TO GRETNA GREEN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 47, Issue 2665, 3 September 1937, Page 5

TO GRETNA GREEN

JOHN PEEL’S WEDDING RIDE NOT RECORDED IN THE SONG. To many who are familiar with the hunting song and military march “D’ye Ken John Peel?” it may not be known that the famous huntsman was among the host who were married at Gretna Green, says the Weekly Scotsman. Having at the age of 20 fallen in love with Mary White, the 18-year-old daughter of a neighbouring yeoman Peel (according to the late James Walter Brown, of Carlisle), put up the banns in Caldbeck Church, and when the would-be bride’s mother interrupted their dream of bliss by acclaiming: “I forbid the banns. They’re far ower young” he borrowed his father’s fastest steed Binsey, received Mary from her window at midnight, and bore her off in triumph to Gretna Green. This marriage received the church’s "blessing at Caldbeck on December 18, 1797, and is duly recorded in the parish register there. The huntsman and his wife had six sons and seven daughters. This midnight ride to Gretna Green was probably the only one John Peel’s wife had until she was carried to her last resting place. On that occasion young John Peel—the famous huntsman was dead—told a patron of the hunt that “we can hunt Monda’ and we can hunt Wednesda’ but we can’t hunt Tuesda’

becos’ we’re going to bury muther!” The Gretna Green marriage is a romantic exploit that ought to have found a place in the famous hunting song.