“D’ye Ken John Peel.”
Fox hunt Celebration of Centenary Cumberland’s Hero.
Cumbrian’s from far and near assembled yesterday at Caldbeck, the little village which nestles behind Skiddaw, for the centenary celebrations of the writing of the world popular hunting song “D’ye ken John Peel,” which Cumberland folk regard as their national anthem. The song was written in Caldbeck by John Woodcock Graves in the presence of his hero.
There was a remarkable assembly on the village green in the early morning for the joint foot meet of the Cumberland Farmer’s Foxhounds and the Blencathra Foot Pack (the successor to the John Peel Pack) The former were in charge of Mr. R.H. Tinniswood, master, and Mr. John Tatters, deputy master was with the Blencathra with the veteran Jim Dalton as huntsman. There was a big turn out of hunting men from far and near.
While hounds assembled followers drank stirrup cup, and the crowd of spectators lustily sang the famous song led by Ben Goddard, huntsman of the Cumberland “pack” who was dressed to represent John Peel. A white wig curled from under his wide brimmed top hat, and he wore a long grey hunting coat with a crimson waistcoat. He clutched one of the hunting horns formerly used by Peel, and he roused echoes in the Fells when again and again he sounded the call before hounds moved off.
Granddaughter Present.
Some of Peel’s many descendents – his family have branches in all parts of Cumberland-were present on the green, including Mrs. Mary Bell, his 68 year old grand-daughter who lives in the house at Caldbeck where Peel once lived. Several of the dogs in the Blencathra pack were descendents of Peel’s hounds.
Among the hundreds who crowded the green only one man, Mr. Thomas James, a retired farmer of Caldbeck, really “kenned” John Peel. Mr James is 87 years old. “ I Kenned John Peel when I was a boy “ he said, “He was wonderfully like Mr. Goddard’s representation of him except that he was a trifle broader than Goddard. He was a wild rider and a fine man. There isn’t his equal here today, nor will there ever be”.
Among the interested visitors was the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, accompanied by Lady Mabel Howard of Greystoke Castle.
Hounds were cast off in Parson’s Park, which in Peel’s day inevitably yielded a fox. Their way led through the narrow lanes bordering the churchyard. As they passed the headstone of the grave members of the hunt bared their heads. In the early morning, it was discovered that a sheet of corrugated iron had been roped in front of the headstone of the grave. Reynard was soon afoot, and when he broke cover he was viewed by hundred’s of followers, including many members of the fair sex. Singularly enough the fox made for Denton Wood, celebrated in the famous song. Then he made towards Newlands and was seen to wash in the river. Soon afterwards hounds ran out of scent and no kill was effected.
A “Tatie Pot” Lunch.
On their return the followers had a “tatie pot” lunch in two marquees. “Tatie pot” is a Cumberland dish resembling meat and potato pie. The ingredients of the huge pot mainly consisted of two mountain sheep and several sacks of potatoes.
Hound Trails.
Enormous interest was taken in two hound trails over a fine hill course in the afternoon. Both Springwell and Wildrose, winners of the Hound Trailing Association championships were beaten. R.Champion’s Spotty of Churton won the Puppy Trail. Dalzell’s Deep Wit of Keswick won the Senior Trail.
Mrs. Holdsworth of Thornthwaite, Keswick, opened a bazaar. Fifteen hundred people paid for admission to the singing competition, with “John Peel” as the test piece. The winner was Mr. George Robinson a Wigton painter, Mr Jackson Todhunter. Penrith being second and Mr. Joseph M’Farlane, Crosby, third.
An “Unsympathetic” Spectator.
During the early part of the rollicking days proceedings Mr Harry B Amos, secretary for the League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports walked unrecognised in the crowd. He told a reporter he slept overnight in the same house as the huntsman of the Blencathra, but had not revealed his identity. “I am here gathering information for propaganda purpose’s not to protest,” he said. “If I made myself known to the crowd, it is quite likely that I should be thrown into a ditch, I have had narrow escapes from this treatment before when I have attended meetings of the Exmoor Staghounds”
The Rector of Caldbeck, the Rev. W. Hornby, a son of a former headmaster of Eton was not at home yesterday. He was called away on private business. He does not regard Peel as a hero.
“Why make a hero of one who neglected his farm and impoverished his family by his unrestrained pursuit of hunting?” he has said. “Is a rather exaggerated and legendary reputation as a hunter a sufficient reason for so exalting a man when really nothing else can be put to his credit”
Peel’s descendents in the district keenly resent the rector’s criticism.
Last night a dinner and ball were held at Carlisle.
The toast of John Peel was drunk in silence and Mr. John Peel of Kirkoswald a great great grandson of Peel responded.
A horn blowing competition followed.
The Scotsman 18th October 1929