Colne Valley Beagles and other things of interest.: November 2015

A few images from 1975 to 1999. Some may have been posted before.

Colne Valley Beagles in a pub for a sing on a Lake District visit in 1975. On the left, bottom, is George Woodrow, aka Ciggy George as he was never without a fag. He was a sniper in the Korean War and a survivor of some very very hairy times. He died in 2013 aged 83. In 2011 someone filled his car exhaust with a foam which ruined the engine of his old Vauhall Corsa at a time when he was getting rather decrepit from illness and transport was essential. I think that in the end the 'ciggies did for him' where North Korean and Chinese hordes failed.
George's Ferret.Copyright image by David Swanbury

Graham O’Brien singing in the Lakes in 1975

A hilarious performance in a Lakes pub in 1975 by Poggy – Neil Pogson. This one is known as Wagon Wheels and like all his wild performances guaranteed to bring the house down.Copyright image by David Swanbury

Joint Masters Keith Brook and Keith Wood having a little whisper together - 1975. In the previous post I have tended to mention some who have passed away at an early age and regrettably Keith Brook was such a one. His daughter is active on the CVB committee now.

Dynamite Des was another priceless entertainer. Here he was warming up with his warbling off-key rendering of Dido Bendigo. No one ever knew if he was putting it on or just simply incapable of singing.

His show stopper was his performance of Queenie, usually performed on a table, always appreciated by the ladies and guaranteed to bring the house down. Pictured in action as before in the Lakes in 1975. He used to turn up at major functions with the most stunning female partner, each usually different from previously. Copyright image by David Swanbury

Another memorable act was Ian Brookes with his performance of the ‘One Armed Fiddler’. Unfortunately for reasons of decency I can’t illustrate the climax.

August 1976 and someone of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds

Devon and Somerset Staghounds in August 1976

Pennine Foxhounds in 1975 with Andrew Searson Huntsman and Martin Fitton Whip, scrambling around somewhere on the side of Holme Moss

Pennine Foxhounds in 1975 with Andrew Searson Huntsman somewhere on the side of Holme Moss. That looks like Peter Fretwell in front but that is just a guess.

In the 1975/6 season I switched over to the Holme Valley Beagles, being closer to home, followed later by John Haigh.

A Holme Valley Beagles lawn meet in 1975 at a pig farm near Honley. The lad on the left, I forget his name, maybe Alan, but he taught himself to play the squeezebox and played the music for a bunch of Morris Dancers. He made his living trimming cows feet and lived, after this photo, at Hardcastle Crags, but regrettably far too soon joined those who would never see old age.

Next to him is David Wood who later whipped in for the HVB.

Archie at the back with the white shirt was a professional horologist and I once visited him in his shop in Ambleside to where he moved.

Rex Mason, James Mason the film star's brother, has the light coloured cap. He used to take the ‘Cap’, the collection for those that don’t know, and woe betide anyone passing or looking out of a car window as they were all fair game to Rex. Copyright image by David Swanbury

The Holme Valley Beagles moving off in the lakes on a damp day.

In the lakes in the 1970s, a bit of fun singing with Clara Black who farms most of Kentmere. Our well known local sheep farmer of the era, Arthur Howard is doing the grasping. Also see an old post - Kentmere

In 1979 we walked a couple of HVB puppies, Eton and Edale. Unfortunately Eton suffered a dislocated back leg while with us and so Edale had to go back to the kennels so that Eton could recover quietly. Fortunately he did with no ill effects and in fact became one of the best HVB hounds and also a bit of an escape artist as the pen fences were no problem. Here he is with his father figure, Tim an English Setter

If he wasn’t with Tim he was lording it in a chair.

Eton. I have explained ‘Walking’ before, but for those who don’t know it is where puppies go out to homes for their first formative year to enjoy the varied experiences of a life outside the hunt kennels.

Harry Cropper singing in the Lakes in 1979. Harry was a prison governor before he retired from his job in the south east to become some sort of countryside warden. So I can truthfully say I was once in a prison with him! (I visited him!) He went from watching people doing bird to bird watching.

!979 and the HVB ready for setting off at Kentmere. On the left Ian Slater grew up and became a Master of the HVB. David Wood the other Whip here became a maker and repairer of pipe organs.
Copyright image by David Swanbury

Wood Pipe Organ Builders

More frivolity on the Holme Valley Beagles visit to Kentmere in 1979. Clara's two daughters are on the left. One now has an excellent B&B in Kentmere, Maggie Howe but their brother who is at the front of the picture is yet another young chap who is no longer with us.

And more entertainment with Philip using the HVB Song Book.

John Haigh with two wives, never missing a photo opportunity! John became the local face and voice of the Countryside Alliance.

Stanley on the left was a high class greengrocer in Almondbury.

Still the 1979 visit. This was a golden era as far as I am concerned. They were happy times and there was good friendship and companionship. And no one went and got completely plastered in the pub either. Copyright image by David Swanbury

Arthur Howard on the left, 1902 - 1982. The BBC once did a Look North feature on Arthur which required him to sing while he hiked up a moor with his sheep. It seems the sheep took fright and ran off while Arthur had to give up due to being out of breath. Copyright image by David Swanbury

James, aka Pennine Lad, with his brother and with Eton, Edale and another puppy at the Holme Valley Beagles Puppy Show of 1980. The kennels were a wonderful smallholding situated at the sheltered head of a long wide green valley with views across as far as Emley Moor.

HVB Puppy show in 1980

HVB Puppy show in 1980. Barry Bridgewater, Huntsman, is in the white coat just showing hounds generally after the puppies have been judged.

Bringing home the silverware. Eton made a bit of a clean sweep when the season’s puppies were judged.

James aka Pennine Lad in 1983 becomes a Holme Valley Beagles Whipper-in. Copyright image by David Swanbury

In 1986 Simon Ford became huntsman for a season, following John Cocking another noted singer and who had hunted the CVB for a few seasons on Wednesdays. Simon looks to be getting some advice from his father who was Master at the time and who hunted the HVB when I first gave it a proper go for a couple of seasons many years previously, before going to the CVB. Pictured on one of the first Lakes meets of 1986.

James Swanbury and Richard Stubley as Whips on the 1986 Lakes trip. Richard is now a freelance photographer and tends to follow the Rockwood and more photogenic activities, but he whipped-in for quite a while on and off starting quite young. The VW Dormobile was part of our family for a long time but had to go eventually. Now I wish I still had it, especially in that condition as they are worth a bob or two. Stubley's site

Still in 1986, we were always based in Kentmere on our Lakes visits, this tame red deer lived there. Barry Bridgewater, left, had been a long time huntsman of the HVB, Roger Roe, centre, was to hunt them next season after Simon Ford finished and John Haigh had previously hunted the CVB for a couple of seasons or so on Saturdays. I just took snaps now and then.
Copyright image by David Swanbury

Lockerbie. In 1987 Roger Roe was Huntsman and Master of the HVB and we started going for an annual trip to Lockerbie in Dumfriesshire.

Roger brought a new vitality to the hunt he had been following for a number of seasons before becoming Huntsman and Master.

We used to stay at the Kings Arms in Lockerbie on these trips. On the left is Richard Hoyle. Richard Hoyle was a passionate supporter of the local beagles. A most charming gentleman who I would see helping to walk hounds out for exercise in the summer as I came home from work even when he was quite old. Another significant character who has gone but at a decent age I suppose. Next to him is Huntsman and Master Roger Roe, then another character, Arnold Brook. Arnold was the mill engineer at a big Holmfirth dyeworks, but tucked away in his garage was a 'Stanley steamer' and he also ran a big steam lorry. Then of course John Haigh again.

John Haigh performing in the Kings Arms at Lockerbie. Probably singing 'The Rawtenstall Annual Fair'.

Roger Roe with Pat Ripley aka Rippers, another active sporting character and staunch supporter of the Holme Valley Beagles, who became Treasurer, along with Arnold Brook at the bar in Lockerbie in 1987.

I suppose we were in Lockerbie area by invitation of the Dumfriesshire Foxhounds. This unique pack of black and tan hounds was owned by Major Sir Rupert Buchanan-Jardine, 4th Bt, seen here talking with Roger Roe. Sir Rupert Copyright image by David Swanbury

Sir Rupert in 1987 with his Huntsman.

Dumfriesshire Foxhounds on the move in 1987.

Copyright image by David Swanbury

A giddy moment with Barry Bridgewater at the Holme Valley Beagles Puppy Show and Open Day of 1989.
Copyright image by David Swanbury

James Swanbury hunting the Holme Valley Beagles nearby West Nab in 1988.

And on the moor around Bradfield on a misty dark day in 1988.

James Swanbury although a Whipper-in for the HVB is having to hunt the pack at a Bradshaw meet in 1989.

Digley Reservoir in the background as hounds are helped over a high stone wall topped with barbed wire.

Cogitating at Bradshaw with Paul who whipped in for the HVB then and still does for the CVB now, when he is not out in the Gulf as a marine engineer. Looks just the same too.

The Holme Valley Beagles meet at the Fleece Inn at Holme on Boxing Day 1989.

Roger Roe at the Fleece Inn at Holme on Boxing Day 1989.

Boxing Day 1989.

The Holme Valley Beagles Puppy Show in 1990 with Jean Dunn as judge.

Barry Bridgewater and Jean Dunn

It was a damp day!

Generally speaking, those attending Puppy Shows, by invitation of the Master, wore their best kit or something approximating it. The days of Sunday Best have gone and whilst some still make an effort, today that bit of tradition is rapidly fading around here now.

“A word in your ear Barry”

Frank Stacey on the right was the long serving and last HVB kennelman living at the kennels in Upperthong, before they fled to join with the Ecclesfield. The wonderful property was sold and has later sold again to a local property developer who reconfigured the site to three dwellings, two of which have been on the market for absolutely ages. Shame it got messed up.

Richard Hoyle in 1990 looking a bit flushed probably from the odd wee drop of fortified wine that he quite liked on special occasions - or maybe it is just the photograph. I guess he would be 76 or thereabouts then, as he lasted until 2007 so it must have done him some good.

Roger Roe talking to Martin Fitton in the black plastic coat. Martin Fitton hunted the Colne Valley Beagles from 1983 to 1989 and then departed to the Claro. Another singer who still who pops up at the odd event. Martin Fitton singing in Goathland

An HVB lawn meet in 1990 at Roger Roe’s friend, Bob Turner’s establishment, Hunter's House, Woodnook, before he left to live in the Lakes.

Roger Roe talking to Sir Rupert at a Meet of the Dumfriesshire Foxhounds when were visited in 1990. We tended to visit early in January and in 1989 were due to go shortly after the remains of Pan Am Flight 103 descended on the area. We were all for cancelling but were persuaded to go. It was a very sad and very moving experience to see some of the damage, the flowers and the now cleaned up areas where debris had landed.

The Dumfriesshire Foxhounds were a direct casualty of the Hunting Act.

'When hunting, as he knew it, was banned Sir Rupert decided that the hounds, which he had bred specifically for their physical strength, nose and voice, would be impossible to control sufficiently to comply with the new rules. He retired from hunting and gave his hounds away, mostly to overseas packs, so that they could continue to hunt in the manner for which he had bred them.’

With the departure of Roger Roe from the HVB, James Swanbury went to whip in for the Pennine Foxhounds and I hung up my beagling boots for a while. Taken 1993.

Pennine Foxhounds 1993 leaving the Pennine kennels in December 1993 with Huntsman Glenn Westmorland and Whip James Swanbury

In 1997 a walk was organized in support of hunting. It went in stages from Calbeck in Cumbria to a rally in Hyde Park. I am of the opinion that nothing positive like that however substantial has any effect on negative agendas. Anyway in the spirit of the time to try to keep hunting alive, James and Charles did the first section from Calbeck.

Future CVB Joint Masters, having enjoyed the trek

And relaxing for a break, or was it the end of the first stage?

Huntsmen head for London

Pennine Foxhounds meet from The Cricketers at Deanhouse in 1999

Pennine Foxhounds Huntsman is Will Pinkney

Pennine Foxhounds near Honley in 1999. The Mercedes G-wagon 4X4 lurking there was registered in 1993 and I am sure it is the same one still going strong today in pristine original condition. However, the owner, out of consideration for arthritic joints has had some smart running boards made. Copyright image by David Swanbury

Tuesday 10 November 2015

HUNTING ODDS AND ENDS 1975 -1999

I suppose we were in Lockerbie area by invitation of the Dumfriesshire Foxhounds. This unique pack of black and tan hounds was owned by Major Sir Rupert Buchanan-Jardine, 4th Bt, seen here talking with Roger Roe. Sir Rupert Copyright image by David Swanbury

Dumfriesshire Foxhounds on the move in 1987.

Copyright image by David Swanbury

A giddy moment with Barry Bridgewater at the Holme Valley Beagles Puppy Show and Open Day of 1989.
Copyright image by David Swanbury

Tuesday 10 November 2015

HUNTING ODDS AND ENDS 1975 -1999

I suppose we were in Lockerbie area by invitation of the Dumfriesshire Foxhounds. This unique pack of black and tan hounds was owned by Major Sir Rupert Buchanan-Jardine, 4th Bt, seen here talking with Roger Roe. Sir Rupert Copyright image by David Swanbury

Dumfriesshire Foxhounds on the move in 1987.

Copyright image by David Swanbury

A giddy moment with Barry Bridgewater at the Holme Valley Beagles Puppy Show and Open Day of 1989. Copyright image by David Swanbury

A giddy moment with Barry Bridgewater at the Holme Valley Beagles Puppy Show and Open Day of 1989.
Copyright image by David Swanbury