On the 16th October 2005 the Holme Valley Beagles held 'The Last Supper' at the hunt kennels, New Closes Farm, in Upperthong, Holmfirth before they were sold at auction.
The Holme Valley Beagles owned a lovely sheltered smallholding in a superb location at the head of a delightful valley with extensive panoramic views. Unfortunately being asset rich and cash poor with a dwindling membership the decision was taken to sell the property and relocate after being based in the locality for over 300 years.
Having courted the Ecclesfield Beagles, they moved the hounds to Wortley and attempted to preserve their identity. This was not a marriage but as they used to say here, they were 'Livin' over't brush'. Eventually this live-in arrangement turned out not to be to their benefit. After a sweet romance with the Colne Valley Beagles, nuptials ensued and the Holme and Colne Valley Beagles was formed, the 2017-2018 season being the first of the amalgamated pack.
So for the record, no more Holme Valley Beagles and Colne Valley Beagles. There is now one pack, the Holme and Colne Valley Beagles, which is probably how it should have been in the first place, but maybe the time was not ripe before.
So on the 16th Ocotober 2005 there was a farewell supper and sing at the Holme Valley Beagles kennels. I took some pictures which presumably will only be of nostalgic interest to those involved.
Clarkey was the last huntsman of the Holme Valley Beagles while they were still in Upperthong. While located at the Ecclesfield Beagles kennels, the Ecclesfield huntsman would turn out in HVB livery and this would be regarded as the HVB event of the moment.
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Copyright image by
David W Swanbury
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Regrettably, no more will we see this HVB uniform in the field.
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