JOHN PEEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21328, 1 November 1932, Page 13

JOHN PEEL

gi r> _Being a Cumbrian bred and born T was much" surprised indeed to read in a recent Supplement a remark attributed to Lord Lonsdale, "That John Peel never hunted a lox in his lile . . . the song is all nonsense." John did fox hunt in tho Caldbeck country, and after he died the pack of hounds ho owned was merged with the Blcncathera pack and is to this day known as the Blcncathera fox hounds, and the strain of blood in old John's pack is still being retained. Subsequently W. Crosizer, of the Biddings, near Threlkeld, became master, and I well remember 65 years ago along with my cousin, who was a great friend of Crosizer, having lunch with him at Biddings when lie entertained us with accounts of Peel's exploits when fox hunting. Another fact that goes to disprove His Lordship's assertion, when I was a lad a Mrs. llannah Smith, a grand daughter of Peel, was a near neighbour of ours in East Cumberland and she, too, used to love to recount for our entertainment and enjoyment tho escapades of her old grandfather on the hunting field. She had in her possession a number of photographs of him in hunting costume, a copy of ono of which to this day you will find hanging over tho mantel "in'tlie bar parlour of hundred; of hostelries in tho North of England. I was delighted to see a" couplo of them when on a visit to Melbourne 25 years ago. Milo upon mile have 1 myself followed the Blencatlieras over Skiddaw, Helvellyn and Saddlebackfells, and often have 1" heard them referred to as the straight descendants of old Pool's pack. I was personally acquainted with some of the Graves family, descendants of AVoodcock Craves, the author of the grand old hunting song, "D'ye Ken John Peel," which was set to music by Mr. Metcalf, of Carlisle. Such a hero was John Peel that in my time a clipping (shearing) social was never brought to a close until his song was sung by the company present, prior to "Auld Lang Syne" aud God Save tho Queen. Edwin Harrison. Tunkau.