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"Public Education" or flat broke? You may have seen that the League Against Cruel Sports has this week launched what it calls a "public education campaign" to "see off" the campaign for repeal. In launching this latest drive there were the usual claims about the success of the Act and the high conviction rate - read a news story in the Western Daily Press here. The truth is somewhat different. It took £30 million to get the Hunting Act onto the Statute Book in the first place - the League was central to this, yet it still got things wrong and is now trying to justify its position. The bigger picture for the organisation, and the real reason it is selling
off some of its land, is that it is clearly trying to stem diminishing funding that would appear to be the
result of ever decreasing support. Desperate times call for desperate measures. The anti-hunting lobby has
lost the argument; the Hunting Act is a bad law that has been criticised by the media, the police, the
judiciary, many veterinarians and recently senior Whitehall officials. Only last week the Government's own
response to a recently closed online petition calling for repeal of the Hunting Act was to say the Act "has
not been a demonstrable success, and is difficult to enforce. It is an unnecessary drain on police resources
and there have been few prosecutions. Only three hunts have been successfully prosecuted for illegal
hunting.” www.countryside-alliance.org.uk
Cheshire Hunt Ball 2010 Planning is already taking place for the magnificent 2010 Hunt Ball. The Committee would like to ensure that event improves year on year and would be grateful for feedback from anyone who has previously attended the Hunt Ball, and anyone considering coming this year. If you can spare a couple of minutes please click here to complete a short anonymous survey. Have your say to help make this years event the best ever!
Nick Herbert Interview & Vote OK Nick Herbert, Shadow Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, appeared on the Straight Talk programme with Andrew Neil on Tuesday 16th March. In addition to a number of topics that will interest Hunt Supporters and Farmers, Mr. Herbert re-iterated the Conservative pledge to hold a free vote on the repeal of the Hunting Act if they gain power in the General Election. This only highlights the importance of organisations like Vote OK, who gather volunteers to help MPs and candidates who support repeal of the act. We must all pull together to ensure that this flawed legislation is repealed, and make ourselves available to help Vote OK wherever we can. To view the Straight Talk program in full on BBC iplayer, please click here, or to skip to the section concerning hunting, click here.
Tarporley Races 2010 The 2010 Cheshire Hunt Point to Point will be even more exciting that usual this year, as race-goers celebrate fifty years of racing at Alpraham. In addition to the adrenaline-fueled racing, and the usual off-course excesses, a sumptuous celebratory lunch will be held adjacent to the paddock. For full details, please click here.
Hunt Ball 2009 The Cheshire Hunt Ball 2009 has been hailed as a roaring success. Revellers danced the night away as Cholmondeley Park was transformed into a Winter wonderland of frost and fog. The official photographer has now posted photographs online, so head over to the Hunt Ball page to have a look.....
Newcomers Day Have you considered mounted hunting, but are a little apprehensive about what to expect? If so, Newcomers Day could be the opportunity you've been waiting for. On Monday 7th December the meet will take place in Little Budworth and anyone who would like to bring their horse is welcome to attend. Experienced members of the field will be available for help, advice and to simply 'keep an eye out' to make sure you enjoy the day. If you 'd like to come along, it's imperative that you speak to our Secretary beforehand, so please contact Simon Ashworth on 07901 516925 as soon as possible.
The Chase The Autumn 2009 edition of The Chase is now available to download in PDF format. To download the magazine simply click the image below. Please note that the file is very large (8Mb) and will take some time to download - even if you are using a broadband connection.
The Cheshire Hunt Ball 2009 Full details of the spectacular 2009 Cheshire Hunt Ball are now available. Ticket applications are open, and there are already over 300 members of the Facebook group who have indicated that they will be attending. Following the phenomenal success of last years event, it would be wise to buy tickets early, as numbers will be strictly limited.
ODE TO BRIAN HODGKISS
Barbara Burrows, Chairman of Nantwich Supporters Club, has written a poem about Brian Hodgkiss. You will find Brian every Saturday hunting morning holding a bottle of whisky convincing us that the scrap of pink paper you purchase from him will have your winning number on it. By the law of averages it should have by now.... I have known Brian a very long time and he really is a nice guy If you find yourself in trouble, he will always help and never ask why Now he called one night quite recently and we settled down for a chat Talked about the end of hunting, the forthcoming spring, this and that Nigel said show him your poem, it was about the weather you see, So Brian read it with amusement and said “I bet you can’t write about me”
I like a challenge and immediately thought what it was I really knew. It was of course quite limited so I said “Ok tell me about you” Now Brian has been around horses for as long as he can think back. His father worked with hunters so with his Dad Brian learnt to hack. At the tender age of ten he rode out on a seventeen hand horse And although he coped quite well, there was the odd fall of course.
He later went into the army and served with the Royal Signals regiment. He was in for five years and then (too early he says) home he went. He spent most of his working life putting letters through your door And lots of people remember this time as cups of tea they did pour. He worked his way up in the Post office, demanding more respect. He probably got it too because on you he can have that effect!!
His working life was shortened when he had a heart attack But he settled into retirement and decided not to look back. He had married Joyce some years before and a happy life they had But it ended too soon, he lost her, it was unspeakably sad. It took him time to recover he’d lost his best friend not just his wife But eventually he bounced back and began to get on with his life. He has had some problems recently with his left leg giving severe pain But he doesn’t talk about it so I won’t mention it again.
He follows the hunt through the winter, his greatest enjoyment by far Hip flask, port and whisky you will find them all in his car. Don’t ask him to pour a small one; he doesn’t know what one is. So make it last, the bottle will be poised, the generosity all his.
Brian took over the Saturday meet raffles many years ago Selling tickets to supporters – helped by the ladies I’ll have you know!! The amount of money raised is really much more than quite a lot And I hope the hunt is aware of this as it goes into their pot. If you ever turn up at a meet in search of Brian look for a crowd. He will be in the middle causing a laugh and doing the hunt proud. So long may he continue to get the ladies “all in a tizz”!!! He’s a loveable rogue and a gentleman – that sums up Brian Hodgkiss.
Barbara Burrows |
