xture is as
Theres a lot to be said
for an event that requires
a pork pie, a Barbour
and thermal undies
www.theeld.co.uk
YOUNGER IN THE FIELD
sartorially relevant as Royal Ascot. Fair Isle
knits, tartan cashmere jumpers, Christmas
puddings, Newmarket rugs and smart oilskin
jackets. Paws remained bare, a gap in the
market, perhaps?
As an unapologetic grazer and lover of all
things carb-based, picnics are my thing.
Baskets stuffed with vast, communal reserves
of soups, sandwiches, sausages, Scotch eggs,
quiches and cakes, washed down with a few
bottles of wine bliss! Theres usually a dusty
and potent range of vintage home brews that
appear, too. Sloe gin, damson brandy or rasp-
berry vodka all get enthusiastically disposed
of. I like to potter around sampling the best
car-boot offerings, inevitably eating an addi-
tional 10 sarnies, 173 honey-coated sausages
and an entire Victoria sponge en route.
P2P betting is so fun because no matter how
professional the rides, its quite possible that
youve actually seen a pointer out with the
hunt or it belongs to your neighbour. Theres a
personal, old-fashioned and friendly charm to
it. You could well bet on the horse with the
daftest name or the best-arsed jockey and still
win, because even the favourite could be dis-
tracted by a low-ying buzzard and veer off
course mid-race.
Post P2P pub sessions are a hoot as well,
cramming into semi-familiar snugs with the
odd semi-familiar snog. There was one year
that a gang of us rolled from the beer tent to a
local curry house pre-young farmers party.
The service took so long and the food was so
cold we tried to do a runner via the re escape.
Alas, eight people and two dogs sardined in a
Discovery doing a 15-point turn in the car park
was less than subtle. It was such an pitiful
attempt to escape that the proprietor let us off.
As I remember, I made an equally disastrous
pass at a young MFH that night. Im not sure
which was more excruciating.
So, on reection, while I do prefer not to be
anaemic in pallor and will be fully frocked up
with champagne in hand should we get a rare
sunny day this summer, theres a lot to be said
for the simplicity of an event that requires just
a pork pie, a Barbour and thermal undies.
35
 T
HERE was a time when gun
engraving was taken no more
seriously then basket weaving or
cottage thatching by those who
separate craft from art. Todays
work, however, rivals Lorenzo Ghibertis bas-
relief carving on the baptistery doors in
Florence. To the consternation of some, gun
engraving is no longer secondary or subservi-
ent to the rearms it is intended to enhance.
British engravings epic journey has led
from nave gamebirds scratched on Manton
fowlers through Purdeys workmanlike rose
and scroll to todays high-art guns. Modern-
ism seems to have started when James Purdey
the Younger commissioned a French engraver
and Commune exile named Magloire Aristide
Barr to carve a rearm for the teenage King of
Siam. According to official historian David
Maynard, Barr is the only engraver men-
tioned in the Purdey dimension books until
recent times.
Two of Barrs Purdey masterpieces are
preserved in the Royal collection at Sandring-
ham as part of the Keene Bequest. In his book,
The Royal Gunroom at Sandringham, David
Baker describes one of the guns: Here we have
a riot of mythical beasts entwined with foliage
and, on the top strap, an urn and mask.
Barrs work graced a brace of 20-bores for
the Paris Exhibition of 1878, showing artistic
taste, according to Her Majestys commis-
sioners report. As well as exhibition guns,
Barr was clearly the go to engraver when-
ever Purdey required extra nish for the great
and the good; he sculpted royal presentation
firearms for the Shah of Persia in 1892 and
King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1909.
Barr died on 21 May 1915, having engraved
a couple of guns for the aforementioned Rama
V, the King of Siam. When a third gun was
commissioned, it fell to a general engraver in
Soho named Harry Kell to work in the
Frenchmans oeuvre. Kell trained with his
father, Henry John Kell, to engrave jewellery,
silverware and watches but as demand for
English guns grew through the late 19th cen-
tury and into the 20th century it is likely that
certain engraving workshops turned to gun
engraving as a specialty simply because the
volume of business presented to them in terms
of daily orders from the gunmakers made it an
economic possibility. So said Christopher
Austyn in his seminal volume, Gun Engraving.
It was Kells fortune to have broad experi-
ence at the dawning of the heyday of the shot-
gun but it was his great skill that allowed him
to fuse realistic gamebirds with Barrs deep
scroll. Because he adapted Barrs style and
mentored a new, younger generation of gun
engravers such as Geoffrey Casbard and Ken
36
Hunt, auctioneer Austyn has dubbed Kell
The Great Connector.
Barr begat Kell and Kell begat Hunt; but it
was Ken Hunt, whose son and daughter both
became engravers, who was the game changer.
Ken was a pioneer of modern-day gun
engraving and made big leaps in turning the
craft into a true art form. Kens style of engrav-
ing pushed the boundaries of gun engraving
and his work featured on some of Holland &
Hollands Products of Excellence and other
ne sporting guns. His work was, and still is,
much sought after and he paved the way for
engravers to make a real name for themselves.
He will be remembered as one of the highest
regarded British engravers whose work
inspired a whole generation of craftsmen and
women, says Daryl Greatrex, managing
director at Holland & Holland.
Ken led the way for many years in this
country and no doubt was responsible for cre-
ating a demand for art engraving no other
engraver could produce the variety and qual-
ity required for these special guns. Our devel-
opment was partly due to the demand for
collectable guns that he created, says Alan
Brown, who, together with his brother, Paul,
represents English engravings greatest frater-
nity. In 1977, the brothers pooled their life sav-
ings and borrowed in order to purchase a
Purdey on which to demonstrate their embel-
lishment skills. After a further two years and
much gold inlay, they created a presentation
piece and, in the process, elevated gun engrav-
ing to heights not seen in England since the
Prince of Wales acquired a Piraube intlock in
1805. Trips to the Wallace Collection fired
their enthusiasm for the luxuriant, eccentric
rococo scroll seen on Johann Christoph
Stockmars intlocks and the lavish Empire
style on Nicolas-Nol Boutets firearms.
Employing the ethos of artisanal production of
an earlier age, the Browns produced modern
updates representing both styles. Later, they
developed two techniques of their own: pre-
cious metal inlay, which is unprecedented in
its artistry; and carving executed in high relief,
which manages to be both minute in scale and
monumental in impression.
The Browns are self taught but Welshman
Phil Coggan took a different approach: he trav-
elled to Italy for a fortnight of tuition. I met
Cesare Giovanelli at the Game Fair in London
in 1983. He invited me to his school, which I
visited in 1984. Coggan, of course, had more
inuences than just Giovanelli. Youre right.
Ken Hunt had an inuence on me because he
pioneered a lot of what you see today on
Right: Westley Richards exhibition grade guns
and ries engraved by Paul Lantuch
www.theeld.co.uk
 Beasts on
the beauties
From crude etchings to extravagant fantasy scenes, gun engraving
has become an artform in its own right, as Douglas Tate explains

www.theeld.co.uk 37
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 Above: dragons on a Purdey, by the Brown
brothers. Below: Ken Hunts quail for H&H
guns. Ken is a true master, he is the engravers
engraver. Also Alan Browns work, so ne and
clean, especially his carving.
Coggan is clearly at home with the photo-
realistic technique of the Italian school but
just as comfortable with Victorian scrolled
vignettes. Phil is notable for engravings
that combine extraordinary deep relief or
carved work with equally extraordinary
38
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
design composition, explained one of
his clients. His compositions include
distinctive and very well laid out
scroll patterns combined with a note-
worthy broad flexibility in vignette
subjects, styles and execution.
Coggans legacy can be seen on the
gun engraved with a dog (see page 40).
The owner was going to shoot it on his
plantation but after seeing it, decided not to
and now has it on show in his ofce, accord-
ing to the engraver. Recently, Coggan was
asked by his peers what made him most
proud. Watching my two boys grow up; I
think most of you know what Simon does.
Simon Coggan may be his fathers ultimate
legacy to the world of ne gun engraving. He
has already established a reputation at Purdey
and H&H, where he has engraved for the
likes of guitarist Eric Clapton.
Purdey and H&H are, historically,
Englands most signicant makers of exhi-
bition rearms but in recent years Westley
Richards has become the nations foremost
engraving shop. Beginning in 1984 with the
www.theeld.co.uk
Boutet Gun, a commission faultlessly exe-
BROWN BROTHERS
cuted by the then mostly unknown Brown
brothers, says Westleys managing director,
Simon Clode, the rm has revealed fresh talent
with unprecedented regularity. Rashid el
Hadi, Peter Spode, Vince Crowley, Shaun
Banks, Frdrique Lpinois and, most
recently, Paul Lantuch have all impressed with
the originality of their execution.
Paulius Lucas Lantuch was born in
Lithuania but moved to the USA when he was
33. All my family, my late parents, my wife
and my daughter were in arts. However, no
family member has been engaged in gun
engraving. For me, it is one of many
Bradley Talletts fantasy engraving
on a Texas quail .410 Purdey
Team work: this Purdey game gun was
engraved by David Tallett and sons
Bradley and Wesley

www.theeld.co.uk 39
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 branches of artistic expression mastered in
many years.
Clode met Lantuch at the American
Custom Gunmakers Guild exhibition in
Reno about five years ago. Trigger
[Anthony Alborough-Tregear, Westleys
gun-room manager] saw the work of Paul
Lantuch on a custom bolt rie and brought
it to my attention. On our return to
England I immediately got in touch with
Paul and discussed with him the possibil-
ity of sending some work to him to
engrave. At the time, I had nothing con-
crete in mind but there was no doubt that
something very special could be achieved
by our working together with Paul. As an
introduction, Paul sent me a body of his
work on a DVD. This contained a cross-
section of his lifes work and achieve-
ments, engravings, designs, drawings,
paintings and jewellery.
One pair Lantuch engraved for
Westleys was in the grotesque manner,
an extravagant style of ancient Roman
decorative art rediscovered by Raphael
and his peers during the Renaissance. The
grotesque has been a source of inspiration
among gun engravers since Barrs riot of
mythical beasts entwined with foliage but in
recent years it has been in danger of being sup-
planted by fantasy engraving.
Fantasy engraving features multiple
images in varying scales interwoven to create
a collage intended to resemble a dreamscape.
While inextricably linked to Italy, it is today
making its way onto British guns and inu-
encing the younger generation of native
embellishers. Fantasy has a British advocate
Phil Coggans work for H&H (left) and Purdey
(below) the owner has it on his ofce wall
40 www.theeld.co.uk
in Bradley Tallett, though he has anglicised it
somewhat by incorporating his own large
English scroll. The Tallett family of gun
engravers is headed by father David, who
turned his avocation into a vocation when he
showed some of his work to Nigel Beaumont at
Purdey. Subsequently, his eldest son, Bradley,
began an apprenticeship with Purdey in
September 1991 and at the same time attended
the Sir John Cass School of Art. Younger
brother Wesley began engraving in 1996 after
completing a course in art and design before
entering a training programme with H&H.
Sometimes Bradley works alone, as on a
Texas quail .410 Purdey (see page 38), but at
other times he jams with his brother and
father. One of their most important commis-
sions was the Purdey bicentennial gun in the
style of Harry Kell (see page 39). The engraving
circa 1930 is a standard fine rose and scroll
with game scenes and carved detonators.
The idea was not to modernise the engraving
or necessarily reproduce a carbon copy,
although we did stay true to the layout, but
to produce a likeness with that same feel. My
father, David, engraved the scroll work as this
is his main area of expertise, he does it day
in day out and you need that to do good, stand-
ard ne; it has a real rhythm to it. I engraved
the game scenes and my brother, Wesley,
carved the detonators. It was nice to have all
three of us engrave it.
In the past, engraving tended to conform to
a narrow gauge of expectations created by
individuals. Now, its a family affair and any-
thing goes. Just look at the work featured here,
which demonstrates our obsessive need to
adorn and embellish, to turn practical objects,
even deadly ones, into things of beauty.
Douglas Tate is the author of British Gun
Engraving published in 2000 by Safari Press.
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 MARY EVANS

42 www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 E J Churchill
celebrates 125 years
From its inception in 1891, resurrection in 1997 and success today,
Douglas Tate traces the history of one of Britains most innovative gunmakers
S
CRATCH a gunmaker, especially a
builder of best guns, and, more
often than not, you will nd a wing-
shooting whiz. Just as carmakers
compete on the racing circuit to
promote road vehicles, gunmakers such as
Edwin John Churchill competed on the live
pigeon circuit to sell game guns. Robert
Churchill, his nephew, whose 25in barrels
vaulted the firm to fame, understood that a
good show at clays could boost sales. And now
Sir Edward Dashwood, current owner of EJ
Churchill and never out of this magazines Top
Shots list, offers best guns at what is perhaps
Britains nest shooting ground.
Ould Ted could lock, stock and barrel a
London-best gun. He was also a brilliant shot.
Not at game. His sport was knocking down live
pigeons released from traps, wrote
Macdonald Hastings in 1963. Churchills gun-
makers was founded on it.
Edwin John (Ted) Churchill was born in
Dorchester, Dorset, in 1856, the year the Treaty
of Paris ended the Crimean War. He served a
seven-year apprenticeship with the towns
gunmaker, Charles Jeffery, before travelling up
to London to work for FT Baker. Churchill
lived in Nunhead, where he hung about the
South London Shooting Grounds that boasted
an unlimited supply of blue rocks, starlings
and sparrows kept on the premises.
Ted gained a reputation in London as a
first-class pigeon shot. Although heavily
handicapped, Ted won many prizes in cash
and kind and established contacts with other
famous and inuential live-pigeon shooters,
according to Don Masters, writing in The House
of Churchill. Around 1891 he struck out on his
own with premises at 8 Agar Street, Strand.
Top: an EJ Churchill Crown sideplate
Left: Robert Churchill, aided by loader
Norman Clarke, demonstrating a pair of guns
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
Two years later, he opened a shooting ground
at Eltham in the Borough of Greenwich. With
the help of rich pigeon shots, Churchill gun-
makers grew swiftly and when, in 1900, the
Sporting Gun Review published an analysis of
the cash prizes won in the pigeon ring,
Churchill topped the list.
While this dubious pastime had its limits,
fortunately many of Ould Teds clients had
broader interests and having been helped in
the pigeon ring turned to him for advice with
game. Within a decade, he was building as
many game guns as pigeon guns and the expe-
rience of building one informed the other. Or,
as Lord Walsingham recognised, there can be
no doubt that the practical proofs supplied by
pigeon-shooting have been of great service to
the science of modern gunnery.
Many of Churchills American clients were
bon vivants, who steamed the North Atlantic
each season for the tir aux pigeons at Monte
Carlo and the casinos of the Cte dAzur. Some
returned to their bobwhite plantations kitted
out with short-barrelled Churchill quail guns.
Of great significance in the history of
Churchills is the fact that in 1906 Clarence H
Mackay ordered a pair of very best 12-bore,
26in-barrelled guns, hammerless with ejec-
tors, for quail-shooting, wrote Don Masters.
When Ted died in 1910, his local Dorchester
paper bragged that he was almost as famous as
a shot as he was a gunmaker. From the
outset, the Dorset man made no attempt to
pull the wool over anyones eyes as regards the
source of his guns: outworkers were employed
extensively. Tradesmen from Birmingham
and London built Churchill guns, a tradition
continued by Teds nephew, Robert Churchill.
From early childhood there was gun oil in
his blood, gushed Macdonald Hastings of
Young Bob. With a fresh proprietor came a
fresh perspective: pigeons were tossed and
game embraced; out went 8lb, 32in-barrelled
www.theeld.co.uk
behemoths and in came 5lb, 25in-barrelled
wands. Given the trademark name XXVs,
they would prove controversial from the start.
Churchill argued that longer barrels
became obsolete with the development of
rapid-burning nitro powders. He rigorously
promoted his XXVs as a revolutionary devel-
opment better balanced, far less tiring to use
and carry, more comfortable to handle and
quicker to shoot. For those who complained
about stubby barrels, he designed a narrow
tapering Churchill Rib, creating the illusion
of length. He cleverly pitched his radical
departure to average or poor shots with
higher aspirations.
Churchill offered a range of guns suitable to
every pocket. Just before the lights went out in
Europe in 1914, he unveiled a catalogue that
would, for the first time, feature Churchill
models with names. His best gun was the
Premier sidelock at 60 guineas followed by the
Hercules, an Anson & Deeley (A&D) boxlock,
at 50gn. His second-division efforts were the
Field sidelock at 40gn and the Utility A&D at
30gn plus the Prodigy A&D at 25gn. A
hammer pigeon gun with a Jones rotary
underlever called the Monte Carlo appeared as
a vestigial nod to his uncles world.
In 1925 he published How to Shoot, touting
the benets of the XXV in tandem with a tech-
nique based on instinctive shooting. It sold
splendidly but not everyone was thrilled. In
the 22 October 1925 issue of The Field, a review,
which while broadly favourable, offered this
passage: The statement that the velocity of the
charge is not affected by reducing the barrels
from 30in to 25in is absurd. The author was
almost certainly Major Gerald Burrard.
However, writing 41 years later in the 22
December 1966 issue of Shooting Times and
Country Magazine, Gough Thomas had this to
say: A rigorous course of practical experi-
ments showed beyond doubt that,
43

although the shorter-barrelled gun has a
slightly lower velocity counterpart, the differ-
ence was not of any practical signicance.
That battle decided the campaign, which,
despite being long, hard and rancourous, did
provide Bob Churchill with a windfall of pub-
licity. By the late 1920s he could barely keep
step with demand, employing a diverse range
of outworkers and trade gunmakers in
Birmingham and London to keep up.
During 1929 Churchill opened a new shoot-
ing ground at Crayford in Kent. Like his uncle,
he understood his reputation as a shot and
ability as a gun fitter would be a draw. Con-
verts to Churchills XXV concept included the
Prince of Wales, the man who would briey be
King Edward VIII. In 1931 he ordered a pair of
best Premier Quality sidelocks. The following
year, HRH sold Churchill his 16-bore, 30in-
barrelled Purdey for 150. Later, he would
order a second pair of XXVs in 20-bore.
44
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JAMES D. JULIA AUCTIONEERS, FAIRFIELD, MAINE, USA, WWW.JAMESDJULIA.COM
Above: the Premier Quality sidelocks made for
the future King Edward VIII, against the news
of his abdication, were scroll engraved (right)
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF JAMES D. JULIA AUCTIONEERS, FAIRFIELD, MAINE, USA, WWW.JAMESDJULIA.COM
Following the Royal Warrant, Churchills
stubbies became wildly popular and even
his London competitors acknowledged his
success by introducing lightweight, short-
barrelled guns of their own. Today, short
guns are no longer the fashion, finding
favour only with American quail hunters
and older gentleman of smaller stature. Its
worth noting that neither Robert Churchill
nor the Duke of Windsor were tall.
In 1955, Churchill rewrote his tutorial as
Game Shooting, offering it as the standard
text book on the successful use of the shot-
gun; it ran to five editions. When he died
three years later, Macdonald Hastings pro-
nounced him the greatest shooting instruc-
tor of his day. Shooting lost much of its
www.theeld.co.uk
 lustre around the time of Churchills death.
His company and the British gun trade gener-
ally fell into decline. Unfortunately, the
Churchill rm, the fame of which was based
on shooters, did less well than those more
famous London rms that had a higher per-
centage of collectors amongst their clientele.
In the years that followed, Churchill went
through a series of sales and mergers and
never received the capital investment needed.
In 1981, the remaining stock was auctioned in
Dallas, Texas, by Christies.
Churchills return was announced in 1997,
when new owner Sir Edward Dashwood
issued a statement saying he was looking for-
ward to restoring the business to its former
glory. Since then, Churchill has regained its
place amongst London gunmakers using a
strategy that would be familiar to the founder
or his nephew. They are led by Dashwood, a
Left: the Royal Warrant, received in 1933.
Below: a pair of 12-bore, 25in-barrelled XXVs
HOLTS AUCTIONEERS
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THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
wing-shooting wonder, and are based at West
Wycombe Shooting Ground; at 35 acres, per-
haps the largest ground in the country.
I asked managing director Rob Fenwick
about it. Its nice to be able to teach people to
shoot, kit them out in the shop, get them tted
out with a gun or two and then take them
game-shooting and see them grow to love the
sport and, in some cases, get totally addicted,
he explained. I have been lucky enough to see
the shooting ground and sport in general grow
over my 16 years here.
Shooting in the UK is now so popular. We
are hosting the World English Sporting
Championships this year for the second time.
The whole competition was sold out by mid
February, just two months after entries went
live, and every side event is sold out as well,
almost four months before the event even hap-
pens. It is a great honour to run these World
events. We love to show what the UK can do
and until the one we did in 2014, everyone
used to say that the USA was better at putting
them on. I like to think now we
45
46 www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 Left: owner Sir Edward Dashwood at the
companys West Wycombe Shooting Ground
can show that the UK can lead the way and we
are planning for this years event to be bigger
and better than ever, so watch out USA.
We cant deny that the shooting ground is
the hub of the business, it is where all the
ofces are and a lot of our activity and relation-
ships with clients start from here. It is now a
huge operation, one of the biggest in the UK
with some 50,000 people a year coming
through the doors. We like to think of it as a
one-stop shop for any shooter, be it for clay or
game. We sell guns by Beretta, Blaser,
Browning, AYA and other makes, as well as
our complete range of E J Churchill guns.
The guns side of the business is our herit-
age. We are immensely proud of this as Sir
Edward and I are so passionate about shoot-
ing. We love working on new models of guns
and developing this whole area and we are
lucky to have a brilliant team on board who are
equally as passionate as us. In fact, sometimes
it is them pushing us.
Just as Ould Ted and Young Bob employed
outworkers, the current Churchill outt does
the same. Not from Birmingham or London
but from Europe. We took a very different
direction about seven years ago with our
guns, said Fenwick. English guns were get-
ting harder and harder to make. Finding good,
reliable craftsmen was not easy and the
market that we were targeting was very small.
We decided to put more effort into finding
good partners from abroad and use our skills
to work with them to make lovely guns at less
cost. The concept was simple: to produce a
very reliable gun that could be made to meas-
ure for the client within six to nine months and
be good value for money (between 7,000 and
15,000, including VAT). We went to Spain to
produce our side-by-sides [the Hercules,
Regal and Crown models] and Italy to produce
our over-and-unders but with the backup of
our name, experience and gun-tting exper-
tise. This was a huge success. We used trusted
and famous gunmakers who we knew made
brilliant guns already. We just spent time on
the guns to make the balance, handling and t
perfect for the English market. We helped
design the guns to our specication and when
they arrive here in the UK they go into our
workshops and we strip them down, check
everything over, tidy up any areas that we
think need it and treat all the wood with a
stunning London oil English nish. The result
is stunning guns that are affordable, made to
measure and very reliable.
BOB ATKINS
We were criticised for doing this at the
time, and some suggested we might diminish
www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
the English name/brand, but we were the rst
to do this and since then Purdey, William
Evans, William Powell and many other gun-
makers have all gone down exactly this route.
We still make a few very special English guns
for clients. Our main focus is to make guns that
are more affordable, using our combined
knowledge of shooting and the price many
people can afford.
For traditionalists, Churchill offers a range
of three affordable side-by-side game guns, the
Crown, Regal and Hercules, all made by
Arrieta in the old gunmaking centre of Eibar,
Spain. Its over-and-under selection includes
the Coronet by Zoli and the Crown from
Perazzi, from the Val Trompia in Italy, while
the Regal and Hercules over-and-unders are
made in St Etienne, France, by Demas, a bou-
tique subsidiary of Verney Carron.
In an effort to hit every price point, it
appears that cooperation is superior to compe-
tition for EJ Churchill. Speaking of its
Continental models, Fenwick said, They are
engraved and finished by hand. We did not
want to just rebrand another gun that is
simply already in production, we want it to
look and feel like a special EJ Churchill gun
and use all the experience that we have to
make it this way. Both Sir Edward Dashwood
and I are passionate shots, so we really under-
stand how we want a gun to handle and shoot
and we are very pleased with what we have
achieved. E J Churchill guns are synonymous
with great handling, style and for being a
superb English gun manufacture. The addi-
tion of these guns ts perfectly with our cur-
rent handmade English Imperials and
Premiers (our current flagship sidelock
models) and we now have a range of guns to
suit all shooters with all budgets. Something
none of our English competitors can offer.
As for the future, I think it is looking good
for our industry. In the UK we have some great
operators. For EJ Churchill, I want to make
sure it leads the way with new and innovative
ideas and to retain our reputation as a quality
establishment with passionate people who can
give expert advice in a friendly way. This was
very much the ethos of Robert Churchill and I
like to think he would be proud to see us
develop Churchills as a centre of excellence
accessible to all shooters.
Sir Edward Dashwood has said, I feel very
fortunate to have been able to resurrect the
gunmaking name of EJ Churchill. Twenty
years later its status as the home of shooting in
the United Kingdom is now secure and we
have the honour of hosting two world champi-
onships in 2016. Few ever monetise a talent
for shooting but three generations of EJ
Churchill owners have.
47
 


  


 
  
  
   
  

  

    
 
 


   
 


 

 


  

  
      
 
   
   
A
LARMINGLY, 23 June could
have a greater impact on our
country than any other day in
our lives. The huge implica-
tions of the EU Referendum for
sovereignty, free trade and the movement of
people are all being loudly debated but farm-
ing and environmental issues have been less
prominent, while questions specic to the lei-
sure pursuits of Field readers have barely fea-
tured at all. So how should we vote?
This magazine does not make voting recom-
mendations but the Editor has asked me to
share with you the ins and outs of matters that
may be important to you but which are not
being discussed elsewhere. There are quite a
few but let me start with some generalities.
Arguments have raged about the percent-
age of UK legislation that is determined by
Europe. The inners have said its as little as
20%, the outers as much as 80%. The huge
difference is largely down to whether or not
you take secondary legislation into the calcula-
tion. A great many EU Regulations and
Directives are implemented here via Statutory
Instruments and if you include those and
why would you not? the true gure is a little
above the mid-point. The key thing, however, is
that whatever the exact overall percentage, it is
certainly much higher when we look just at
environmental and agricultural laws.
Agri-environmental issues are at the heart
of the European project and the frameworks
for our farming and shing industries are in
large measure dictated by the Common Agri-
cultural Policy (CAP) and Common Fisheries
Policy (CFP). Pesticides and, increasingly, the
use of veterinary medicines in livestock are
regulated to a binding European agenda, while
environmental decision-making here is heav-
ily constrained by two EU directives in par-
ticular, both with wide scope: the Birds
Directive of 1979 and the Flora, Fauna and
Habitats Directive of 1992.
As a result, few pieces of UK legislation
about farming or the environment are without
an EU dimension. Most take the form of the
UK having to work out how to implement
in full decisions taken by the EU. Wildlife
licensing is a good example, the hands of UK A similar European competency exists over The international aspects of crime and ter-
ministers being tied by the directives men- most other toxic substances and this provides rorism have long ensured that rearms legis-
tioned above and past deliberations of a potential mechanism to outlaw lead, not just lation is a matter for the EU. Yes, we have our
the European Court of Justice. The UK view in ammunition but as a hazardous substance own Firearms Act here and have done since
barely signies. wherever it is used. Active discussions are 1968 but the only reason that has not been
Other examples include gamekeepers and underway in Europe on this as I write and affected much by Europe thus far is that it was
stalkers having to be trained in accordance they are unconnected with the UK Govern- much stricter than the gun laws of other EU
with the EU Game Meat Hygiene Regulations ments response to our own Lead Ammunition countries. Now, we face a proposed EU Fire-
2006 and, more recently, to continue to use Groups report. Whatever the result, the wider arms Directive, rushed out in the days after the
professional only rat poisons. The latter EU perspective will ultimately determine the Paris attacks, that would, if it came into force
arose from the EU Biocidal Products Regu- future of lead in UK ammunition and there are as written, have a material effect on the owner-
lation, which is directly binding on the UK. several member states that already have bans. ship and use of some guns here, particularly

50 www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE

Making your
mind up
The EU Referendum could have far-reaching consequences
for country sports. Charles Nodder highlights the issues
semi-automatic shotguns and ries. These are
important, especially in pest control.
Is this dominance of EU rule when it comes
to agriculture, the environment and country-
side activities a good thing or a bad thing? Its a
simple question with no simple answer. In
some ways it makes sense to legislate for the
environment, say, on as wide a basis as possi-
ble. There is not much point in restricting
carbon emissions, controlling bird u, eradi-
cating non-native species or protecting migra-
ALAMY
tory birds in one small country if they are
unregulated next door. Agricultural markets
are world markets these days, too, and there
are many who argue that the CAP and CFP
have been essential to post-war recovery of
food production throughout Europe.
There are just as many farmers and
commercial shermen, how-
ever, who are driven to
distraction by the red
tape and wasteful
regulation they expe-
rience day to day as a
www.theeld.co.uk
result of these pan-European agreements. The
support for remaining in the EU prevalent
among individual farmers in Britain, and thus
their representative bodies, is based not on
enthusiasm for the CAPs complexities but
rather on a fear that EU subsidies might fall
were we to vote leave. It is, indeed, hard to
imagine an independent UK Government
being as generous to our domestic food pro-
ducers as the EU, which currently provides
them with 3 billion a year, about half the total
amount we send to Europe in the rst place.
It does not help that on such key issues for
the countryside, the ministers responsible are
split. Liz Truss, Secretary of State for Defra,
says, Inside a reformed European Union our
The wider EU
perspective will
determine the future of
lead in ammunition
farmers get the best of both worlds not only
do they have access to a tariff-free market of
500 million consumers but they also benet
from the collective effort of Europe to make the
industry more competitive on the world stage
and better able to manage price volatility.
Her junior minister with specic responsi-
bility for farming, George Eustice MP, says, I
wanted to stay part of the Single Market, while
returning to national control fundamental
powers over issues such as justice, home
affairs, farming and the environment.
However, it was not to be. The sorts of changes
I wanted to see were deemed not negotiable
by diplomats before the process even started.
Therefore, with some reluctance, I have come
to the conclusion that the only way to deliver
the changes I want to see is to vote leave.
UK energy policy is partly derived from the
EU target for renewable technologies and
partly from domestic decision-making on how
to reach it. Personally, I have a problem with
windmills and solar farms; I cannot decide
which I loathe more but as with woodland
How will you vote (left)? Several EU states
already ban the use of lead shot (below)
51
ALAMY
Peculiarly British sports and management
(clockwise): red grouse-shooting; chalkstream
y-shing; snaring foxes; and burning heather
planting, crop choice and livestock systems,
such landscape impacts can often have a
European dimension. The physical natures
and cultural histories of individual EU nations
vary widely and it seems a shame to homoge-
nise their distinctiveness in a straitjacket of
pan-European policy-making.
There is, however, logic for adopting a
European perspective when legislating for
absolutes. If a particular pesticide or veteri-
nary medicine is deemed by scientists too
dangerous for general use, then perhaps it is
right to ban such things on a continental, if not
a global scale. Similarly, when travel and trans-
port come into play, maybe an EU basis is the
right one. The European Firearms Pass, which
allows sportsmen to take their rearms with
them throughout the EU unencumbered, is
undoubtedly an improvement on the shower
of paperwork that used to be required.
Remember, too, that those who hunt and
shoot are in a minority here, while in other EU
countries the culture of hunting is much
stronger, sometimes even with state support.
Collectively, there are seven million hunters
in Europe, a considerable lobby and one well-
coordinated by the long-standing hobby-lob-
byists at FACE, the Brussels-based Federation
of EU Hunting Associations, to which all the
UKs sporting organisations subscribe.
Numbers usually mean safety and the
seven million have prevailed in the past when
opposing amendments to EU hunting laws.
Dont rely on them, however, to defend the
quarry list here. The Birds and Habitats
Directives are formulated such that protection
levels depend, almost entirely, on what
52
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
scientists say about each species conservation just go with their gut feeling. Each and every
status. It only remains within the rights of approach is valid, as far as I can see. Overall,
member states to impose added protection the country will get the result it deserves.
beyond the minima required by the directives. The Field is not going to tell you how to vote.
In many ways, of course, sport in the UK is There will be pros and cons to either result as
very different from sport in the rest of the EU. far as our interests are concerned. The one
The red grouse is unique to our hills; grouse- thing we will ask you to do, please, is get to the
shooting likewise. Lowland game is driven in a polls and cast your vote. A close result either
manner almost unseen elsewhere. Chalk- way on a low turnout would be a huge prob-
stream y-shing is peculiarly British. Such lem for the UK and given that this extraordi-
delights will always be popular and it is prob- nary ballot is going to affect us all for years to
ably safe to assume that international sports- come, the least we should do is take part.
men will continue to visit us to enjoy them. Charles Nodder is the political advisor to the
Sporting assets should hold their value as a National Gamekeepers Organisation.
result. But the implications for sport of a fur-
ther boost for Scottish independence on the
back of a split EU vote are rightly causing great
concern north of the Border.
Wildlife-management techniques can be
similarly unique to the UK. The fox snare, for
example, is now a sophisticated and widely
used device here but banned in most EU coun-
tries. Heather moorland is unusually British,
with European environmentalists nding it
hard to understand why, every few years, we
MIKE SHORT, GWCT
want to set re to it. These differences do add
vulnerability when we are trying to defend
such practices on an EU stage. European
hunters who neither use snares nor burn
heather are unlikely to help us lobby for the
retention of such things.
When it comes to deciding which way to
vote, how should we weigh such parochial,
even personal, concerns alongside macro-
economic questions and issues such as sover-
eignty? A sea-angler told me that he was going
to vote leave purely on the basis that the EU
was no longer allowing him to keep rod-
caught bass. Others will no doubt take a
broader view. A few will crunch the numbers
MOORLAND ASSOCIATION
and do the nancial calculations; others will
www.theeld.co.uk
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54 www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 Apethorpe
back in the hunt
For the rst time in a century, hounds were seen on the lawns of this
former royal residence in Northamptonshire. Octavia Pollock reports
O
N the lawns below the dove-
cote, the royal huntsmen
waited. On the signal, they
released a stag and set the
hounds in pursuit. Running
east past the long faade of Apethorpe Palace,
the stag plunged through deep forest, turning
south to cross an open ride and disappearing
again into the woods, emerging on the shores
of a lake. Meeting his end at last, the body was
brought below the windows to the sound of
trumpets as libations were poured to celebrate
his last noble chase.
From a rooftop walkway, James I of
England watched the hunt, courtiers assisting
him as he struggled on gout-stricken legs. The
leads had been specially constructed to allow
him to watch the ceremonial chase of the
carted stag when he could no longer ride:
nothing was allowed to hinder the kings view.
He had loved this great, golden Northampton-
shire house since he was rst crowned king of
England, and his royal favour created the
spectacular apartments with ornate plaster
ceilings that make Apethorpe one of the most
important stately homes in England today.
Apethorpe Palace is an extraordinary
building, an architectural historians dream
with every period from Elizabethan to
Edwardian visible. Begun by Sir Guy Wolston
between 1470-80, it was inherited by
Elizabeth I from Henry VIII and, in 1550, was
granted to Sir Walter Mildmay, the richest civil
servant of the time. He entertained the queen
here in 1566 and rumour has it that she signed
Mary, Queen of Scots death warrant for
nearby Fotheringhay in the Tudor hall. Sir
Walters son, Sir Anthony, rst hosted James I
in 1603, presenting him with a fine Barbary
horse on his way south to mount the throne;
Sir Anthonys son-in-law, Sir Francis Fane,
was granted a licence to kill buck in the sur-
rounding royal forest of Rockingham in 1612.
TERRY HARRIS/ ALAMY
James I granted the use of timber from the
The Fitzwilliam, with huntsman George Adams,
meets at Apethorpe Palace on 16 March
www.theeld.co.uk
forest to build the third courtyard, duly added
in 1623, for the more commodious entertain-
ment of his Majesty and his company at his
repair into those parts for his princely recrea-
tion there. The king spent so much time at the
house, even conducting affairs of state from
within, that the Fanes were forced to repair
elsewhere. In recompense, Sir Francis was
granted the earldom of Westmorland in 1624.
In the Kings Bedchamber, the royal coat-of-
arms adorns the ceiling and the king himself is
commemorated as a Greek hero, complete
with incongruous moustache, on the stone
chimneypiece, with a deer-hunt charging
across the frieze below.
It was in 1614 that what was perhaps the
most memorable visit took place. Clattering
down Hunting Way from Apethorpe village to
the hall, James I and his entourage were
greeted not only by Fane but by George
Villiers, the man chosen by a scheming Court
to replace Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset and
previous royal favourite, in the kings affec-
tions. Within three months of meeting the ele-
gant, French-educated George, James had
appointed him cup bearer and, nally, in 1623,
Duke of Buckingham. At Apethorpe, their
bedchambers were linked by a secret passage-
way and letters between the two reveal their
mutual passion. There was more than one
royal chase at Apethorpe in those days.
Apethorpe remained in the Fane family
until 1904 but nancial difculties forced its
sale. Then, the Brassey family, for whom Sir
Reginald Blomeld added the high, pointed
gables on the south front, sold much of the
land and contents and, nally, the house itself
in 1948, whereupon it became a school. In 1982
it was sold again but not inhabited and began
to crumble. Aware of the buildings impor-
tance and peril, English Heritage placed
Apethorpe on the At Risk Register in 1998 and
carried out a compulsory purchase in 2004.
There was a real urgency to it, explains
Simon Thurley, head of English Heritage at the
time. It was, literally, about to fall in. After 10
years and several million pounds worth of
55
 restoration work, the search for a new owner
came to an end. Our entire strategy was based
on nding a single owner who would make it a
family home, says Dr Thurley. There were
several suitors for the hand of the maiden, so
we had a rigorous interview process. We had
to be certain of the buyers nancial status and
that they could do the work.
The man who passed the test is as passion-
ate about the chase as James I himself: Jean-
Christophe Iseux, Baron Pfetten, Master and
huntsman of his own pack in France and a
lifelong Anglophile. With his wife, Nadia, a
distinguished architect, he has already
restored Selore, his 17th-century Burgundian
chteau, and thus is under no illusions about
how much work Apethorpe will require.
Living in a cottage in the oldest courtyard,
Jean-Christophe, Nadia and their ve-year-old
daughter, Charlotte, will oversee a programme
of works that began with the demolition of the
old school buildings and will continue with
the installation of a state-of-the-art re-alarm
system. English Heritage ensured that the
principal apartments are secure but there is no
heating, electricity or furniture, and there are
many smaller rooms still to be restored.
Eventually, the state rooms themselves will be
inhabited, with a cosy kitchen on the ground
floor and a single column of bathrooms. No
plumbing will be positioned where a leak
could threaten the plaster ceilings; guests stay-
ing off the top-floor Cranborne Gallery will
surely prefer a nighttime walk rather than risk
damaging what has taken so much work to
restore. The dining-room and drawing-room
with their splendid chimneypieces will again
glitter in candlelight and heels echo on the pol-
ished wooden oorboards gifted by James I.
Oxford-educated Baron Pfetten, president
of the International Foxhound Association,
hunted with Ronnie Wallace at the Exmoor
and was the first French Joint Master of an
English pack, the New Forest, in 1992. Drafts
at his Equipage de Selore in Burgundy include
hounds from the Beaufort and Brocklesby,
and Tim Easby, director of the MFHA, judged
the Selore puppy show last summer. A Brock-
lesby draft to Selore, Colonel 09, won the
championship at the World Dog Show in Paris
in 2011, a first for a foxhound and proof of
Baron Pfettens wish to raise the prole of the
foxhound breed. There is a pleasing symmetry
in the union of Selore and Apethorpe: the pack
of Gascon hounds hunted by James I was a gift
from Henry IV of France and later given to the

Clockwise from left: Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland,

TERRY HARRIS / ALAMY

Master of the Fitzwilliam; Baron Pfetten with

Prince Georg-Constantin von Sachsen-Weimar-
Eisenach; James Is rooftop walkway

56 www.theeld.co.uk
English Heritage restoring the roof (top) and
ceiling in the Kings Bedchamber (below)

First Duke of Beaufort by Charles II. The blue-

mottled Gascon colouring can still be seen in
Beaufort lines today, notably in the beautiful,
keen Daylight 07, drafted to Selore and dam of
several of Jean-Christophes most prized
hounds. The pack is also the origin of the
black-and-white deerhounds hunted by the
Barons family since the 18th century.
Today, Apethorpe sits just inside the
Fitzwilliam country, not far from the border
with the Woodland Pytchley. The great forest
of Rockingham may be gone but its still prime
country, with the big Leicestershire packs only

The White Hall, now

in disrepair, is destined
to be an international
museum of hunting
a short drive to the north. The Baron prefers to
hunt his own hounds for much of the season in
France, unrestricted by any ban, but visits
local packs when possible. As a Joint Master of
the Woodland Pytchley last season, he hosted
hunt members at the palace for a New Years
Eve tea and had a ne Selore stallion hound,
Chairman 13, by Colonel and out of Daylight,
put to WP Bridget. In March, 100 years after
the last lawn meet of the Fitzwilliam at
Apethorpe in 1916, Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland
brought his hounds back to the Northern
Lawn, in full view of James Is rooftop lookout.
It was a sight to remember.
But Baron Pfetten will host more than the
occasional meet. Behind the 19th-century
loggia on the south front lies the White Hall,
currently in disrepair but destined to be an
international museum of hunting. It will have
two main elements: the origins of hunting and
the English sport. Artefacts will be gathered
from every pack in the UK and the long history
of hound breeding, changes in clothing, the
development of the horn, even advances in
horse training will be examined. It will be
concerned with history and evolution, not
politics, explains Baron Pfetten.
There will also be a practical side to
Apethorpes role in the hunting world, as it
joins the group of venues used for MFHA
seminars run for new Masters. Apethorpe is
a very good t, says Lord Mancroft, chairman
of the MFHA and an old friend of the Baron
ENGLISH HERITAGE

from the New Forest. Jean-Christophe is

hugely enthusiastic and its an ideal place
for hunt training, which is so valuable now

www.theeld.co.uk 57
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 people join hunts without an old-fashioned
hunting background.
It is not only the Jacobean passion for hunt-
ing that Baron Pfetten wishes to revive, how-
ever. I believe the revival of early Stuart
England in the public mind is very important,
he says. It was a time of great prosperity, of art
and music, the union of England and Scotland,
yet is overshadowed by the Tudors before and
Charles II afterwards. In this new incarna-
tion of Apethorpe, the Long Gallery will once
more be a centre of Jacobean entertainment.
Chamber concerts Baron Pfetten wants this
to be the Glyndebourne of chamber music
will be held, beginning with the London
Philharmonic this month (14th). Court
masques, evenings of music, drama and tab-
leaux of the kind written by Ben Jonson for
James I and Charles I, have fallen out of fash-
ion but they will be revived. Apethorpe will be The chimneypiece in the Kings Bedchamber
(above) and statue of James I in the entrance
the centre of the Revival of James I, asserts the
hall (right). Below: the Elizabethan courtyard
Baron. It was a time of great cultural impor-
tance: Elizabeth I wrote in Latin but James

JOHN ROBERTSON/ ALAMY

wrote in English. The King James Bible, late
Shakespeare, Jacobean dramas, John Donne
all ourished. In time, Apethorpe Palace will
be as synonymous with the rst Stuart king as
Hampton Court is with Henry VIII.
It is testament to the Barons energy that he
has stirred up the hunting, country-house and
heritage establishments in support of his
plans. The 16th Earl of Westmorland is
delighted to see the house his family was
forced to sell in 1904 being revived. I cant tell
you how gloomy it was to see it with the roof
fallen in, he says. Ive watched it crumbling
over the past 40 years and it is fantastic to see
it revived. English Heritage did an amazing
job and they were very lucky to find Jean-
Christophe. We get on very well and Im look-
ing forward to watching the plans develop.
Dame Fiona Reynolds, former director-
general of the National Trust and now master
of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, founded by
Sir Walter Mildmay in 1584, believes Jean-
Christophe is the right person. Hes bubbling
with enthusiasm and were all keen to keep
the connection between the college and the
house alive. Even the gardens, home to a
400-year-old Cedar of Lebanon, will be
revived, with garden designer the Dowager
Marchioness of Salisbury overseeing the
replanting of the Elizabethan knot garden.
It took many years of negotiation to link
Baron Pfetten and Apethorpe Palace but, as
Dr Thurley says, its a marriage made in
Heaven. Now this hunting-mad baron has
secured the home so beloved of our rst Stuart
king, a grand new chapter is about to begin.

58 www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
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 Around Britain
with a y rod
Why travel abroad when we have such varied sport on our
doorstep, asks Marina Gibson, highlighting 10 of her favourite
places to sh. Photographs by Patrick Tillard

T
HE UK rod is spoilt for choice, for
within our shores is a vast array
of water systems on which you
can put your skills to the test,
whether you are a one-track-
minded salmon fisherman, a dedicated all-
rounder searching for predators, bottom
feeders and lake trout, or the classic dry-fly
enthusiast pursuing speckled brownies in
wild rivers. Personally, Im rather obsessed
with the combination of all three.
Three years ago I decided that there was
more to life than staying in London every
weekend nursing a hangover I wanted to
explore the countryside and see what I could
nd. I started my search close to home, the aim
being to nd a decent base to practise my cast-
ing and, if Lady Luck were on my side, bagging
a sh or two for supper.
Some shing friends recommended Syon
Park Fishery; 20 minutes from home, it
offered a quick and easy escape from the city. If
youre new to the sport, I advise nding your
feet at a local shery. It wont be too testing and
you can seek professional guidance its far
better to iron out your technique this way than
on a boat in the middle of a rough lake without
another soul in sight.
Before you settle on where to go you need to
ask yourself a few questions. What species are
you hoping to catch (trout, salmon, sea-trout,
pike, grayling or carp)? How far are you will-
ing to drive? What kind of fishery are you
looking for (stillwater, freshwater, a wide river
or a narrow stream)? This will largely depend
on the shing kit you have. There is no point in
organising a day on Rutland Water in mid-
winter with a #2 rod. You would never return!
If you are unsure of what kit to take, call the

62 www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
shery beforehand or ask someone who has
been there before the better organised you
are the more time you can spend on the water
catching sh. (Do also remember that you will
need to buy a rod licence you can purchase
this online or visit your local post ofce.)
Syon Park Fishery is situated in the 200-
acre parkland grounds of Syon House in West
London. The park comprises a six-acre elon-
gated lake and is regularly stocked with rain-
bow and brown trout. The average weight is
2lb, while the largest tip the scales at a whop-
ping 10lb. As you wander down the lake and
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
peer into the water, you can see sh in their lies
or swimming nonchalantly passed you.
Ive shed Syon extensively over the past
two years and have caught many premium
trout on damsels, montanas and buzzers. As it
doesnt close until dusk, there is the option for
a quick ick after work in the summer the
best way to rid yourself of the stresses that
accompany a city job. It has become a reliable
go-to, always a pleasure and, more often than
not, fruitful. But I had an itch to experience
something bigger. Grafham Water, the sister
lake to Rutland Water, was next on my list.
www.theeld.co.uk
The writer casting on Orviss beat of the River
Test in Kimbridge, Hampshire
Despite being constantly on the search for
new places to wet my y, I have only scratched
the surface of what the UK has to offer.
Nevertheless, to follow are my 10 favourite UK
spots I hope they will encourage you to
broaden your piscatorial pursuits.
Wye & Usk, Mid and South Wales
The Wye (and its tributaries) and Usk are
known by many to be pots of gold. These
63
 destinations ooze with life and are ready to be
explored by any avid y sherman. Whether it
be shing for salmon, sea-trout, trout, grayling
or coarse, they have it all. There wont be a
glimpse of boredom on these spectacular
waters, which differ from six-feet-wide moun-
tain streams to medium-sized rivers. As you
can sh some beats all year round, it might be
worth joining the Wye and Usk Foundation.
A rod wild stream season permit costs 80, or
120 for two rods. Call 01874 712074 or go to
www.wyeuskfoundation.org
Tyne, Tyne and Wear
A place I found only last season, this river
once known only by the locals has become
extremely popular over the past few years. If
you are searching for salmon and sea-trout
and dont mind bumbling up north for a long
weekend, this is the place to go. You can also
sh on Sundays, which makes your journey
more worthwhile.
The price of shing on association water varies
throughout the season, averaging from 30 to
100-plus. Call 01573 470612 or go to
www.shpal.com
Tamar, Devon
If you have a spare weekend in your diary, I
highly recommend the Tamar. Unfortunately,
when I went last year the river was too high.
Hunt wild brownies on the Avon in
Hampshire but pick your y carefully
ALAMY
64
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
Luckily, we were staying at the Arundell Arms
Hotel in Lifton and they pointed us in the
direction of the River Lyd and Lew a few miles
down the road. Swapping our double-handed
salmon rods for #3 trout rods, off we went. We
waded through the rugged landscape and
were rewarded with beautiful, surfacing
brownies in gin-clear water.
Price ranges from 35 to 50, depending on time of
year and species. Call 01566 784666 or go to
www.arundellarms.com
Vale Farm Fishery,
Andover, Hampshire
If youve ever had an urge to catch a carp on
the fly, make your way down to Vale Farm
Fishery near Andover. Theres a choice of
three stocked lakes containing common and
mirror carp up to 30lb, along with smaller spe-
cies of coarse sh such as tench, perch, roach,
rudd and bream.
Day ticket 8 for one rod and 10 for two. Call
01264 720227 or go to www.valefarmshery.com
Rutland Water, Leicestershire,
and Grafham Water,
Cambridgeshire
Anglian Water offers trout and coarse shing
at its water parks, including these two, which
are of similar size. I have been to both reser-
voirs, hired a boat for the day with friends and
www.theeld.co.uk
taken a picnic. You can buy tickets over the
phone, in the tackle shop upon arrival or
directly from the wardens, who are often
around the pier where the boats are kept. If
you are a beginner or seek extra supervision
you can book a shing guide for the day.
Tickets start at 10. Call 01780 686441 (Rutland)
or 01480 810531 (Grafham), or visit
www.anglianwater.co.uk
Topwater Kayak Fishing,
Dennington, Suffolk
Slightly unusual and off the beaten track, this
category of shing will keep you alert. I have
now been twice and on both occasions I have
experienced some exhilarating moments.
Jonny and Jo Stephenson set up Topwater
Kayak Fishing in Dennington, near Wood-
bridge, a few years ago; mostly they use Jos
hand-tied flies but they also fish with lure
and bait. My favourite thing about shing off
a kayak is that you cover an extraordinary
amount of ground; its intense and extremely
rewarding. They offer bass, pike, chubb and
perch shing.
Prices start from 125. Call 07966 065262 or go
to www.topwaterkayakshing.co.uk
Itchen and Test, Hampshire
Separate rivers but as they are so close in
proximately I will kill two birds with one stone
There are many waters where you can catch a
rainbow trout (above), while the writer landed
this brownie on the River Lyd in Devon
and place them together. There is no better
place on earth to be if you nd yourself on one
of these two rivers in the middle of the mayy
season. Generally speaking, these chalk-
stream rivers are regarded as the mecca of dry-
y shing and are famous for their trout and
grayling fishing. My choice of kit would be
anything under a #6 rod and you cant go
wrong using sedges, klinkhammers, daddy
long legs and grey and olive wulffs.
Prices start from 205 for two rods on the Itchen
and from 305 for two rods on the Test. Call 01264
349515 or go to www.orvis.co.uk
Ure, North Yorkshire
One of the UKs hidden gems, the Ure runs
through some of North Yorkshires most pic-
turesque countryside and is fast gaining a
name for the monster salmon it produces on a
yearly basis. In the summer months it also pro-
duces sensational trout fishing, with the
hidden opportunity of a decent sea-trout.
Fishing is available on three beats (Thoresby,
Bolton Hall and Wensley) at the Bolton Estate
in Wensleydale, one of Yorkshires nest sport-
ing estates. Autumn is the most productive
time for salmon but is great value from April all
the way through the season.
Prices range from 25 to 95 per rod per day
depending on the beat and time of year. To book and
nd out more about the shery, call 01969 621182
or visit www.boltonestate.co.uk/shing
Avon, Hampshire and Wiltshire
One of the regions best-known chalkstreams,
wading is the form on most of the Avon and
hunting wild brownies weighing up to 4lb on a
dry y is easily achievable. Matching hatches
of flies is essential as these fish can be picky,
especially in the summer months. But if you
sh any stretch of the river you are in for some
serious sport in stunning and tranquil
surroundings. Manningford Trout Fishery in
www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
Manningford Bohune, near Pewsey, offers
extensive access to wild upstream dry-fly
fishing for trout and grayling, as well as
some lovely stocked lakes if you have no luck
on the river.
A day on the Avon can cost as little as 50 per rod,
going up to 100 for the most prolic beats. For
more information, call 07544 801844 or visit
www.manningfordtroutshery.net
Scottish Association Waters
As you may well know, some of the finest
salmon rivers in the UK can be found in
Scotland. Although many of the beats are set at
a daunting price, there are hundreds of
angling association waters that offer low-
priced day tickets, including rivers that you
would never think you would be able to set
foot on, including the Spey, Tay, Beauly,
Tweed, Naver and Findhorn. In fact, you will
be spoilt for choice.
Prices will vary throughout the season but start
from just under 10 per rod per day from February
onwards. You can also buy Helmsdale Association
day tickets from Bannockburn Inn in Helmsdale
(tel 01431 821461). A day ticket costs 25, a week is
100, under 16s go free and a senior citizen goes
half price. For further details, call FishScotland
on 01573 470612 or go to www.shpal.com
65
  






 

 


 


  






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 STAY DRY ON
THE DRIVES
Getting wet and cold improves no ones performance on shoot days, which is
where a good-quality waterproof jacket comes in, says Lucy Higginson

68 www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW: THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 A
DMIT it, youve probably been
there. So bone-cold and damp
after a days shooting that you
have crept closer to the fire
(breeks, stockings and all),
unable to face the prospect of stripping off
until the bath is absolutely ready. Yet with a
driven pheasant costing 50 and a grouse
double that, allowing yourself to get soaked
arms leaden and fingers numb impairing
both your fun and safety, should be avoided at
all costs. As we nger rails of shooting coats,
how often do we consider if a coat is truly t for
purpose? The tailoring and tweed may be
delectable but what tells us if it will cope with a
seven-hour deluge? It pays to understand the
basics of waterproong.
You need a coat with a top-class mem-
brane thats been seamed properly, designed
well, nished with a good DWR and made of
the right face fabric, summarises Corry
Taylor, founder of Schffel. The bad news is a
quality coat with all this will cost 250 to 550.
The good news is its probably worth it.
Critical is a membrane that is both water-
proof and breathable. These attributes are
measured with a hydrostatic head water-
pressure test. While anything scoring 5,000
or more is deemed waterproof, materials used
by top makers often boast far higher scores
(and say so on their labels). Gore-Tex is the
gold standard membrane for waterproong,
says Simon Esnouf of Scandinavian brand
Harkila. Its also the dearest. A normal Gore-
Tex scores 20,000 for waterproofing and
25,000 for breathability.
These membranes can be built loosely into
a coat between the outer fabric and lining as a
Anything scoring 5,000 plus on the hydrostatic
head water-pressure test is deemed waterproof
dropliner. This is the most comfortable
kind of coat, says Taylor. Its like wearing a
duvet. But it does not give your outer fabric or
pockets much protection, and leaves the thin
membrane vulnerable to damage. Laminating
it to the outer fabric solves this but makes the
jacket noisier and less pliable.
The solution favoured by Harkila and New
Zealand performance kit rm Ridgeline is to
bond the membrane to the lining of the coat.
It still creates noise but the noise is on the
inside of the coat, explains Esnouf.
Different jackets in one brands range may
use different solutions, with pros and cons to
each. Membrane seams must be taped to make
PAUL QUAGLIANA
A waterproof and breathable membrane is an
essential feature in a top-quality shooting coat
www.theeld.co.uk
them waterproof and its best to keep these to a
minimum since the tapes are not breathable
and will add to a coats weight.
Besides a great membrane, the outer fabric
of a coat needs a DWR: Durable Water
Repellency coating. This helps water droplets
bead up on your coat and stops the fabric
from wetting out, explains Nigel Winkle of
Ridgeline. But DWRs need maintaining. They
only last about 20 washes (or downpours) and
then need topping up with a technical wash
such as Nikwax.
Waterproof gurus flinch at the words
washing powder. People dont read the
washing instructions regular powders and
fabric conditioners peel off seam taping and
destroy membranes, grumbles Winkle.
Technical washes are more expensive [about
10 a litre] but are very good and help rejuve-
nate the DWR, conrms Esnouf.
DWR works better on atter fabrics and for
other reasons, too, when it comes to apocalyp-
tic weather, it seems our beloved tweeds
should stay at home. All that wool soaks up
water, making coats heavy, cumbersome and
slow to dry. Instead, we should overcome our
snobbery towards polyester and polycotton
mixes. Polyester is very light and gives you
full movement, says Barbours Martin Smith.
Manmade fibres polyesters and nylon
blends are the most durable, windproof and
light, conrms Mustos design manager for
countrywear, Louise Clinton. They also dry
pretty quickly.
Even if you have a coat with all these prop-
erties, you may compromise it. The pressure
of leaning on a fence post can affect the water-
proong, points out Winkle. And youre in
trouble if you puncture the membrane on
barbed wire, though some rms may be able to
put a Gore-Tex patch in for you. Where youve
got too much dirt youve got a barrier that
water could potentially get through, too, adds
Esnouf, so washing it and drying it gently, on a
hanger, ideally, is important.
Winkle also bemoans the current trend for
tighter-fitting clothes. Blokes want to see
their muscles through their coats at the
moment but you need air between your skin
and the fabric, otherwise you get cold transfer
straight away.
The gameshooters uniform of shirt and tie
has long been recognised as bananas by those
whose dressing habits are more scientic than
sartorial. You really need a shell, mid-, base-
layers and spares, explains Winkle. Brits
69
SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Above: cross-section through material used to
make raincoats (left), the water-repellant
coating holding rain drops outside; Gore-Tex
(right) resembles a sandwich with nylon
forming the outer layers and teon the lling
dont always understand the New Zealand
style of taking layers off when you start getting
warm. Its about adapting your clothing to
the conditions.
Some rms are sympathetic to loyalties to
traditional tweeds and waxed cottons.
Because they dont have membrane and
taped seams, we dont label our waxed jackets
as waterproof but 99% will keep dry in one, can be difcult if you
says Barbours
Martin Smith,
though we all
know it stiffens
when wet and
is rarely worn
on the peg today.
Musto and
Schffel have done
their best for tweed by
adding such things as
0 www.theeld.co.uk
Gore-Tex liner, using a good
DWR and, in Mustos case,
mixing less absorbent
nylon thread with the
wool. Tweed is com-
pletely quiet and stays
warm when its wet, its
one of my favourite fab-
rics, says Taylor, but if
it is coming down in
stair rods, it is probably
the wrong product.
Good cuffs and zips
are essential. Studs
bash one or the dog
chews one, says
Esnouf. Its often the accesso-
ries that let you down. For this
reason, Harkila uses a YKK zip
(its the gold standard in zips), while
Barbour has looked to skiwear for inspiration
and uses a waterproof, plastic-coated zip on
its Swainby jacket. Musto and Schffel, who Its essential, agrees Esnouf. Ours are
also make sailing and skiwear respectively, three-way adjustable so you can see out prop-
cover their zips with a double storm guard erly. But it stops water going down the back of
with a drainage channel. the neck and theres no need for what some
Knitted cuffs around the wrist that can call a two-cap day. So much for the techni-
soak up water have been jettisoned for non- calities, what of the design? A throat ap can
wicking lycra or neoprene, and though work well. And draw cords round the waist
shooters are often wedded to a cap, a hood is and hem are good for stopping wind from
essential on a dire day. Ours are stored in the going up the coat, says Esnouf.
poachers pocket, says Taylor of Schffels Barbour and Schffel are both proud of
jackets. When you need a hood, you really their clever underarm cuts. You need perfect
need one. In the worst conditions, its lift so the coat doesnt come up with you, says
emergency kit. Taylor. Even with a box of cartridges in your

From far left: Barbour Swainby; Schffel
Ptarmigan Interactive; Barbour Bedale Wax
Jacket; Monsoon Elite II Smock Ridgeline
pocket you wont notice any weight thats
what weve built our reputation on.
We understand the extreme weather pro-
tection a sailor needs, so our coats have things
like a really high collar (on our Highlands
jacket, for example) that can cover your ears
and do up tightly, says Mustos Louise
Clinton. And we scoop the back hem to give
you something waterproof to sit on.
Schffel puts Polartec eece linings in its
pockets for added comfort and Taylor points
out that the top of the coat should run just
underneath the chin.
THE BEST ON SHOW: THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
Harkilas Pro Hunter X Jacket has been
designed specically for game-shooting
Knowing that rain makes fabric darker,
many rms opt for sage green or teak colours;
olive soon turns black if it wets out. All the
rms I spoke to are rigorous in their product
testing. Musto eld tests garments for at least
six months before putting them on the market;
Harkila and Ridgeline were designed for
prolonged hunting trips in extreme
Scandinavian or New Zealand climates.
Schffels Taylor points out: It took me five
prototypes to get the angle of the handwarmer
pocket just right.
We all know that the weather will bugger
up your plans if it really wants to. But a game
shooter, like iPhones and cigarettes, can be
pretty useless when theyre soaked. A fantas-
tic coat is not an accessory, its essential.
www.theeld.co.uk
CARING FOR YOUR COAT
DO read the washing instructions few of
us do. Fabric conditioners and bio powders
destroy membranes and lift seam taping.
DO refresh your DWR (Durable Water
Repellency coating) with a specialist wash,
such as Nikwax.
DO gently tumble dry non-tweed coats
this helps refresh the DWR.
DO NOT put high-tech shooting coats
near direct heat; airing cupboards and
radiators do untold damage. Dont store
them in direct sunlight, either.
DO allow room for an insulting layer of air
to sit between you and your coat.
DONT throw a heavy, wet coat over a
hook if theres a hanger available.
Waterproof membranes are thin and can be
fragile, especially if used as a dropliner.
DONT leave a damp coat in the back of
your car for weeks it will rot.
DO explore getting a Gore-Tex patch if
you manage to puncture your membrane.
DO leave your tweed at home if the
forecast is dire. Wool readily soaks up water,
becoming heavy, and takes longer to dry.
DO take a spare coat, if youve got one.
71

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 Old faithful ies
In any sport, we have our favourite equipment. Here, Gilly Bate asks
expert rods to select their top ies for different species in differing conditions

Ian Gordons rst choice of y

for spring sh is this Swallow

I
N the tranquillity of the traditional
tackle shop, aided by attentive staff, y
selection should be fun and tinged
with anticipation. All too often, how-
ever, the overwhelming choice on offer
can turn the experience into an ordeal.
Historically, flies were tied with natural
materials that could be sourced locally and the
resultant patterns used at nearby fisheries.
Today, our options have expanded exponen-
tially along with our y-shing horizons and
not just in the UK but worldwide.
Where simple silhouette and size used to
be the key elements of a winning y, new, syn-
thetic materials have allowed ingenious
craftsmen and women to create near replicas
of the natural prey of the quarry species
sought by anglers. When combined with
some extraordinary attractor patterns, the
selections on offer have become truly bewil-
dering. So where to start?
Certain factors inuence y selection and
understanding the varied diet of individual
species is essential. Salmon, which dont feed
in rivers, or largely vegetarian milkfish and
mullet create different challenges. The size of
y chosen might be largely dictated by whats
on offer naturally but can also be linked to
water conditions such as depth, speed, tem-
perature and clarity and the weather, which
can inuence the appearance of our ies.
Experience and knowledge of your quarry
are key. Those who are fortunate to sh regu-
larly gain insight into feeding patterns and
certain ies become must-haves for any day on
the water in any environment.
But what do the experts recommend? Our
panel members make their suggestions.
IAN GORDON: SALMON
Ian Gordon, principal consultant for Hardy
Brothers in Alnwick, is one of the worlds
leading spey-casting instructors, with more than 30
years experience of salmon shing; he is a former
world speycasting champion.
SUNRAY SHADOW
A y that I use almost every day that attracts
the most stubborn of sh. It will perform per-
fectly well being simply swung through a pool
but is most effective when stripped, moving
the y as it approaches the sh. For UK shing
use sizes 3in to 5in but larger sizes for Norway.
SWALLOW
My favourite spring- and fresh-fish fly. Ive
used this to great effect in both the UK and
Norway. The inspiration was the Whitewing,
extremely popular on Tweed in late afternoon.
SLUMDOG
A slim, lightly dressed version of a Willie
Gunn but with a copper body, this fly
accounted for all my sh on my big days, when
I caught 10 or more. It shes particularly well
in low water in the autumn. Figure of

www.theeld.co.uk 73
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE

The Mouse (or Night Muddler) keeps
Illtyd Grifths company after dark
eighting in slow-moving water works a treat
when using sparkly dressed ies.
ROSIE
My coloured-water y; inspiration for this y
came from a silver-bodied Garry Dog, chang-
ing the silver to copper and tying with Arctic
fox rather than bucktail. This fly works
extremely well in tea-coloured water.
DURRIS SHRIMP
A collaboration between two great fly tiers,
George West and Edwin Whyte. A fly thats
caught so many sh on a great many different
rivers over the past few years. A great all-
rounder in spring, summer and autumn.
ILLTYD GRIFFITHS: SEA-TROUT
AAPGAI master with more than 50 years
experience of sea-trout shing, hes shed
extensively in Wales, Patagonia and rivers
throughout Europe. Highly respected within the
shing community for his knowledge and expertise.
DOVEY BLACK & ORANGE
An old pattern that has been popular on the
river for half a century. It is a go to y and can
be shed at night at all times on any yline.
BLACK FLASH
A y of mine that works well on dark nights,
when we have good cloud cover with little or
no moon. Again, it works on any line.
MOCS CERT
This came to prominence about 40 years ago,
devised by the late Moc Morgan. It was origi-
nally designed as a close cousin to another sea-
trout y, the Allrounder, but this version is
better. It is an excellent choice when there are
some very fresh sh about.
SEWIN BLUE
A y of mine similar to the Medicine, popular-
ised by the late Hugh Falkus. It is a simple tie
but can be deadly early into dark shed on a
oating or intermediate line.
74
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
MOUSE
There are many versions of this oating lure. It
works best on cloudy, windless, warm nights
and is especially fruitful when cast under trees
or bushes. I favour shing this on a light, inter-
mediate line these days in preference to the
original floating lines as one gets fewer
splashes at the y but more hook-ups.
DAVID WOLSONCROFT-DODDS: PIKE
Professional pike y-shing guide based in
Wiltshire and author of Fly-shing for pike. He is
often to be found demonstrating around the UK.
3D BAITFISH STREAMER
I tie this in colours to suggest the predominant
prey sh in a water. I use marker pens to add
stripes for perch or spots for trout patterns.
The epoxy head lets me impart a lifelike, jig-
ging action to the y. Its tied with water-shed-
ding synthetic materials, making it (relatively)
easy to cast.
HI-VIZ BAITFISH STREAMER
The same design but tied in yellow and orange
to cut through coloured water; its accounted
for many big pike.
POPPER
Fitted with a dished, Plastazote head, the
popper slurps and gurgles across the surface.
The takes are explosive this y shouldnt be
used by anyone with a heart condition.
Pike expert David Wolsoncroft-
Dodds uses a bunny
ORVIS
www.theeld.co.uk
JASON SMALLEY
BOMBER
This, too, is tted with a buoyant Plastazote
head but its shed deep on a fast-sinking line.
A y for dour winter pike.
DOUBLE BUNNY
With a tail of two long rabbit-fur strips, this
streamer has an irresistible wriggling action.
Perfect to provoke reluctant pike.
THE WRITER, GILLY BATE:
CHALKSTREAM TROUT
Director at Fly Odyssey UK specialising in
chalkstream shing, with more than 12 years
experience as a professional guide and instructor.
GREENWELLS GLORY
First tied in 1854 by Canon William Greenwell
and still one of the most popular patterns used
on chalkstreams. It works all season, from size
12 in April decreasing as the season rolls on. I
use both the parachute version and winged.
CDC F FLY
A must on the chalkstreams and my favourite
y. I use olive for emerging upwings in a vari-
ety of sizes throughout the year. The black is
perfect for gnats, reed smuts and dark sedges.
Dont forget to use dust and not oatant. These
ies saturate easily so have at least a dozen in
each size and change them often.
WALKERS RED SEDGE
Tied by the great Dick Walker and ideal from
mid summer onwards for late afternoon/early
evening. Red sedge seem to be a favoured food
item for trout.
SHERRY SPINNER
Another traditional y that still cuts the mus-
tard. The perfect pattern for female blue-
winged olive spinners.
FRENCH PARTRIDGE
Mayfly patterns abound but this fly works
through the stages, from emerger to spent, and
seems more consistent than other patterns.
 CAPTAIN BOB BRANHAM: BONEFISH
David Profumo says a Silver
Guides on the ats from Key Biscayne to Key Invicta is rarely off his cast
West and has personally tagged more than a
thousand bonesh. One of South Floridas nest
guides, hes appeared on television, contributed
many articles and has been the winner of countless
shing competitions.
CRAB PATTERN
The crab is a great choice for summer shing
or when you nd yourself in an area that has
few shrimp and lots of crabs. It can be tied light
for tailers and heavier for permit or deeper
bonesh ats.
TAILING FLY
Used for tailing sh. It also works for mudders
when its tied with more weight. When shing
my ies for mudding sh I suggest stripping
aggressively that is, moving the fly with Captain Bob Branham

JASON SMALLEY
quick, sharp hops punctuated by full stops. favours epoxy-based ies
ORVIS

For tailers, sh them slower with occasional

long, slow pulls. I always say to match the
speed of the sh with the strip if they move
slow move the y slow.
EPOXY FLIES
These three epoxy ies are my go-to ies and
very similar to bitter patterns. These examples
are weighted but I often make them with less
weight when the sh are tailing or in very shal-
low water and thus spooky.
WHITE I use this when shing a very light-
coloured bottom. This y is extremely effective
for mudding and cruising sh in between 2ft
to 4ft of water.
YELLOW Used when the sky is cloudy or
heavily overcast as the bonefish seem to be
able to see it more clearly.
BROWN My rst choice for everyday use.
beetle imitation (by a Mr Kemp and a Mr
Heddle, hence the name). In a poor light, its
red tail tuft acts as a trigger point (it comes in
sizes 10 to 12).
CLARET HOPPER
Deadly shed single and dry, but also a lively
dibbling pattern; a general emerger, but also
useful during falls of terrestrials, especially
Daddies (comes in sizes 10 to 12).
KATE MCLAREN MUDDLER
The functionally beautiful Kate, with an added
head of spun deer hair, will sh anywhere on
the cast but in a size 8 is thrilling stripped
through a lively wave. Here comes Johnny!
CHRIS OGBORNE: SEA-BASS
Based in Cornwall, Chris Ogborne pioneered his
own saltwater style for sea-bass. Hes been England
National Fly-shing Champion (twice) and
European Champion. He is an author, journalist
and y-shing consultant to Hardy and Greys.
SAND EEL
Bass will eat almost anything that moves, from
crabs and prawns through to baby pollack
Historic y Greenwells Glory is ideal
on chalkstreams, nds Gilly Bate

DAVID PROFUMO: LOCH PATTERNS

FOR TROUT
David Profumo caught his rst Scottish brownie
at the age of six. Now a shing correspondent, he
lives up a Perthshire glen with a trout loch at the
end of his lawn.
BLACK PENNELL
Brainchild of the Victorian angling guru
H Cholmondely-Pennell, dressed with a
sparse, straggly hackle, this is a classic bob-y
pattern to sh briskly from the boat, though it
also works well on a long leader during buzzer
hatches (comes in sizes 10 to 12).
SILVER INVICTA
Rarely off my cast as point y throughout the
season, boat or bank, this versatile pattern
may imitate everything from the mle of an
emerging sedge to the flash of coarse fry
(comes in sizes 12 to 14).
KE-HE
As a bushy bob y (tied with a brown or fur-
JASON SMALLEY

nace hackle), this is a general attractor,

although originally designed as an Orcadian

www.theeld.co.uk 75
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 Chris Ogbornes ies, such as Gartsides
Sand Eel, fool sea-bass
and oating carrion, however, their favourite
food is the sand eel. So, my philosophy is that if
you can represent sand eels and bait sh then
youre 90% of the way there.
BOOTLACE SAND EELS
We start the season with what we term boot-
lace sand eels, the small ones around 3in long
that look just like, you guessed it, bootlaces.
SUMMER SAND EELS
The bootlaces are then superseded in June by
the main run of summer sand eels, which
are instantly recognisable. Around 4in to 6in
long, they are the sea-basss staple diet.
GIANT SAND EELS (LAUNCE)
Beyond this, you have the giant sand eel, or
launce, the largest of them all at 10in-plus.
These are regarded by most anglers as the ulti-
mate bait for a specimen bass.
Imitative ies represent these varying sizes,
along with the obvious limitation that a y of
12in or more is behind the casting capabilities
When trout are after upwing duns,
Paul Procter uses Olive Paraduns
76
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
of most y rods, let alone most anglers. In this
case we compromise with articial launce pat-
terns at around 8in. Retrieves can be fast, slow,
staccato the variations are limitless. They can
be shed at all depths and with all line densi-
ties, at all speeds and in all conditions.
PAUL PROCTER:
NON-CHALKSTREAM TROUT
International y-shing journalist, y-shing wispy hackle. Admittedly, Ive tinkered with
consultant for Orvis UK, Fly Odyssey host, Wild
Trout Trust vice president and AAPGAI master
(trout) with some 40 years experience on trout
streams and rivers worldwide.
APT (ALL PURPOSE TERRESTRIAL)
The APT currently ranks as my number one,
even when few terrestrials are present. Its
fooled trout worldwide and, whats more,
seems to sort out those wily specimens, too.
Theres no question the APT possesses all the
key attributes, such as silhouette and partially
www.theeld.co.uk
JASON SMALLEY
swamp attitude when at rest on (or, more pre-
cisely, in) the water. Depending on which size
hook you choose this dressing covers various
terrestrials, including: hawthorn ies, black
gnats, ants and various beetles.
PEARLY BUTT BLOA
Many question the effectiveness of north
country spider dressings as, to the untrained
eye, they appear as a mere turn of silk and
the original by including a wee pearly butt
that, to my mind, suggests the partially dis-
carded shuck of a drowned olive emerger.
WYATTS DHE
Like all good flies, Bob Wyatts Deer Hair
Emerger (DHE) is simplicity itself. That said, a
closer study reveals that all those important
triggers have been considered. Generic by
nature, the DHE covers all upwinged flies
depending on what hook size or shade of dub-
bing you care to select.
JASON SMALLEY
FLUTTER NYMPH
In essence, this wee number is best cast to
sighted sh and just left to utter, hence the
name. Even where flows slacken theres
enough shimmer there to convince sh theyre
gobbling down a living nymph. Where pools
deepen, a spilt shot can be crimped onto the
tippet some 12in to 18in away. Granted, such
an act might appear unconventional yet it puts
your y in the ballpark with a degree of free-
dom to waft about seductively.
PARADUN
Low riding and guaranteed to oat, a paradun
is what I reach for when sh are knocking off
upwing duns. Another nonspecic tying that,
depending on size/colour, covers a range of
ephemerids, from the delicate pale watery
right up to lofty mayflies such as danica.
Furthermore, dressed using a mahogany dub-
bing with hackle bres clipped for and aft, its a
dead ringer for B-WO spinners.

SHEENA GOODE: LAKE RAINBOW

Sheena Goode has been heavily involved in the
competition scene, with eight England caps, one
European and two Commonwealths. She was
Ladies International Champion in 2011.
BUZZERS
A buzzer is an imitation of the pupa of a chi-
ronomid and high on the menu for stillwater
trout. They hatch almost all year and may be
shed on varying methods. Fish a oating line
with straight line dropper or on a washing line
at varying depths; static or gentle figures of

eight retrieve. A must in any anglers y box.
BOOBY/BLOB
Boobies may be shed static or pulled on Di 5
or 7 lines. Few trout can resist them and Ive
won competitions with both Cats Whisker
and Coral Boobie. The blob may be shed in
the same manner.
DADDY LONGLEGS
Crane flies provide an angler with excellent
surface fishing and they may also be sunk
when fishing wind lanes. The fish will be
working up wind, looking for food that has
been caught in the surface tension or drowned.
DAMSEL NYMPH
Fished mid-season, close to the banks or
weeds. If bank shing, its a great y, particu-
larly shing it slowly in shallow water.
DIAWL BACH
Red, Green, Black and Gold rib, and in three
hook sizes. Fished on a oating line or midge
tip very slowly. May also be used on a washing
line with a booby on the point. Cast across the
wind, if possible. Sometimes static.
BERNIE MAYER: RIVER RAINBOW
England Fly Fishing International and
ORVIS
Sheena Goode goes for a Daddy Longlegs
when lake shing for rainbow trout
Commonwealth team medals. Instructor with
AAPGAI, APGAI and FFF. Fly-shing guide on
the Derbyshire Wye for the Haddon Estate in
Derbyshire and local rivers.
PARACHUTE FLIES
No specific pattern because I use them
throughout the year, in size 12 to 20, and vary
the colour dependent on the hatch. Why?
Because they are durable and can be seen by
my clients in pocket water. If I had to pick one,
Parachute Adams is a durable
dry y, says Bernie Mayer
MONTANA GUIDE
JASON SMALLEY
it would be a Parachute Adams as I like the
turn of orange in the head.
CDC OLIVE
I use sizes 14 to 18, with the wing swept back, a
brown or buff body with Coq de Leon tail and
a turn of squirrel on the thorax. A realistic imi-
tation but they need TLC after a sh or two.
F-FLY
I use size 10 through to 22 with black, green
and brown bodies. The y invented by Marjan
Fratnik covers midge in the smaller ies and
sedges in the bigger sizes.
Al Troths elk-hair caddis is a great y, from
size 10 to a micro caddis size 20. Durable and
buoyant but I use a suitable size F Fly for picky
sh in smooth water. Wing and body colour
vary to match the hatch on this buoyant y.
COPPER HEAD MARY
My nymph pattern, invented by Simon
Robinson, is basically a PTN (Pheasant Tail
Nymph) with a tungsten copper head and a
pearl thorax. I use a hackle-fibre tail. Sizes

England Fishing Champion 2005/6 with ve range from 12 through to 18.

www.theeld.co.uk 77
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 Headline blahTOP HAT
de blah
TRICK
A staple of Royal Ascot but who introduced the
topper and when? Nicholas Storey traces the
history and design of this iconic item of headwear

A
FTER the 1832 Reform Act
abolished rotten and pocket
boroughs, and broadened the
electoral franchise to include
substantial numbers of mid-
dle-class, male voters and parliamentary can-
didates, the Duke of Wellington surveyed the
newly elected House of Commons and said: I
have never seen so many shocking bad hats in
my life. Presumably these were silk toppers,
GARY CALTON/ALAMY
Patey Hats (established in 1799, the only
British gentlemans bespoke hat-maker left,
with a shop in Bermondsey, London SE15),
says that the top hat, as we would recognise
the modern item, was invented by a French-
man and the fact that the French had early silk
toppers is supported by an article entitled La
Centenaire du Chapeau in La Mode Pratique (No
6, 6 February 1897), which points out that a
1796 painting by Carle Vernet depicted an
Gentlemen are kindly reminded to wear a
black or grey top hat in Ascots Royal Enclosure
Prince Consort and Isambard Kingdom
Brunel were sometimes called stove-pipe
hats. Before silk was used, most were made of
lustrous beaver-fur felt. An excellent example
of a beaver topper is shown in Alexander
Kordas 1934 lm The Scarlet Pimpernel, star-
ring Leslie Howard. Evil revolutionary

hastily bought to try to enable the new mem- incroyable in a French silk top hat. Prior to Chauvelin (Raymond Massey) thinks that the
bers of parliament to look the part. being called top hats, they were merely silk Pimpernel has been executed by his sans
Janet Taylor, successively of James Lock & hats or beaver hats; later on, in the mid-19th culottes soldiers but the eponymous hero
Co (established not later than 1676) and then of century, the high toppers sported by the comes back into the room with the line: I

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 am sorry, Monsieur Chauvelin, I had to come
back for my hat; its such a cursed good hat,
you know.
References to beaver hats, such as
cocked hats, go back a long way so it is
difficult to pinpoint exactly when the
forerunner of the modern topper was
created. Moreover, so far as the shape is
concerned, representations of tall, cylindrical
hats stretch back into ancient history.
Urban myth has it that Strand clothier John
Hetherington was the rst man to wear a silk
top hat in London, in early 1797. It was vari-
ously reported, including in an alleged 1797
edition of The St Jamess Gazette and in an actual
1890s edition of The Hatters Gazette, that he
appeared, on the public highway, wearing
upon his head a tall structure having a shiny
lustre and calculated to frighten timid people
several women fainted at the unusual sight,
while children screamed, dogs yelped and a
younger son of Cordwainer Thomas was
thrown down by the crowd which collected
and had his right arm broken.
Hetherington had caused a riot and was
bound over to keep the peace in the then enor-
mous sum of 500. Some versions of the story
go so far as to name him as the actual inventor
of the silk top hat, or of top hats in general.
ALAMY/ GETTY
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However, whether the Hetherington story
is true in any degree, it should now be consid-
ered in connection with the discovery of refer-
ences in the West Sussex Records Office to
(George) Dunnage & (Thomas) Larkin,
described in a bill, dated 1798, to the then Lord
Egremont as makers of waterproof silk hats.
Ascot Top Hats Ltd has gathered evidence
that Dunnage rst made a form of hat using a
napped, silk shag (hatters plush) as imitation
of beaver in 1793. The invention was
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approved as a patent in 1794 and the rm of
Dunnage & Larkin continued to be patent silk
hat manufacturers until dissolution of their
silk hat business in 1814. This evidence is sup-
plemented by a book on the Dunnage family
history, Dunnages: Weavers, Hatters, Clerics,
Colonists, written by Louise Buckingham,
George Dunnages descendant, in 1937, and by
a further patent in 1798 for a ventilating top hat
made of waterproof silk (for coachmen).
It is, therefore, reasonably possible that
George Dunnage and Thomas Larkin created
the rst silk top hats in Britain; however, the
great Piccadilly hatter Lincoln Bennett was
also an early pioneer of silk hatters plush, in
imitation of beaver, and was certainly another
early maker of silk top hats.
It would surely have been necessary for a
form of silk plush to have been available prior
to the Hetherington story, having been devel-
oped as a substitute for beaver felt, which had
fallen into short supply. Silk would then have
been used on all styles of hats, including tri-
corn and bicorn cocked hats, stretched over a
rigid goss base a method still used by Patey
Hats when making the Lord Mayor of
Londons tricorn hat.
With any style of hat it is often difcult to
pinpoint the rst of a type. I would suggest that
the Hetherington hat may well not have been
the very rst but one of the rst. However, we
do know that it was Frenchman Antoine
Gibus who, in 1834, rst registered a patent for
the collapsible opera hat or chapeau claque.
There came a point in the mid 20th century
at which silk toppers were still seen at some
weddings, at investitures and a few funerals,
as well as at Royal Ascot. Now they have been
virtually abandoned at even the smartest wed-
dings and are seen at funerals only on under-
takers. In 1986, they ceased to be in daily use
by stockjobbers, who had worn them for easy
identication when being sought out to strike
deals and, under procedural reforms, toppers
ceased to be in daily use in the House of
Commons in 1998. So, in a real sense, a version
of this hat was in everyday fashion for an
unbroken period of around two centuries;
now, only in some schools, at investitures and
at Royal Ascot do they remain de rigueur.
Back in the day, James Locks customers
included Beau Brummell and other Regency
dandies, bucks and beaux, such as the second
Earl of Sefton, the fth Duke of Devonshire,
Poodle Byng (The Hon Frederick Gerald
Byng, whose habit it was to parade around
fashionable areas with a curly French
Above left: the Gibus collapsible black silk top
hat, circa 1935. Left: Les Incroyables, 1796,
engraving by Jean Louis Marais after Vernet

MARY EVANS
poodle), Lord Manners and the sixth Duke of
Beaufort; all featured in the 1820 illustration
The Well Known Bond Street Loungers. Each
prided himself on the unique t and style of his
top hat, choosing a shape to complement his
silhouette. Now the item is either proudly
inherited or purchased, refurbished, from
Locks or Pateys or discovered in a junk shop
and then reconditioned by Pateys. There are
also traders who deal in them, such as Ascot
Top Hats, Hetherington Hats and Top
Toppers. The last factory to make silk hatters
plush was owned by a pair of brothers in
Lyons and there is a story that they fell out,
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MARY EVANS
Leslie Howard as The Scarlet Pimpernel (left);
Well Known Bond Street Loungers, 1820,
engraving by Grego (above); and Isambard
Kingdom Brunel (right) in a stove-pipe hat
dissolved their partnership by smashing up
the looms and then ung the pieces in one of
the rivers. A more prosaic version is that the
manufacture just ceased in around 1969
because of health and safety issues in the
manufacturing process. However, this was
nothing to do with the mercury used, until
1941, in the production of felt for other types of
hats, which caused hatters shakes and,
famously, gave rise to the expression as mad
as a hatter.
Now, ironically, the best, modern, black top
hats are produced, once again, using felt, con-
taining lustrous beaver fur. Famous British
blasts from the past for silk hats include
Pateys, Locks, Scotts (hatters to King George
V, formerly in the purpose-built, porphyry-
fronted building that is still at 1 Old Bond
Street, London W1, the business now sub-
sumed into Locks), Lincoln Bennett (appren-
tice-master to Herbert Johnson), Henry Heath,
Tress & Co and Herbert Johnson. Several
crowned heads followed King Edward VII to
Herbert Johnson, including the last Czar of all
GETTY IMAGES
the Russias and the last Kaiser. The best hats
are marked inside Extra Quality.
www.theeld.co.uk 81
 Hunting-weight top hats are handmade on
extra-rm-weight shells, covered in felt and
treated at Pateys with a special nish, which
weatherproofs them; do not, as some suggest,
use boot blacking or Guinness. Pateys treats
all hunting-weight toppers in its workroom
with waterproofing, added with hot irons.
This is, in fact, the most traditional of proce-
dures but the company does not supply this
proong to customers because it requires skill
to apply it and this is best not attempted at
home. The arcane nature of the process is, per-
haps, redolent of Beau Brummell who, when
asked how he made his famously shiny black
leather boots gleam, replied condentially that
his blacking included the nest champagne.
The shells of hard hats are made from shel-
lac, which is a hardened paste derived from the
secretions of the scale insect Laccifer lacca. It
takes 150,000 insects to produce a pound of
shellac. It is also a constituent of the polish
used to French-polish wood and, somewhat
disturbingly, it is used in coating and shining-
up the very best chocolates. To make a hard
hat, a wooden block is made to replicate the
customers head and the shell of the hat is
made over this by putting linen fabric (called
goss) over the block. The goss will have been
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Shells are made from
shellac, a paste derived
from the secretions of
the female lac insect
covered in the liquid shellac (called coodle)
and left for several months to cure. After
curing, the hat is shaped, trimmed and fin-
ished. Pateys uses its own conformateur nally
to shape the hat to the customers head. This is
a hat-shaped device with moveable levers,
which produces a card showing the shape of
the customers head.
The grey, silk top hat is known sometimes
as a white hat and is probably almost extinct
in the original silk plush. At one time, silk top
hats were made in colours other than just sleek
black on display in Locks Country Room phy of the great Beau Brummell that he never
there is a copper-coloured silk top hat with a
note inside, which instructs the reader that it
was once the pride and joy, and very possibly
the signature hat, of a musical artist. It reads:
Reward if Lost Return to: J Graham, personal
address 6 Barnard Street, North Lond or local
music hall Macdonald & Graham.
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Owing to a shortage of materials after the
First World War, dove-grey felt toppers were
made, by Locks, specically for Royal Ascot
it still supplies them today. Owners (except the
young Winston Churchill) used to stow their
hats at Locks between Ascots. This was for
preservation and to ensure that they were not
sported out of season. The felt shell is known
as a drab shell. There used to be an Ascot
suit, too basically, a grey frock-coat suit.
Nowadays, if a grey morning suit is worn to
Royal Ascot it includes a coat in the standard
morning-coat cut and often a grey felt top hat,
although some seem to favour a black top hat
with a grey coat and yet others prefer a black
coat and grey topper. Presumably, the custom
still holds good to wear a black top hat on
Ladies Day, preferably of polished silk.
Finally, despite the contemporaneous
report in Captain William Jesses 1844 biogra-
raised his hat to anyone for fear of disarrang-
ing his coiffure, just raising his right hand in
the now discredited Roman salute, and also
despite the fact that we do not wear hats much
any more, always remember to doff your hat to
those that you know and to those that you
would like to know.
A conformateur being used to
shape a traditional top hat at
Lock & Co, the Royal Hatters
 On 11 June, the Household
Cavalry Mounted Regiment will
mark the 90th birthday of our
Sovereign. By Roger Field

O
N Saturday 11 June more than
1,400 men and 200 horses,
including 170 from the
Household Cavalry Mounted
Regiment, will Troop the
Colour at The Queens 90th Birthday Parade.
The practice of Trooping the Colour goes back
to ancient times when, usually just before a
battle, that detachments standard or colour
the ag the ghting men knew to follow and
rally around was paraded along their ranks
so everyone could get a good look at it so they
could recognise it once the action started.
What began as a pre-battle drill had, by 1748,
been transformed into an annual parade to
celebrate the sovereigns birthday. Fast for-
ward to Edward VII, who started the tradition
of taking the salute in person. And so, this
June, Great Britains own Birthday Girl will be
celebrating her 90th birthday parade, an event
she has only missed once, in 1955, when a rail-
way strike forced Horse Guards to cancel it.
Meanwhile, at Hyde Park Barracks in
Knightsbridge, Lieutenant Colonel James
Gaselee, The Life Guards, tells me he has been
aware of various ideas oating around to, per-
haps, do something special but, as far as he is
concerned, it is business as usual. This is
another Queens Birthday Parade and he
would be surprised if Her Majesty would want
anything different on the day. This will be his
rst parade as Commanding Ofcer, HCMR
comprising of a squadron each of The Life
Guards and The Blues & Royals my old regi-
ment, as it so happens. No stranger to Knights-
bridge, Colonel James also did tours as a troop
leader (lieutenant) and then squadron leader
(major). He will be riding Oracle, his six-year-
old charger, on his rst Birthday Parade. A bit
young? I wondered. Colonel James, an expe-
rienced horseman, is relaxed and certainly,
looking splendid as he posed for photographs,
Oracle looked equally relaxed, too.
Household Cavalry blacks, as they are
known or Mark One Hayburners, as we in
the armoured regiment referred to them are
bought in Ireland aged about four to ve. They
are a thoroughbred/Irish draught cross and
have to be between 16.2 and 17.2 hands high. I
never forget riding Boomer, 17.2hh, who was
thoroughly enjoying a bit of well-earned

The Queens
down time at Windsor. As I careered around
the manege, hanging on for dear life
ANYA CAMPBELL

The Blues & Royals practising for this years

special birthday parade in Hyde Park, London

84 www.theeld.co.uk
birthday parade
www.theeld.co.uk 85
 The Trooping the Colour ceremony on Horse
Guards in 1957 (above) and HM The Queen
taking the salute on 6 June 1958 (left)
17.2hh is a long drop the riding master shared
his thoughts with me and the rest of the ride:
Thats not a horse, Sir. Its a bleeding camel either mounted or service (armoured) and
Finding a genuinely black horse is geneti-
cally difcult and most have a bit of white in
them. Those that are all black or more black
than most and usually ner boned, will be
earmarked as ofcers chargers, though not all
will make it. A charger has to be prepared to
lead and act independently, while the troop
horses are trained to follow. And they do. Only
when you have tried to make a troop horse
turn in a different direction to the herd will
you understand just how implacable they are.
Of course, this relentlessness was once invalu-
able in battle. The horses charged together and
stayed together regardless and, as Colonel
ALAMY
James explained, the troop horses know the
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drills and routines better than many of the
new recruits. A confused trooper on his rst
parade on an experienced black will per-
form the correct manoeuvres despite himself.
Which is a useful attribute because
whereas in my day other ranks tended to go
pretty much stay there, these days it is very dif-
ferent. Troopers joining the Household
Cavalry will, unless they have some horse
allergy, start their regimental career with the
mounted regiment. After completing their
basic military training (drill, weapons and
endless PT plus a change), they will then go to
Windsor for a 16-week riding course. The vast
majority will not have ridden before. They
spend 12 weeks in khaki, learning to ride,
then the nal four in state kit and learning to
ride differently: sitting trot; riding one handed
the right hand carries the sword. Given they
then pass out most do they are then sent
to Knightsbridge, where they start mounted
ANYA CAMPBELL
duty almost immediately, although they will
not be pitched straight into a major parade,
such as the Birthday Parade. They then do a
two-year tour before being sent to the service
regiment to start armoured training. That
means, when you watch their impeccable drill
on 11 June, around 40% of them will be doing it
for the rst time. The other half for the second
time, and only a few riding masters, farriers,
senior NCOs and the ofcers will be doing it
for the third or more times: an astonishing
testimonial to the standards of training and
the quality and intelligence of the soldiers.
And that is another thing that is different to
my day, as both the Colonel and Squadron
Corporal Major Edward Sampson, The Blues
& Royals, explained. Back then, one secret of
leadership success was to keep a soldier well
away from booze or temptation before any-
thing important was due to happen. The
modern Household Cavalry soldier under-
stands this and both men told me that it was
extremely rare to have any problem with alco-
hol or absenteeism. This generation of soldiers
just dont do it. Trooper Shaw, who I chatted to,
conrmed this. To do something stupid would
let the rest of the troop down and he would not
do that. He felt honoured to be where he was
and would not jeopardise that. In fact, the rest
of the troop would not let someone do some-
thing stupid as it would let them all down.
They take far too much pride in who they are
and what they are privileged to do. Of course,
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ANYA CAMPBELL
theres always one or two but they quickly get Lt-Col James Gaselee (left), Commanding
Ofcer, HCMR; Trooper Shaw (right); The Blues
found out and nd themselves on their way.
& Royals Sovereign Standard (below)
A legacy, I suspect, from the long years of
arduous and deadly tours the regiment did in
both Iraq and Afghanistan. There was a story
perhaps apocryphal, perhaps not that on
the outbreak of war in 1939, Part One Orders
(a notice on the Board saying what to do if) at
Knightsbridge stated that, in the event of
German paratroopers landing in Hyde Park,
Household Cavalry Regiment was to proceed
to the park and hold it until the military
arrived. How we laughed back then. No
longer. In 1982, The Blues & Royals did exactly
what was asked of them in The Falklands. A
reputation that the Household Cavalry has
more than maintained since. Even though the
regiment does ceremonial duties, it is very
much a proper ghting regiment and that old
joke would fall at today. In fact, and wonder-
fully, when SCM Sampson rides out onto
Horse Guards, he will be carrying the
Standard of The Blues & Royals on which are
emblazoned its many battle honours, hard
won over four centuries of ghting for the
When you watch the
impeccable drill, 40%
of them will be doing it
for the rst time
ALAMY
www.theeld.co.uk 87
 SCM Edward Sampson (left) will carry The
Blues & Royals Standard. HM The Queen and
HRH Prince Philip at the 2015 ceremony (below)

aim for the next window. Shouting orders

although commands when actually riding are,
for obvious reasons, given by highly accentu-
ated sword movements that all riding behind
can see is surprisingly easy as the buildings
on the three sides of the parade ground pro-
vide excellent acoustics. One top tip Colonel
James offers to anyone planning their own
birthday parade is to half turn your head
before shouting your word of command. Not
only does your voice then travel that bit more
backwards and towards the men behind you
but the fact that your head half turns then
wakes up even the doziest trooper who now
knows something is about to happen. Even the
horses will pick up on that movement.
And then all is jingling harness, the mufed
thud of myriad hooves, the banging of aiguil-
ANYA CAMPBELL

lettes on breastplates, the rattling of scabbards

on saddles, drowning out all other noise.
Then, as Colonel James put it, the best moment
sovereign. One of those is Iraq 2003: his war, there they go about their drills as rehearsed. of all for an ofcer: the moment he rides past
his battle honour. Not only did he fight as a Colonel James explains that given you know his monarch, looks her in the eye and salutes
Scimitar gunner but he saw a number of his what you are about, of course it is then rela- her. In fact, and while they were all busy
friends killed and wounded, both then and in tively easy because, as he jokes, unlike the Foot saying that it would be business as usual and
subsequent tours. He told me that, up until Guards they dont have to worry about keep- they would just be doing their job, they all,
today, the proudest moment of his military ing step. Ofcers know exactly where to aim from colonel to trooper, admitted that on 11
career was as he rode down The Mall on his for when they are riding as there are specic June they would be aware they were going to
first Birthday Parade in 2000. He suspects windows on Horse Guards that are specied be part of history. And that is something of
that moment will be surpassed when he car- aiming points. Just head straight towards which every member of the Household Cavalry
ries the Regimental Standard with his battle said window, turn at the designated spot, then Mounted Regiment is immensely proud.
honour, their battle honour, before his sover-
eign on her 90th Birthday Parade. He also
promised to spare a thought for the 29 men of
The Blues & Royals who ensured that
Falkland Islands 1982 is emblazoned above
Iraq 2003 on that same standard perhaps in
itself a record for the least number of men who
managed to win a regimental battle honour?
Astonishingly, the morning of the parade
itself is relatively relaxed compared to some of
the days that lead up to it. Rehearsals mean
getting up at about 0200. That way the regi-
ment can ride to Horse Guards, practise its
drills and ride back to barracks before the traf-
c builds up and it brings Central London to
an unscheduled standstill. But, on the day
itself, there is a much more leisurely Stables
at 0600. The horses are then given a short ride
in the park to let off any excess steam. Then
back in, nal grooming and Fall In at 0900
hours. It takes about 15 minutes to get every-
one on top with all their kit on and looking
the part. Then comes the Colonels Inspection.
There will be two to three waiting men on
standby to take over in case anyone looks sub-
standard: whether kit-wise or health-wise.
ALAMY

And then at 1000 it is Move out. And from

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 *'  .
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 T THE BATTLE
HE only man on either side who
could lose the war in an after-
noon. No commander-in-chief
has ever gone into battle with a
greater weight on his shoulders

OF JUTLAND
than Admiral Sir John Jellicoe in 1916.
Churchills words were no exaggeration: for
the Royal Navy to lose control of the North Sea,
and, therefore, sea supremacy, would have
meant national defeat.
In the decade before the First World War,
The only major naval encounter of the First World War took place 100
the Germans had tried to outbuild Britain in
dreadnoughts, the revolutionary, all-big-gun years ago this month. Allan Mallinson explains its signicance
(initially 12-inch, increasing to 15-inch), heav-
ily armoured battleships named after the rst
of their class, HMS Dreadnought, launched in
1906. The Royal Navy had just managed to
keep ahead in the dreadnought race and
when war came, Jellicoes Grand Fleet, from its
lonely fastness at Scapa Flow in the Orkneys,
had been able to keep the German High Seas
Fleet, the Hochseeotte, conned to its anchor-
age across the North Sea at Wilhelmshaven. By
early 1915, every German cruiser in more dis-
tant waters had been sent to the bottom and
the only remaining threat to allied shipping
was from mines, auxiliary cruisers (armed
merchantmen) and submarines, the range of
which in 1916 was still limited. Loss of control
of the North Sea, allowing the German surface
eet to range wide against merchant shipping
and to challenge the British blockade, inter-
rupting communications with India and the
dominions even threatening the Channel
would have been catastrophic for the longer
game of building military strength on the
Western Front and starving Germany, the keys
to victory. Grand Admiral Tirpitz, Germanys
long-time naval minister, had known from the
outset that the Hochseeotte had no chance of
victory in a straight ght with the Grand Fleet
and so his strategy had been to try to wear
down its numbers by mines, torpedoes, oppor-
tunity skirmishes and deliberate ambushes
into which the dreadnoughts were to be drawn
by deceit or provocation including raids on
coastal towns, of which Scarborough in
December 1914 had been the first and most
infamous target. Jellicoe had not been drawn,
however. Well aware of Tirpitzs intention, he
was usually alerted to the ruses through the
superb signal intercept capability at the
Admiralty (Room 40). Nevertheless, the
popular expectation was that at some point, in
a grand battle, the Royal Navys warships
would sink those of the Germans. Indeed, in
September 1914 Churchill himself, as First
Lord of the Admiralty, had promised: We
GETTY IMAGES

Deutschland-class battleship SMS Schleswig-

Holstein was hit by one large-calibre shell

90 www.theeld.co.uk
www.theeld.co.uk 91
 shall dig the rats out of their holes. The King
castigated him for language he thought was
unworthy and within days Hochseeotte war-
ships off the Dutch coast had sunk three obso-
lescent cruisers of what was known with black
humour in the Royal Navy as the live bait
squadron. The public would have to wait a
little longer for their second Trafalgar.
Tirpitz had always wanted to use subma-
rines as his prime strategic weapon. Pre-war
calculations suggested that Britain would be
brought to her knees in months, perhaps
weeks, if her food imports were intercepted. A
good deal of this was carried by neutral ship-
ping, however, and while surface ships of the
Royal Navy could intercept neutrals taking
similar cargoes to Germany, the Kaiserliche
Marine could not. Only its submarines could
get into the trade approaches. By pre-war con-
vention, however, they had to adhere to the
so-called cruiser rules: before sinking a mer-
chantman the submarine was meant to sur-
face, issue a warning and allow the crew to
take to the lifeboats. This had obvious dangers
and Tirpitz for one was an advocate of unre-
stricted submarine warfare. The Kaiser had
initially sanctioned this but the international
outcry, not least after the sinking of the Cunard
passenger liner Lusitania with the loss of 1,191
lives, including 128 American citizens, forced
him to rescind the order. Frustrated by this, in
March 1916 Tirpitz resigned.
The Hochseeottes commander-in-chief,
Reinhard Scheer, was now determined to take

Boy Cornwell (below) remained at his post on

GETTY IMAGES

the heavily shelled HMS Chester (left), as

reported in the Daily Mirror (below left)
ALAMY
ALAMY

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 SMS Deutschland leading II Battle Squadron.
As pre-dreadnought battleships they
engaged Beattys battle-cruisers but had to
remain out of range once Jellicoes
dreadnoughts appeared
ALAMY
more aggressive action. Seeing an opportunity
to engage Vice-Admiral David Beattys battle-
cruisers charged with patrolling the North
Sea, and perhaps even some of Jellicoes dread-
noughts, on 31 May he led out his ships into
the German Bight. Here he hoped to tempt
Beatty into a ght with his own battle-cruisers
under Franz von Hipper, in which they would
in turn be drawn onto the guns of his dread-
noughts, thereby reducing the odds in the
subsequent encounter with the Grand Fleet,
knowing that Jellicoe would come out to coun-
ter such a large-scale sortie.
The relative strengths were not propitious
for Scheer, though. He had 16 dreadnoughts
(to the 28 that Jellicoe and Beatty would bring
out), six pre-dreadnoughts, six light cruisers
and 31 torpedo boats, together with Hippers
five battle-cruisers (against Jellicoe and
Beattys nine) and supporting craft. Between
them, Jellicoe and Beatty had 78 destroyers.
In one sense, Scheer had the psychological
advantage, for he had far less to lose. Although
by maintaining his fleet in being at
Wilhelmshaven he was obliging the Grand
Fleet to remain at Scapa Flow in case of a
sortie, as a result of the Royal Navys blockade
Germany was already beginning to famish.
While Jellicoe could take calculated risks
based on what he could see and anticipate
were the actions of Scheers surface ships, he
could have no certain knowledge of where and
in what strength lay his submarines. Gunnery
did not trouble him; the torpedo did.
Jellicoe was, as usual, forewarned, how-
ever. Room 40 had intercepted and decrypted
German radio traffic giving plans of the
operation. Jellicoe therefore left Scapa, and
Beatty the Firth of Forth, at last light on
30 May, intending to cut off and destroy as
much of the Hochseeflotte as possible but
with the imperative of retaining sea suprem-
acy. High winds made the use of airships
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
impracticable for both sides, so both were
relatively blind.
At four in the afternoon on the 31st, after a
sweep to the south, Beattys battle-cruisers,
reinforced by the Fifth Battle Squadron of
dreadnoughts, ran into Hippers force, begin-
ning a running ght as Hipper turned south to
draw Beatty onto Scheers battle eet. Early on
the light cruiser Chester, scouting ahead of
Rear-Admiral Horace Hoods Third Battle-
cruiser Squadron, came under intense fire.
The crew of the forward 5-inch gun were at
once killed or mortally wounded. The sole
remaining crewman standing, 16-year-old
Jack Cornwell, though severely wounded,
remained at his post until, with only one main
gun still working, Chester was ordered to
break off the action. Three months later her
captain would write to the Admiralty com-
mending the instance of devotion to duty by
Jellicoes ships
steamed into view in a
position to cross the T
from the north-east
Boy (First Class) John Travers Cornwell who
was mortally wounded early in the action but
nevertheless remained standing alone at a
most exposed post, quietly awaiting orders till
the end of the action, with the guns crew dead
and wounded around him. He was under 16
years old. I regret that he has since died, but I
recommend his case for special recognition in
justice to his memory and as an acknowledge-
ment of the high example set by him. On 15
September, he was posthumously awarded
the Victoria Cross, the youngest recipient
since 1860. The VC is on permanent display at
the Imperial War Museum, as is the gun.
www.theeld.co.uk
Within half an hour, the Queen Mary was
hit by a combined salvo from the Seydlitz and
Derfinger. Seydlitzs gunnery ofcer, Georg
von Hase, noted: The enemy was shooting
superbly. Twice the Derfinger came under
their infernal hail and each time she was hit.
But the Queen Mary was having a bad time;
engaged by the Seydlitz as well as the
Derfinger, she met her doom at 16:26. A vivid
red flame shot up from her forepart; then
came an explosion forward, followed by a
much heavier explosion amidships.
Immediately afterwards, she blew up with a
terrific explosion, the masts collapsing
inwards and the smoke hiding everything.
Both forward magazines had exploded.
Short-cuts in ammunition handling may have
been the cause; she sank with all but nine of
her 1,275-man crew lost.
Beatty is supposed to have said, There
seems to be something wrong with our bloody
ships today, though this is disputed. Never-
theless he now turned back north to try to lure
Scheer towards Jellicoes rapidly approaching
dreadnoughts. Soon afterwards the leading
ships of the Hochseeflotte began engaging
Beattys Queen Elizabeth class battleships
(known as Barhams, after the fourth ship of
the class the fastest, most heavily armed of
the dreadnoughts, or super-dreadnoughts),
which convinced Scheer that he had indeed
caught an isolated portion of the Grand Fleet
and therefore had his long-awaited opportu-
nity for attrition. At 6.30pm, his hopes were
shattered when Jellicoes ships, in one of
which, HMS Collingwood, 20-year-old Prince
Albert, the future King George VI, was serv-
ing as a sub-lieutenant, steamed into view in a
position to cross the T from the north-east.
Crossing the T had been a favoured tactic
since Nelsons day, allowing the ships doing
the crossing to bring a full broadside to bear
(or, in the case of the dreadnoughts, all the
93
 ALAMY

94 www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 The British Grand Fleet under Admiral Sir
John Jellicoe (inset) on its way to meet the
German Hochseeotte, 31 May to 1 June 1916
PRESS ASSOCIATION
main armament, for the turrets could rotate
onto either beam), while those steaming in line
ahead could not. Sub-Lieutenant Prince
Albert recorded that, We went to Action
Stations at 4.30pm and saw the Battle
Cruisers in action ahead of us on the starboard
bow. Some of the other cruisers were ring on
the port bow. As we came up the Lion [Beattys
agship] leading our Battle Cruisers, appeared
to be on re the port side of the forecastle, but it
was not serious The Colossus leading the
Sixth division with the Collingwood her next
astern were nearest the enemy. The whole
Fleet deployed at 5pm and opened out. We
opened re at 5.37pm on some German light
cruisers. The Collingwoods second salvo hit
one of them which set her on fire, and sank
after two more salvoes were red into her I
was in A turret and watched most of the action
through one of the trainers telescopes, as we
were firing by Director, when the turret is
trained in the working chamber and not in
the gun house. At the commencement I was
sitting on the top of A turret and had a very
good view of the proceedings. I was up there
during a lull, when a German ship started
firing at us, and one salvo straddled us. We
at once returned the re. I was distinctly star-
tled and jumped down the hole in the top of
the turret like a shot rabbit!! I didnt try the
experience again
Left: 10 June issue of The Graphic, an illustrated
British weekly, detailing the Battle of Jutland
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
He was being characteristically modest. In
September, Sub-Lieutenant Prince Albert was
gazetted with a Kings Commendation for his
ALAMY
action during the battle.
To extricate the Hochseeotte, Scheer now
ordered a turn to the south-west. Twenty min-
utes later, he decided to turn back to attack
Jellicoes main force. This manoeuvre put him
in a dangerous position, for Jellicoe had turned
the Grand Fleet south and was again threaten-
ing to cross the T. Scheer made a third
16-point turn to break off contact, covered by
Hippers mauled battle-cruisers, which boldly
charged the British line to cover the retreat.
With darkness approaching, Scheer
ordered the eet to adopt night cruising for-
mation, a tighter deployment that allowed
securer signalling and precaution against tor-
pedo attack. Meanwhile, Jellicoes destroyers
were keeping up a ferocious, if unequal, ght
with the German battleships; Scheer eventu-
ally managed to punch his way through the
destroyer screen and make for Horns Reef, the
shallows 10 miles off the westernmost point of
Denmark. Jellicoe broke off the pursuit as
agreed beforehand with the Admiralty in such
an event and turned for home.
The Hochseeotte reached Wilhelmshaven
in the early afternoon of 1 June. They had sunk
more British ships than the Grand Fleet had
sunk German and claimed victory. Jellicoe was
slower to return to Scapa and slower still to
make capital of the fact that the Germans had
been forced back to their anchorages and that
www.theeld.co.uk
the Royal Navy still ruled the waves. To many,
it looked as if he had lacked the Nelson touch,
failing to win the complete victory that was in
his grasp while losing more than 6,000 men.
Yet Scheers leading battleships had taken
a terrible hammering and it was only in the
coming weeks that the foreign section of the
Secret Service Bureau (in time, the Secret
Intelligence Service, MI6) was able to gather
details of the extent to which the Grand
Fl e e t s g u n n e r y h ad d i s ab l e d t h e
Hochseeflotte. Several dreadnoughts and
most of his battle-cruisers would be in dry
dock for at least two months. The day after the
Battle of Jutland, the Grand Fleet had 24
capital ships in ghting condition, compared
to 10 German. Moreover, the Germans knew
that British shipbuilding capacity was much
greater than theirs. After Jutland the
Hochseeotte would never again put to sea in
real strength; instead, the U-boats would be
given free rein. In October 1918 the demoral-
ised crews of Germanys great battleships
would mutiny, hastening the call for an armi-
stice. Only then would Jellicoes victory at
Jutland be seen for what it truly was.
Allan Mallinsons Too Important for the
Generals: Losing and Winning the First
World War is published by Penguin Random
House on 2 June.
95
 *(77,1*
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THE BEST GUNS, DOGS, BOOKS, ART, WINE, FOOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING

THIS MONTHS HIGHLIGHTS

WINE p111
Essential kit for serious drinkers
GUN REVIEW p112
Vintage Purdey side-by-sides
SPORTING DOG p116
Debate over breed standards
MOTORING p119
Subaru Levorg GT

TREASURES FROM THE

NATURAL HISTORY
MUSEUM LIBRARY
THE AURELIAN
by Moses Harris
Published 1766
AURELIAN derives from the
Latin aureolus, the iridescent
sheen on chrysalises. Moses
Harris was secretary to the
Society of Aurelians, a private
gentlemens club, which met to
discuss moths and butteries.
Harriss The Aurelian pays tribute
to the society.
Here Harris depicts the pink
underwing, Tyria jacobaeae, and
the cream-spotted tiger, Arctia
villica, as caterpillars, chrysalises
and moths. Insect study was the
preserve of the privileged few but
this work takes the rst steps
towards a eld guide, to be used
and understood by everyone.
NHMPL

www.theeld.co.uk 97
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
 COUNTRY
QUERIES
Send queries to Rosie Macdonald, Country Queries Editor, The Field, Pinehurst 2,
Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF.
Email country-queries@hectareshouse.co.uk
For more, go to: www.theeld.co.uk FEET FIRST
The Field cannot accept legal responsibility for answers given in these columns.
Q We have a large anniversary this year
and I would like to give my husband
and myself a pair of house shoes, slippers,
SHOOTING COMPANION that are smart and jolly. The sort of thing

Q My golden retriever is now 14 years old

yet came shooting with me more than
20 times this season. However, I doubt he
one could wear easily for a supper party at
home. At our age it is hard to buy each other
presents, we have most things we need, but
will manage another. Like him, I am getting something like this would work for both of
on a bit but hope to manage a few more us. Do you have any recommendations?
seasons. I would like to acquire another AC, Surrey
gundog that has been around a bit, perhaps
lost his master and whose owner cant look
after him. Is this a silly idea? I have had
A For smart and fun house shoes head to
Penelope Chilvers at 69 Duke Street,
London W1. The company offers a bespoke
gundogs for more than 40 years such a dog service on its house shoes: choose from a
would have a good home. multitude of vivid and neutral colours
SUC, Wiltshire in both velvet or suede; select

A Glynn Evans at BASC say this is not a

silly idea as, unfortunately, dogs can
need rehoming for a number of reasons.
your own piping, trim and
insole. It also offers a painted sole rather than
traditional plain leather, and initials can be
There are several organisations that assist painted on. The slippers start at 348 in sizes
with nding working dogs new homes and a 35-48, including half sizes. These can be
quick search on the internet will nd some of monogrammed using one of a large range of
these, although there can be a waiting list, designs or embroidered with initials (a
particularly for certain breeds. Evans also maximum of three letters is included in the
suggests making contact with people who are price) and they will be delivered within six
likely to be in the know, such as gundog weeks. For further information or to make
breeders/trainers, gamekeepers and an appointment, email dukestreet@
JAKE EASTHAM

pickers-up who will be well placed to hear at penelopechilvers.com, call 020 7491 9555 or
an early stage that a dog may be available. go to www.penelopechilvers.com.

TAKE THE FLOOR

Q We have acquired a wood oor in our new house and could do with some advice
on its care. My local hardware store has recommended a variety of expensive
substances and our daily help likes to splash water everywhere, which isnt good for it
WHEEZE OF
THE MONTH
judging by the results. Can you help? A crafty wheeze for those of
SM, Buckinghamshire you who are no longer strong

A Too much water will cause the wood oor to swell and warp and can create a ripple
effect on the surface. The simplest way to keep a
wood oor clean is to use a mixture of approximately
enough to lug tubs of plants
into position for the summer.
Fill the bottom of the tubs with
half a cup of white vinegar to a gallon of warm water plastic bottles to a reasonable
never hot water. The vinegar will cut through any depth, 8in-10in on largish tubs.
grease and dirt. Ideally, use a sponge mop rather Cover these with polythene, make a
than one that needs wringing out as the mop few holes for the water to drain
should be damp rather than soaking wet this
through, ll to the top with compost
and repot your plants.
ensures the oor dries quickly. If the mop leaves WA, Hungerford,
any puddles of water on the oor, then use a dry Berkshire
ALAMY

cloth to wipe it dry quickly.

98 www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE

HAIR TODAY
Q Many years ago I
read in Country
Queries a request from a reader
for the name of a company that is
able to replace the worn-out bristles in
a hairbrush. Does the company still exist?
If so, is it possible to have its details?
VK, Devon
A GB Kent & Sons has been manufacturing brushes
since the 18th century. It offers a re-bristling service
for antique ivory, ebony and silver brushes. Brushes should be
sent to the company by Royal Mail Special Delivery; on receipt, staff
will count the number of holes to be re-bristled on each brush and send
a written quote in the post. Once a signed acceptance of the quote has been
received they will commence the repair. Work takes approximately 6-8 weeks
and costs around 120 per brush. Brushes should be sent to GB Kent & Sons,
FAO Diane, London Road, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9SA. For further
ALAMY
information, call 01442 232623.
ALAMY
LEAKY TEA
Q I have an old Worcester teapot that was damaged a few years ago. I was
told recently that it is worth restoring. Can you recommend someone?
CH, Dorset
A Martina Gray runs the Ceramic Restoration workshop in Sherborne,
Dorset, and advises that the best way to assess an item for restoration is to
see and handle it. It is possible to send a photograph by email but as it would be
impossible to check for any hairline cracks, only a rough estimate would be given.
There are two types of restoration: full invisible repair, virtually impossible to see
with the naked eye; or museum repair, where the item is rescued as much as
possible. The cost of restoration is 35 an hour. Ceramic Restoration can be
contacted on 01935 813128 or via the website: www.ceramic-restorer.co.uk.
www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
QUERIES
MY
Red-letter
DAY
Tim Maddams
F OR a year or two, I had been trying to get a few mates
together to look round woodland near a secret location
of mine. A dry September and an inkling that we might get
lucky if the rain forecast turned up, I sent round the email
issuing instructions. Its very late in the season but if we
are lucky the winter chanterelles will have started and if we
are very lucky there may be the odd cep or two. And so we
gathered in the drizzle to begin our quest.
We set off into the wood and almost immediately I spied
a large and fresh-looking y agaric mushroom growing on
the bank by the edge of the track. I had thought to head
straight off in search of winter chanterelles a tasty species
and very good, not least because it can often be picked in
large numbers relatively quickly but having sighted this
mushroom I encouraged the team to take a look around.
Fifteen minutes later we regrouped on the woodland track
for a celebratory drink we had picked a little over 5kg of
top-notch ceps, possibly the tastiest of the woodland tribe.
Again, I attempted to quell the excitement; its likely to
be a freak, a coming together of local weather and the odd
seasons we had been having but it was a heck of a way to
start the trip. A 10-minute stroll farther along and the
biggest cep I have ever seen was growing at the edge of the
wood. It was a whopper, a bit past its best but it could be
dried out for later use. We took a look into the wood beyond
it and stopped. We stared at each other like schoolboys who
had found the keys to the sweet shop. Beyond the veil of the
conifers was a veritable fairytale land of good-sized ceps,
penny buns, porcini, Boletus edulis whatever you want to
call them and none of us could quite believe it.
We ran out of basket space and left lots behind. After
four hours wed picked 45kg of the nest mushrooms Ive
ever picked. Over a cider or two, and a generous supper of
ceps and pasta, I got to wondering what made this day
quite so special? Aside from the size of the bag and its
quality, sharing it with friends and knowing not only that I
am unlikely to ever have a day quite like that again but that
I have earned it with all my past failures and fruitless trips.
For me, thats what its all about. For all those barren ights
or wasted decoy patterns, buck-less stalks and blank days
on the river, its the not knowing that makes the rewards so
good and, in the long run, its always worth the wait.
Tim Maddams, author of Game: River Cottage Handbook,
will be demonstrating daily in the Game Cookery Theatre at the
Field & Country Fair (Timmaddams.com)
99
  

 
 



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MONETARY DISUNION
Trouble with the exchange rate mechanism is nothing new,
nds Roger Field its enough to get your groat
A
S I write, the Brexit
debate is building in
ferocity. Had a pollster
listened in to a jolly Oxfordshire
dinner party recently he would
have witnessed an emphatic
Middle England point of view:
We care deeply and we dont
have a clue. Unambiguous fence
sitting and a huge desire to cut
the annel and get to the real
arguments was the near-
unanimous verdict.
However, it might upset UKIP
and the emphatic as against
tortured Leave brigade to
discover that Britains ancient
Holland Bone Crusher (below); Bob Braithwaite holds aloft his C-Grade
Browning (below right); the oval on the gun presented to him by Browning
HOLTS AUCTIONEERS
coinage has long been a reection
of its close trading relationship
with Europe. Or, put another
way, we Brits have been
mirroring the ancient
equivalents of the Euro for
millennia certainly from
Roman times. This was
demonstrated by a sale of
medieval groats by Morton &
Eden on 17 March. In Britain, in
the 1300s a peak period of the
wool trade with the Low
Countries and France our
coinage had got slightly out of
synch with Europes. We had
small, silver pennies that were
www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
UNDER THE HAMMER
the rough equivalent of the
European denier and high-
value gold coinage but nothing in
the middle hence the minting
from 1351 of a four pence silver
piece or groat (meaning great) to
mirror the French gros and the
Flemish groot, which weighed
about 4.5 grams. Thereafter, they
got steadily lighter until, by the
mid-1550s, they weighed a
measly 2.01g; Chancellors of the
Exchequer and ination behaved
little differently back then to now.
Like all coins, their value to
collectors depends on a
combination of rarity, condition
An Edward IV groat (top) and a
very ne Edward III coin (above)
and desirability. Who wants a
wimpy, half mad Henry VI when
you can own a dashing warrior
king? For me, it is the portrait of
those long-dead monarchs that is
the fascination. An Edward III,
classed very ne (extremely
ne is even better and
uncirculated the best),
estimated at 300 to 400, is a
cracker: the king stares
imperiously at us, complete with
his rather bulbous nose. Edward
III would denitely have voted
Stay. After all, he put his sword
where his mouth was and gave
us the Hundred Years War and
the victories of Crecy and
Poitiers. Bidders liked it, too, as it
sold for 1,100. Or a 1464/5
Edward IV, of Wars of the Roses
fame and probably something
of a Brexit fence-sitter as while he
was for a time exiled in friendly
Flanders his rival, Henry VI, was
supported by dastardly France
and rated only ne but with a
nice portrait it showed what you
can get for your money. It made a
mid-estimate 100: both coins
reminders that, in or out,
Britains trade and politics has
always been linked to Europe.
On 30 June, Holts is offering
something quite different: two
guns that once belonged to John
(Bob) Braithwaite, the legendary
trap-shooter who represented
Great Britain at two consecutive
Olympic Games. He was a vet
who was a keen game-shot but
only took up trap in his thirties,
practising when he could get the
time: an encouragement
perhaps to those who hope to
103
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Fancy a hack on a chamber horse
(left) or ight in a Hawker Hunter?
improve as we get older. A
seventh at Japan was followed by
1968 Olympic gold and glory at
Mexico City, where he shot
198 x 200: a record that stood for
many years. The rst gun comes
with a caveat: only seriously
good shots should apply because
this is the actual over-and-under,
12-bore, C-Grade Browning
with 2978in
nitro-reproved
barrels that he
used to win
gold. And, just
in case you
planned to use
it incognito, on
the right side
are later gold-
inlaid Olympic
rings. Just imagine buying this
gun and then missing: nowhere,
I would suggest, to hide But, for
the right shot, the 7,000 to
9,000 estimate should be a
no-brainer. Also in the sale is the
D-Grade over-and-under,
12-bore one of a kind Browning
later presented to him. It carries
the same estimate and has his
signature gold-inlaid and a gold
oval inscribed: Presented to J.R.
Braithwaite Gold Medal Olympic
Trench MEXICO 68.
Holts had another possibly
unique gun in its 17 March sale.
Named the Holland Bone
Crusher on the case lid, it is a
1888, 16-bore Holland & Holland
UNDER THE HAMMER
double-barrelled, black to the mildest of exercise for her coachwork by Barker & Co.
powder hammer rie in thighs. However, the Georgians Perhaps his most contentious
superb condition, retaining some and Victorians thought these modication was that he rejected
of its case hardening. And the contraptions splendid machines the Spirit of Ecstasy on the
splendid name? It takes a for those too idle, or unable, to bonnet in favour of a sailor
cartridge 3in long and has a ride in the summer and they semaphoring the letter M: no
bullet size of just under a massive were rented by the hour to that blushing violet he... A less than
.700 of an inch. Although, previous generation of gym gruntled factory had little choice
whether that sobriquet refers to enthusiasts. Despite a modest but to do as ordered but refused
the impact on the shooters 400 to 600 estimate it failed to guarantee it. It is still in place
shoulder of ring such a heavy to nd a stable. today. Estimated at 170,000 to
projectile or the effect of lead However, another unique 230,000, it was hammered
hitting beast at the receiving end, object had no problem fetching down at 235,000.
history does not relate. What is a juicy price at Bonhams on The same sale had one elegant,
interesting is that the rear leaf 20 March. This was Lord albeit noisy and fuel guzzling,
sight is set for only 50yd or Mountbattens 1924 Rolls-Royce surprise: a 1958 Hawker Hunter
100yd, meaning it was designed Silver Ghost. Having already T7 XL600 single-seat ghter
for pretty close work. Elephant, owned one and broadly liked it, aircraft in immaculate-looking
certainly, although he decided to order another one condition. This is an expression
doubtless the but with various modications. of air power that should
sort of gun the The result is this magnicent genuinely impress your guests,
sadly ctional 40/50hp Cabriolet, with not least as this aircraft was ying
Professor until 2014, when it started a
Challenger TE Lawrences dagger (inset) and major although interrupted
Lord Mountbattens Rolls (below)
would have overhaul. Operational with
wanted to take
to The Lost
World for
hungry T. rex.
Estimated at 18,000 to
22,000, it proved too rich a
price and found no takers.
With hunting over for the
year, how best to keep t until
next season? The 19th-century
solution was on offer on 7 March
at Chefns: a Regency
chamber horse. I spoke to
someone who had trialled it
and she said it provided a
somewhat ridiculous ride.
Ridden one way there was
considerable dispute whether
she was doing it correctly it
did exercise her arms as she
bounced up and down on the
sprung saddle: no bucking
bronco this. Another method led
BONHAMS
www.theeld.co.uk 105
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE

the RAF between 1954 and 1967
the Hunters last British
operational tour was in Aden it
saw action in a number of
Britains small wars. What is
more, foreign air forces
continued to use it as a potent
ghter/bomber until 2014. So,
trouble with the neighbours
drone or Leylandii? Here is the
answer: a veritable snip at a just
over top estimate 13,000. And,
even if you do never re her up
again, it would be an
enhancement to any barn.
From high altitude attrition to
up close and personal knife
ghting, comes an elegant
eastern dagger that was once the
property of Lawrence of Arabia.
This was not, however, one of his
recorded knives that he wore in
the Arab Revolt and that he
either gave away or loaned (never
to be returned) but was a knife he
The Colbert gun
By Lisa Traynor, assistant curator of rearms, Royal Armouries Leeds
T
HIS smoothbore intlock
sporting gun by Antoine
Berthault, from 1670, is
an exquisite example of how
highly decorated sporting
rearms had become a way to
demonstrate wealth and status.
Owned by the French secretary
of state for the navy, Jean-
Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de
Seignelay (1651-90), and possibly
later by the seventh Earl of
Pembroke (1653-83), its
intriguing provenance prompts a
discussion on social mobility in
17th-century France and the
possibility that it was also the
one-time possession of an
infamous aristocratic murderer.
The work of Berthault is
known only through a few
surviving pieces. The lock is
decorated in the French style of
the late 17th century, yet the
nature of the stock decoration
suggests the maker was
consciously using an antiquated
ROYAL ARMOURIES
style of design. Areas of wood are
deliberately left exposed around
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
bought for himself, as an
inscription inside the case makes
clear: Jambia/Rock Crystal Hilt
Property of T. E. Lawrence/Clouds
Hill Lawrence of Arabia
Purchased S.W. Cottee & Son
Wareham Dorset. Cottees was his
local auction house when he was
living just outside Bovington,
where he was killed in a
The Colbert intlock sporting gun,
inlaid with silver and mother-of-pearl
the inlaid engraved silver and
mother-of-pearl decoration,
materials that it is unusual to nd
on a rearm from this period.
Personal decorations include
a set square, ruler and dividers
on the butt. These could
reference the Marquis de
Seignelays interest in navigation.
Also located on the stock are
representations of snakes and
hounds. The former features on
the escutcheon positioned on the
wrist, bearing the arms of the
Colbert family.
www.theeld.co.uk
UNDER THE HAMMER
motorcycle accident. He
doubtless looked in his wicked
knife drawer, saw it was empty
and decided to do something
about it. With the impeccable
Lawrence provenance, an
already meaty 7,000 to
8,500 estimate was beaten at
Czernys, Italy, on 26 March
when it fetched 18,000.
This rearm is testimony to
the Colbert familys social
mobility. The son of a draper,
Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1619-83),
father of de Seignelay, broke free
from his familys artisan origins,
winning acceptance at the court
of Louis XIV through education,
his uncles advantageous
marriage, employment in the
household of Cardinal Mazarin
and through his part in the
downfall of Nicolas Fouquet, the
superintendent of nances. By
winning the kings condence
and being appointed as Fouquets
replacement, Colbert secured
high-ranking careers for his
brothers and benecial
marriages for his daughters.
On the advice of his father, de
Seignelay visited England in 1674
to broaden his knowledge. It was
here that he may have presented
the piece to Henriette Mauricette,
Countess of Pembroke, on the
occasion of her marriage. Her
Mrs Abigail Prince, by Munnings, in
the style of a Spanish lancer
And, nally, something
non-aggressive. When the
formidable Mrs Abigail Prince
commissioned Sir Alfred
Munnings to paint her portrait
she gave him clear instructions to
do so in the style of an 1830s
Lancer of the Spanish army.
This is my own portrait and
nobody elses, she announced to
the British master. You are to
paint me like that. He did, and
the result is magnicent.
Bonhams sold Mrs Prince at its
Nineteenth Century sale on
2 March. Worth a fortune back
then her husband had more
polo ponies and horses than
Munnings could count she
proved her value by now over
doubling the top 60,000
estimate to sell for 122,500.
husband, Philip Herbert, the
seventh Earl of Pembroke, was
prone to drink-induced bouts of
homicidal mania and, in 1678, he
killed a man in a tavern brawl.
Tried by his peers, he was
convicted of manslaughter but
escaped sentencing. Later that
year the prosecutor at his trial,
Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey, was
found murdered in a ditch,
impaled on his own sword;
Pembroke is today regarded as
one of the main suspects. After
another excessive evening in
1680, Pembroke was accused of
murdering an ofcer of the watch;
following a petition to Charles II
he was granted a royal pardon.
The Colbert gun is among 630 items
on display in the Hunting Gallery
at the Royal Armouries Museum,
Leeds, the National Museum of Arms
and Armour. The museum is open
daily, 10am to 5pm. Entry is free;
www.royalarmouries.org
107
 COSMOPOLITAN TASTES
We are getting more international in our culinary outlook, says Philippa Davis,
nding exotic avours no longer a challenge for the corner shop
W
ITHOUT a doubt
our tastes have
become more exotic
with a greater interest in global
cuisine. I can say this with
condence as during a recent job
on an estate in the south of
Sutherland I walked into the
small local supermarket to get
ingredients for the requested
Moroccan feast. I asked the
shopkeeper if they had any jars of
tahini, expecting a raised
eyebrow, and got a, Yes, of
course, light or dark?
These recipes celebrate our
love for avours from afar.
BROAD BEAN,
CUMIN AND LEMON
TOASTS WITH
GRILLED HALLOUMI
Serves 4 as a starter
250g broad beans (fresh
or frozen)
1 garlic clove, peeled
and crushed
108
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1 tsp ground cumin plus a little
extra for serving
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tbsp water
2 spring onions, nely chopped
1 tbsp medium chopped parsley
2 tbsp olive oil plus a little extra
for serving
250g halloumi, cut into 8 slices
8 slices baguette, cut on angle
so just longer than halloumi
The textures avours and
colours in this starter are a great
way to begin a meal.
In a pan of lightly salted
boiling water blanch the broad
beans for a couple of minutes
until just soft. Drain well.
Place the broad beans, garlic,
cumin, coriander, water, spring
onions and most of the parsley in
a food processor; season with salt
and pepper and lightly pulse (I
think its good to leave a bit of
texture). Check seasoning then
add the olive oil. Pulse once more.
Enjoy Greek cheese and a riot of
texture on these toasts
www.theeld.co.uk
This can be kept covered in the
fridge for a couple of days but
serve it at room temperature.
To serve, grill the halloumi
slices on both sides on a hot grill
and toast the baguette. Lay the
halloumi on the toast and smear
the broad bean mix on top.
Sprinkle with the remaining
parsley, dust with a little extra
cumin and drizzle with olive oil.
MALAYSIAN STYLE
TROUT WITH SPICY
SAMBAL SAUCE AND
GINGER RICE
Sambul is a spicy Malaysian
condiment that can be used for
meat and vegetables or as a base
for sh curries such as this.
4 trout llets, deboned
Sambul sauce 4 cloves of peeled garlic
80g ginger peeled and 2 tsp ground turmeric
roughly chopped 2 small red onions, peeled and
2 lemongrass stalks, remove the roughly chopped
tough tops and bottoms and 5 tbsp olive oil
any tough outer layers 4 tbsp water
The Americans love sherbet,
which is creamier than sorbet

1 x 400g tin of coconut milk
Ginger rice
250g white basmati
20g nely chopped ginger
1 garlic clove, nely chopped
1 tbsp butter
15g coriander, roughly
chopped, plus extra to garnish
2 nely chopped spring onions
This method of cooking the
rice will yield beautifully
uffy results.
To make the sambul, place the
ginger, lemongrass, garlic cloves,
turmeric, red onions, olive oil
and water in a blender. Blitz for a
couple of minutes until smooth.
This paste can then be kept in the
fridge for up to a week.
To make the ginger rice, wash
the rice a couple of times to get
rid of the starch, soak in warm,
salted water for 30 minutes then
drain well.
PHILIPPA DAVIS
Boil the kettle and make a
cartouche (a circle of greaseproof
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
paper) thats just wider than
the saucepan.
In a saucepan with a lid, fry on
a medium heat the rice, ginger
and garlic with some salt in the
butter until everything is hot (a
couple of minutes).
Pour on the boiled water so it
comes just over 1cm above the
rice, place on the cartouche and
lid then cook on a medium heat
for 3 minutes.
Turn the heat down to low
and cook for a further 4 minutes,
turn off the heat but do NOT
open the lid; leave to rest for
5 minutes.
Check the rice: if its not
quite cooked enough add
another splash of water, replace
the cartouche and lid and
cook on a medium heat for a
few more minutes.
Once cooked, stir through the
coriander and spring onions,
return the lid and keep warm
until ready to serve.
www.theeld.co.uk
Malaysian-style trout with spicy
sambal sauce and ginger rice
To make the sh sauce: on a
low heat, fry the sambul mix in a
frying pan (wide enough to t the
sh llets) for a couple of
minutes, stirring regularly. Add
the coconut milk, season with
salt and pepper and bring to a
boil then turn down and simmer
for a couple more minutes.
Lay the trout skin side up in
the pan and cook for a couple of
minutes or until just cooked. I
then like to peel off the skin
before serving.
Serve immediately with
bowlfuls of steaming ginger
rice garnished with the extra
chopped coriander.
STRAWBERRY,
CARDAMOM,
ELDERFLOWER AND
LIME SHERBET
15 cardamom pods,
lightly crushed
50g caster sugar
2 tbsp elderower cordial
COOKERY
1 lime (zest and juice)
360g strawberries, gently
washed and hulled
1 tbsp runny honey
125g crme frache
50g milk
Although sherbets are not as
popular in the UK as in the
States, I think they should be.
Lighter and easier to make than
an ice-cream yet creamier than a
sorbet, they are a refreshing way
to end a meal.
Heat the cardamom with the
sugar, elderower and lime juice
in a pan with a splash of water
until the sugar has just dissolved.
Leave to infuse for 20 minutes.
Place this, the strawberries
and the rest of the ingredients in
a food processor and blitz well.
Pass through a sieve to get rid
of the cardamom and strawberry
seeds then churn in an ice-cream
maker until frozen.
If you dont have an ice-cream
maker, freeze for a couple of
hours until semi hard then
blitz in a food processor until
smooth. Return to the freezer
for another couple of hours
until frozen.
As sherbets melt quicker than
sorbets and ice-cream it is best to
serve them in bowls or glasses
that have been frozen.
Watch Philippa Davis in
action at www.theeld.co.uk.
To discover more about
the writer, follow her blog
at philippadavis.com
Postcard Recipes.
CIGARS & STICKIES
CIDER BUS SPARKLING CIDER
Whether you have a winner at the point-to-
point or are wallowing in mud at a music
festival, this will elevate your mood.
2.10 per bottle
www.ciderbrandy.co.uk
109
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ZZZVSRUWDUPFRP

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ZZZVSRUWDUPFRP _ &DOO   _ 7+( 67$%/(6 35,1&(6 67 '25&+(67(5 '256(7 '7 7:
)LQG XV RQ )DFHERRN DQG ,QVWDJUDP #6SRUWDUP

ALL SHOOK UP
Kit, says Jonathan Ray, is no less important for the serious drinker than it is for the
serious gun or rod. Here, he lists essential items no drinks cabinet should be without
I
TS just as vital for the
serious drinker to have the
right kit as it is for the serious
shot, y-sher or rider to
hounds. You would no more
think about making a Martini
(shaken, that is, not stirred)
without a Boston Shaker than
you would go y-shing without
a spare reel or box of ies.
And whod dare go stalking
sans a pair of binoculars, compass
and gloves for the gralloch? Oh,
and ropes. Gotta have ropes to
drag the beast off the hill!
Of course, some folk take kit
far too seriously. I had an elderly
friend for whom the Sunday
morning Bloody Mary was a
ritual. He would put on an apron
over his Sunday best and, in OCD
fashion, re-lay out the tools that
his housekeeper had already laid
out on a green baize card table in
the corridor by the kitchen:
lemon squeezer, silver julep
spoon, silver julep strainer, knife,
wooden board, bottle opener,
regimental drum-like ice bucket,
pair of silver ice tongs, cut-glass
saltcellar full of celery salt, silver-
topped glass pepper shaker,
bottle of Tabasco, bottle of Lea &
Perrins, jar of horseradish, silver
teaspoon, vodka, tomato. Im
sure Ive missed something.
Crikey, it was a palaver. It took
him half an hour to re-lay
everything out as he wanted and
another half an hour to make
four glasses of admittedly very
ne Bloody Mary.
You dont need half of the
above to make said life reviver.
And the daft thing was that my
old friend kept all this kit solely
for Sunday morning. I remember
once staying with him on his
housekeepers night off. I offered
to make some G&Ts and lled the
ice bucket with ice, grabbed the
tongs, knife and board for the
lemons and set to work.
No, no, no, wailed my
chum. Thats the Bloody Mary
bucket and tongs. And you cant
use that knife and board. Thats
for Sundays.
He had duplicates for his
G&Ts. As I say, he was a bit OCD.
He even insisted on wearing
white gloves to play the piano.
And he refused to sleep in a bed
without a headboard. Or stay in a
hotel that didnt have eight
wooden coat hangers or a proper
shelf for his hair-brushing and
shoe-polishing kit. I do miss him.
Anyway, back to the essential
drinkers kit. An ice bucket isnt
essential, its optional. I dont
have an ice bucket, I have a
freezer full of ice and for drinks I
simply put cubes in a glass bowl
as and when theyre needed. If I
want to keep a bottle cold I keep it
in the fridge until the last minute
and either promptly return it
once opened, put one of those
chiller sleeves round it or insert a
Corkcicle (see Six of the Best).
A lemon squeezer, now thats
essential not just for Bloody
Marys but for all manner of
citrus-based cocktails. Youll
have one in the kitchen, anyway.
A Boston Shaker is essential.
You can pick them up (the glass
and tin version, anyway) for
barely a ver. Heavier glass and
steel versions cost much more,
while retro-chic ones can cost the
earth. But you cant hope to make
a decent Margarita without one.
Oh, and youll need a proper
Hawthorne strainer to go with it.
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THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
6 ITEMS OF KIT FOR
SERIOUS DRINKERS
JIGGER SPIRIT MEASURE(3,
drinkstuff.com) Essential for
any cocktail-making, with 25cl
and 50cl measures.
has a knife blade for stripping off
WHISKEY WEDGE
(15, Urban Outtters) For
those who like their single
malt chilled but not diluted.
VINNEBAGO
(17, iwantoneofthose.com)
Vacuum-sealed ask, keeps drinks
cold for 24 hours or hot for 12.
BERRY BROS & RUDD
DECANTER
(43, Berry Bros) Elegant,
ne, lead-free glass decanter
plus stopper.
BOSTON SHAKER TIN &
GLASS SET
(15, drinkstuff.com)
Crucial for shaken-not-
stirred Martinis.
THE CORKCICLE AIR
(10, Cuckooland)
Worlds rst in-bottle, wine-
chilling cork. Ingenious.
You know, the one with the coiled
wire round the edge. You can buy
these at any catering suppliers
for peanuts.
No need for a julep spoon (the
long-handled spoon for stirring
cocktails). Not an essential at all.
I simply use a dessert or serving
WINE
spoon. And as for vino, you wont
get very far without a corkscrew,
despite the increase in screwcaps.
The nest corkscrew of all is the
Screwpull in its many
incarnations. Its virtually
infallible. I like best the pocket
one that folds away and which
lead capsules.
A decanter is important but
not essential. I inherited half a
dozen from my father and use
them at every opportunity. I
cant think of a wine that doesnt
like being shown off in a
decanter. And if you need to
clean them, use Steradent. It
works every time.
But a cheap glass carafe or jug
works just as well as a decanter, if
not as decoratively. No need to be
poncey about these things. Until I
got my mitts on my pas decanters
I got by very happily using a pair
of old Paul Masson carafes.
A decanting funnel is almost
essential. Ive a lovely antique
silver one again from my pa
but also use, just as happily, a
little plastic funnel lined with
muslin or if desperate, as it can
be very slow coffee lter paper.
There are all sorts of other
bits of kit these days, such as
electronic wine breathers,
aerators, automatic corkscrews
and so on. Fun, but not essential.
All you really need is a bottle,
an efcient method of opening it
and a raging thirst. Oh, and some
ne, large red wine glasses.
Forget the utes and the dainty
white wine glasses: champagne,
white wine, red wine, sweet wine
and port all look, smell and taste
far better in a large wine glass
than in any other sort.
111
 VINTAGE PURDEY SIDE-BY-SIDES
Classic best guns are more attainably priced for many than a modern pair of similar
pattern, says Michael Yardley but there are critical things to look out for
T
HIS month, we are
directing our spotlight at a
pair of vintage Purdey
side-by-sides. These stylish guns
come from the stock of dealer
Victor Chapman, who specialises
in the best London names. They
are priced at 19,500 (a modern
pair of similar pattern would be
about 200,000). They were
made in 1890, 10 years after the
iconic design was rst patented
(see below), have 30in, concave
ribbed, chopper lump barrels
(both sets choked cylinder and
half), weigh 6lb 9oz and are
presented in what appears to be
the original oak and leather case.
These best guns, classics of
their type, have been chosen to
illustrate what may still be
bought at attainable cost on the
112
second-hand market and to use
as a vehicle for discussion on
some of the issues that come up
when buying second-hand
quality guns. This pair are 2 in
chambered and nitro proofed,
and appear in far better than
average condition for their age.
They are exquisitely engraved
with Purdey rose and scroll on
brush polished actions. The latter
are well proportioned and
slimmer than modern guns
forward of the locks. They are
equipped with ejectors, which
might have been added later; the
guns have been proofed twice,
which may be a clue to this.
Our Purdeys have well-
gured, straight-hand stocks that
show signs of expert renishing
and have been shortened to
Clockwise: barrel renovation may
be required; streamlined fore-end;
the original case with Purdey trade
label; crisp trigger pulls
www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
14in but appear otherwise
sound and would probably go to
a 15in length of pull by the
addition of an in-period Silvers
rubber pad. The barrels, made
from Whitworth steel, have wall
thickness measurements above
20 thou. All vintage, bench-made
guns must be carefully examined
for cracked stocks (preferably
with locks removed), cracked
actions and, critically, barrel
condition. The issue in the latter
case is not just the thickness of
the walls but general barrel/bore
condition and an assessment of
the ribs (which may detach
allowing for the ingress of water)
and decorative nish. The barrels
here have been re-blacked fairly
recently, thus the wall thickness
measurements are good. If black
and barrel renovation had been
required, a thou or two might be
lost in the process.
The test guns, meantime, look
surprisingly modern. Their
hammerless sidelock action was
patented by Frederick Beesley in
1880 and the manufacturing
rights were acquired by Purdey
soon after. It was, arguably, the
nal perfection of the side-by-
side, building on developments
that had been fast and furious
since Lefaucheuxs pin-re had
appeared at the Great Exhibition
in 1851. Several are worth
mentioning. Lancaster and Daw
developed central-re shotguns
and ammunition in the 1850s
and early 1860s (Lancasters
Basere providing the seminal
idea, Daw perfecting it). Franois
Eugene Schneiders snap
action(patented in Britain in
1861) allowed a gun to be closed
and bolted merely by bringing
the barrel to the action face; it
was modied by Daw in 1862 and
further improved by Purdey. On
2 May 1863, the famous gunsmith
patented its double bite action,
with a sliding bolt a system near
universal in modern side-by-
sides. Two years later, William
Middleditch Scott patented the
equally important spindle, which
allowed the Purdey bolt to be
operated by a conveniently
placed lever on the top strap of
the action. The combined
concepts of the Schneider,
Purdey and Scott inventions
made possible the double-bite,
snap action that is seen on most
side-by-sides today.
For more gun reviews go to
www.theeld.co.uk.
 GUN REVIEW

TECHNICAL DATA
A modern Purdey side-by-side
Forgiving and is almost identical to those
tested with regard to its action
instinctive to use, and ejector mechanics and
style. It is, arguably, the most
these are near famous and inuential sidelock
ideal game guns design of all time. Compared to
the early hammerless guns that
preceded it with the exception
of the Anson & Deeley boxlock
(rst patent 1875) the Purdey
Beesley was streamlined and
mechanically efcient. Apart
from putting the tumblers
(hammers) inside the locks, the
key feature was that one limb of
each V-form mainspring is used
to power the tumbler and the
other the self-opening feature.
The Holland & Holland Royal,
inspired by the Purdey, is, by
contrast, an easy-opener with
spring power for the feature
held in a tube attached to the
barrels beneath the fore-end.
Note that the Purdey cocks on
closing, the Holland on opening.

SHOOTING
IMPRESSIONS
There is a certain magic in a
Purdey but also an irrational
fear, in me at least, that one
might damage them in the eld.
These guns handled and shot
effortlessly. They were pointable
and willing with relatively light,
concave-ribbed barrels. Balance
was a little forward of the hinge
pin, as is typical of a Purdey. Felt
recoil with a variety of Lyalvale
Express 2 12in/65mm cartridges
was signicantly less than might
be expected for guns under 7lb.
Trigger pulls were crisp. Chokes
both guns are improved and
half as noted are a good
choice for all-round shooting
and performed well. Although I
PURDEY SIDE- would prefer stocks a little
BY-SIDES 1890
higher and longer (easily
Price 19,500 for pair rectied), I had no problem
From Victor Chapman, connecting with 40yd birds
Unit 4, 121 London Road, with the open barrels. Overall, I
Marks Tey, Colchester CO6 1EB.
would rate these as near ideal
Tel 01206 863537/213068
game guns. Forgiving and
www.chapmancartridges
andsafes.co.uk instinctive to use and beautiful
to behold, there is much to learn
from their specication.

www.theeld.co.uk 113
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE

KIPPLAUF 7X65R
This very ne, Gullert-engraved, single-barrelled sporting rie from
Hartmann & Weiss reminds Dominic Grifth that stalking is a noble pastime
I
F you want to reinforce the
idea of stalking as a noble
pastime, then the Hartmann
& Weiss single-barrelled
sporting rie could be your
weapon of choice. Representing
the purists preference, the break-
barrelled kipplauf (meaning
drop barrel) concentrates the
mind and raises the stakes with
just one opportunity and one
shot available to the hunter.
Holts Auctioneers has
recently offered for sale a ne
Gullert-engraved 7x65R single
break barrelled sidelock ejector
by the premium German
HOLTS AUCTIONEERS
gunmaker. Last year, Holts
allowed me to review a 6.5x55
The Hartmann & Weiss
Kipplauf 7x65R
bolt-action rie by the same rm
and it was an absolute joy to
handle and shoot. The kipplauf
adds yet more to the experience
in its elegance, simplicity and
great beauty. The big advantage
of such ries is that a single-shot
mechanism is so much simpler,
lighter and more reliable than a
double or repeating rie. It was
designed with the alpine hunter
in mind, who wants to carry as
little as possible and is only ever
after a single deer or chamois. It
can be stowed broken down in a
rucksack and reassembled
quickly at the ring point with
guarantee of accuracy. For
obvious reasons, therefore, they
www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
are not suitable for dangerous
game and are hence rarely found
in African calibres.
Hartmann & Weiss is
renowned as a gunmaker of the
highest quality and has been
making guns in Hamburg for
more than 40 years. While
Hartmann trained in Germany
and Austria with Krieghoff and
Ferlach, Weiss trained in Suhl
and worked with Purdey at
Audley House. Unsurprisingly,
their ries are individually built
to a high standard of nish,
decoration and precision.
The rie has a 24116in nitro
octagonal to round barrel with a
raised matt rib with open sights
and a ramped bead foresight
featuring a orally engraved
ip-up moon sight. The breech
end is engraved with the makers
name and calibre designation,
and bold acanthus scrollwork.
The quadruple grip action has
nely carved side bolsters, a
manual safety detailed with gold
inlaid safe, a gold inlaid cocking
indicator, chequered double set
trigger and a rolled-edge trigger
guard. The action, lock plate,
dummy side plates and furniture
are all nely carved in high relief
with scrolling acanthus foliage
on a matted background. The
side plates are engraved with the
makers name in scrolling
banners with ornate decorative
bordering. The trigger plate is
signed F Gullert and the rie
retains virtually full original
colour-hardened nish, with the
trigger guard tang gold inlaid
with the serial number. The 15in
stock features a highly gured
pistol grip and cheekpiece, and
carved and colour-hardened
STALKING
steel heel and toe plates. The fore-
end is tted with a Deeley & Edge
patent release catch and nished
with a horn nial.
The rie is mounted with a
Zeiss Diasta xed 6x42 telescopic
sight, which is attached via quick
detachable claw mounts. Fully
set up, the overall length is just
over 41in and weight just 7lb 15oz
with the point of balance
perfectly positioned under the
chamber at the front of the action.
On the range, one is
immediately aware of the great
work of art that is in the hand.
Perfectly balanced and quick to
mount, it is a natural to point and
shoot. Whether standing with
open sights for running boar or
tted with telescopic sight and
comfortably ensconced in a
traditional German tower seat,
this rie feels right. Despite using
RWS 177gr ammunition through
such a lightweight rie, and with
no recoil pad or moderator, there
was no slam to the shoulder. I
managed a touching group at
100m that represents a degree of
accuracy not normally associated
with an exquisite work of art.
The kipplauf is a graceful
gentlemans rie for hunters
rather than for shooters. It
satises a philosophy as well as a
purpose but also performs to the
highest standards. The rie sold
in March for 15,000 and has no
doubt found a new home where
it is honoured, respected and
assuredly used.
H&W SPORTING RIFLE
Holts Auctioneers
Email info@holtsauctioneers.com
Hammer price 15,000, March 2016
115
 SPORTING DOG
DOUBLE STANDARDS
While a trialling lab will look athletic, its cousin the show dog appears portly.
David Tomlinson wonders whether breed standards have had their day
I
TS rather like the mystery of
the chicken and the egg:
which came rst, the breed
or the breed standard? The latter
is the blueprint for domesticated
livestock and is a description of
what the experts feel constitutes
the perfect pedigree animal,
whether it be a cocker spaniel or
Gloucester Old Spot. In the case
of our sporting dogs, most of the
breed standards were drawn up
more than a century ago, though
many have changed subtly or
blatantly over the years.
Take the Clumber spaniel.
During the past century they
became bigger and bigger, and
the breed standard was amended
accordingly. By the early years of
this century, the standard called
for a massive spaniel... body
long and heavy boned. Then
along came the BBC programme
Pedigree Dogs Exposed, and The
Kennel Club (KC) was forced into
a major rethink. The new
emphasis is on dogs being t for
function, which few were. The
latest breed standard for the
Clumber requires a dog that is
balanced, well boned, active
with a thoughtful expression,
overall appearance denoting
strength. The Clumber should be
rm, t and capable of a days
work of beating in heavy cover.
Well, thats what the breed
standard says but going by the
dogs that appear at Crufts, not
many of the judges agree.
Massive Clumbers continue to
qualify for the show and I doubt
that many would last half an
hour in the beating line.
Breed standards for all our
DAVID TOMLINSON
pedigree dogs are the copyright
of The Kennel Club, which has to
116
A Clumber spaniel should be t
for a days beating in heavy cover
approve and make any changes.
What the Club seems incapable
of doing is ensuring that judges
interpret the standard correctly.
At this years Crufts a German
shepherd dog won best in breed,
despite the fact it was clearly not
t for function, with steeply
sloping back and angulated hind
quarters preventing it from
moving properly. The UK breed
standard doesnt call for such
conformation and The KCs
German shepherd page says
absolute soundness is essential.
The trouble is that German
shepherds with sloping backs
have become fashionable with
both breeders and judges and
most judges are also breeders.
Under the KCs programme
Breed Watch, judges are meant to
be reporting dogs with cow hocks
or weak hind quarters, not giving
them awards.
With most of our gundog
breeds, the genuine workers no
longer come anywhere near
breed standard. Dog-historian
David Hancock summed up the
situation with the English
springer spaniel aptly in his book
www.theeld.co.uk
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
Gundogs, Their Past, Their
Performance and Their Prospects.
Broadly speaking, the show type
springer looks like a docked
setter while the working dog
resembles a liver-and-white
cocker. Today, most show
springers are left undocked, so
look even more like setters. The
English springers show
standard gives a maximum
height of 20in at the withers. If
this height were enforced, most
show springers would be
banished from the benches.
With the labrador, show-bred
dogs have been getting broader-
chested and shorter-legged,
while the workers have been
doing the opposite. Show judges
like to see dogs in a condition that
most of us would describe as fat,
while working labrador owners
want their animals lean and t.
The only way to ensure that
working gundogs conform to the
breed standard is to follow the
example of our Continental
cousins and require all dogs
competing in eld trials to be
checked against the standard.
This working English springer
comes close to the breed standard
breed pedigree dogs but the
Any that fail would be excluded
from competition. Its a simple
solution but could never be
introduced as it would rule out all
our top working dogs.
The truth is that most of us
couldnt care less about the breed
standard. We want a dog that
works well, is t and healthy and
has a good temperament. There
is one more essential: we prefer
an animal that pleases the eye.
Many people nd modern
trialling springers unattractive.
They are, typically, little bigger
than a cocker, with small ears,
snipey faces and predominately
white. Apparently, white dogs
look ashier when working
cover on a dull winter day.
In contrast, many of the top
trialling labradors are
undeniably good looking, their
obvious athleticism making
them much more attractive than
the show-bred strains. The latter
hardly measure up to the breed
standard, which requires a very
active dog. Theres no
requirement for labradors to be
fat but its become the preference
of most show judges.
Conclusions? There is clearly
a need for a breed standard if we
are going to continue to try and
current situation where no-one
pays more than lip service to the
standard hardly makes sense.
Most breed standards are full of
poetic wafe, with phrases such
as of aristocratic appearance,
well balanced and noble,
expression dignied and
fearless and gay. Perhaps the
biggest problem is that the breed
standards themselves arent t
for function.
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Z Z Z L Q W H U F K D V V H  I U
 MOTORING

SUBARU LEVORG GT
Although he can corner like a rally driver in the Legacys successor,
Charlie Flindt is concerned that he might get stuck in the mud

H
ERES yet another
curious Subaru the
Levorg. Members of the
Contrived and Strictly Inaccurate
Acronym Society (WURPS) will
enjoy the fact that the rather odd
name is derived from bits of
LEgacy, reVOlution and
touRinG. So you can enjoy
hours of fun working out that it
could have been called the
Subaru Acting, Gautto, Leonin
Its even odder that Subaru
has used Legacy as a donor
name, when the Levorg is a long
way from the farm runabout that
we grew to know and love over
the decades. Yes, it looks like a
Subaru estate slightly frumpy
and slab-sided, with a nose that
seems to droop just a bit too
much but underneath its a
quite different machine.
Theres no sign of the at-four
diesel that did so much to blitz
Subarus reputation as a maker of The Levorg is indeed fun. Its The Levorg is priced fairly But it lacks the charisma and
gas-guzzlers. The only option on not that fast but combine that low steeply and a petrol boxer even countryside-friendliness of the
the Levorg is a new 1.6 petrol. body (and low-prole engine) a modern one connected to full- Legacy. I know Subaru wont
Does Subaru know something with the amazing levels of grip time 4wd will never be cheap to take it as a compliment but
about the future of oil prices that and corners can be approached run. Subaru makes a great song aged Legacies can still be found
we dont? Or has it lost faith in its with great enthusiasm. The CVT and dance about it being the effortlessly thrumming their
diesel boxer engines? The gearbox can be awkward a set spiritual successor to the Legacy way across our crops in pursuit
so-called stepless gearbox that is of plain cogs would be far better but Im not convinced. Its a good, of hares. We wont see, or hear,
programmed to work in steps is but arent an option. The ride is roomy estate car with excellent a Levorg lamping our wheat
there but no low-ratio box good and the cabin is comfortable levels of grip, beautifully elds on a November night in
(although there hasnt been one with quality trim. The Levorg is engineered and well put together. 15 years time.
in new Subarus for some time). laden with electrical gizmos and
And minimal ground clearance gadgets but, mercifully, they all SUBARU LEVORG GT
is the nal clue that the Levorg is seemed silent on our test car.
Engine 1,600cc boxer petrol
not meant for rutted tracks and Theres another issue with
Power 170PS
the odd foray in a muddy eld. noise or, bizarrely, a lack of it. The
Max Speed 130mph
Its a road-going estate, old Subaru boxers best feature
Performance 0 to 60: 8.9 seconds
designed to make the most of was the thrum it made. The
Combined Fuel Economy 39.8mpg
permanent four-wheel drive and new 1.6 is almost silent. When
Insurance Group 24
to let drivers enjoy a bit of Subaru you reach a junction, its
Price 27,495
fun without resorting to big impossible to tell if the stop/
Website www.subaru.co.uk
spoilers and a tacky blue-and- start feature has kicked in and
Would suit lovers of good, clean fun
gold paint scheme. temporarily killed the engine.

www.theeld.co.uk 119
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
BOOKS
WHEN THE WIND BLOWS
Alexandra Hentons selection: aromatic dishes from the East; man behaving badly;
countryside facts; plants that changed the world; follow our Fair on social media
SIROCCO: FABULOUS
FLAVOURS FROM THE EAST
by Sabrina Ghayour
Mitchell Beazley, 25
THERE comes a time to put
game to one side, so, before the
grouse plummet onto our plates
in August, take a shot at culinary
adventure. Sabrina Ghayours
book is a colourful and fragrant
delight. Written plainly, without
alien cooking techniques or
incongruous ingredients, this is a
book that echoes its title.
The Sirocco blows from east to
west; Ghayours food places
eastern aromatics in English
kitchens, using home-grown
produce and western traditions.
Employing store-cupboard
staples she adds pizzazz to dishes
across ve main chapters:
breakfasts and brunches; light
bites; salads; main dishes; and
bakes and sweet treats.
Bacon-crammed pittas and
pear, feta and honey toasts are
summer breakfast staples. The
scent of Persian lamb, quince and
saffron stew or tumeric clam stir-
fry can waft deliciously over
supper in the garden.
120
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
THE BOUNDER: THE RIOTOUS
TRUE-LIFE ADVENTURES OF
A BON VIVEUR
by Mike Daunt
John Blake Books, 8
ONE tends to tread cautiously
around proclamations of self-
confessed jollity but, on this
occasion, I would recommend
heartily that you dont. Grab a
copy of Mike Daunts ripe reality
and devour. Funny, lewd, well-
observed and poignant, Daunt
has skipped through life having
an inordinate amount of fun.
From an impassioned affair
with an actress and show-
business friendships to learning
his love of eldsports and
eldcraft, running a sh and
game dealership and his
relationship with Hugh Falkus,
he has dallied and sallied
through hunt balls, the Army
and a swinging London.
As a contributor to The Field,
his wordsmithery is without
doubt a pleasure. Does Daunt
show himself to be a handful?
Yes. But a delightful one.
www.theeld.co.uk
THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE
by Ruth Binney
Rydon, 10
WHAT HAVE PLANTS EVER
IF you thought you had a rm DONE FOR US?
grasp of your rural by Stephen Harris
surroundings, think again. This Bodleian Libraries, 15
small volume by Ruth Binney is
bulging with little-known facts STEPHEN Harris, Druce
and fascinating insights. Curator of the Oxford University
The book is divided into two Herbaria, has selected the 50
parts: the shape of the plants he considers most
countryside and the living essential to the formation of the
countryside. The former western world. Ordered
celebrates the geography, chronologically, each chapter is
landmarks and lore of the illustrated by a line drawing.
countryside, from cottage styles From barley and mandrake to
to porcine markings. The latter soya and corncockle, Harriss
concentrates on ora and fauna, succinct, informative and well-
from English orchids to glow researched book covers history,
worms and fungi. chemistry, medicine, trade, travel
If you dont know a local and politics. Many of these plants
ancient wholl lean on a gate and have changed function over time,
impart his wisdom, then this rediscovered and repurposed for
book is the next best thing. the modern world.
FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR
This months app is not an app but a call to follow on social media. The
Field & Country Fair, 10-12 June at Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire, will see
The Field and its sister titles host their own celebration of the
countryside. For offers, information and news follow the Field &
Country Fair on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
  
 
   

 
 

   

      
    
      
   
             

   
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HOWARDS WAY
Going for a full MoENT
Seeking medical help on the advice of a friend, Philip Howard nds that writing a
column can mean that your consultant is a couple of drives ahead of you
H
AVING received an edict from edito-
rial high that should I mention rain
or oods for a sixth successive article
I would need to seek new and gainful employ-
ment writing the next United Utilities water
resources plan, I thought it wise this month to
concentrate on pestilence.
As you may have surmised, my friend The
Media Queen has not been slow in identifying
my numerous physical and mental imperfec-
tions. This lengthy and comprehensive list, I
felt, justified a consultation with The Doc. I
was rst despatched to Newcastle to a plastic
surgeon to have my wonky ngers dealt with,
having being diagnosed with Dupuytrens
contracture coachmans hands, to the unini-
tiated. Too much collagen causes your ngers
to curl up and my little finger was at right
angles. We are going to inject your deformed
digit with gangrene and leave you for 36
hours, barked my admirably politically incor-
rect consultant. And when yer cum back,
Pet, added his angelic Geordie assistant with
a beaming smile, hell snap it back straight
and it will hurt.
I was about to mention that I was a bit of a
wozzy with injections but thought it prudent
to seek clarification about the gangrene bit
rst, it being the cause of my late fathers leg
becoming considerably shorter after losing his
foot at Monte Casino in the war. He furrowed
his brow and asked if my dad lived at Naworth
130
THE BEST ON SHOW AT THE FIELD & COUNTRY FAIR, CORNBURY PARK, OXON, 10-12 JUNE
If you use this
spray and avoid using
a metal letter opener to
clean out your ears
and exclaimed, Bravest man I ever knew! Had
to sew a ap on his ulcerated foot, in agony all
of the time, never complained. What did you
want to ask me about the procedure?
Nothing, I replied, offering up my hand
like a sacrificial lamb and feeling as tall as a
kneeling dwarf. He jabbed in a couple of injec-
tions and during the second one his phone
rang and he shot off, leaving the needle waving
like a reed in the breeze. He does that, smiled
the nurse. Itll be one of his privates. Hell be
back in ve minutes; es doing lips today, we
divvnt want any trout pouts, do we?
I have got to go back and see him next
month. Id say 50% success but I am sure he
will have another go.
My next port of call was the ENT man in
Carlisle, which is where the meat of the prob-
lems lay. A cornucopia of symptoms had been
identied by The Media Queen dodgy hear-
ing, blocked sinus, snifng, persistent strepto-
coccal throats, reux, earache, lack of holidays
and a bout of labyrinthitis that seemed to have
gone away. First, I was given a hearing test.
www.theeld.co.uk
Ive read about your exploits in The Field
but I have also read your medical notes, the
ENT man assured me. I think if you use this
spray and avoid using a metal letter opener to
clean out your ears we should be able to elimi-
nate the ear problem. Ideally, we should avoid
sticking anything smaller than an elbow up
any of our orices.
Wise counsel I am sure you will all agree. It
turned out that my hearing was not nearly as
bad as it could have been, which he said was
entirely due to me wearing high-quality ear
defenders for shooting and chain sawing over
the past 20 years.
He put on a circular mirror and gazed into
my open mouth. Then we turned to the nose.
Mmmmm, he purred after he had inserted a
two-foot camera resembling a mosquitos pro-
boscis up my left nostril. I am not sure whether
that was strictly necessary or just revenge for
the particularly outstanding Arbroath smoky
I had eaten for breakfast.
Other than I think you probably have a
few minor allergies to grass and dust, I think
we can x all this or you can. Lifestyle. Less
coffee and zzy water will sort the throat. Less
rich food eaten and at sensible times will cure
the reflux, and a couple of sprays and fewer
sharp instruments will deal with the ears. And
you might want to wear a mask.
The whole time? I exclaimed.
No, just for chain sawing, he replied.
OLIVER PRESTON
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