Ignorance of the hunt (From Gazette Series)

Ignorance of the hunt

SIR - THE fact that most people who want fox-hunting to be made illegal do not know much about it is abundantly shown by the letter from S R Grimes (Gazette, December 26).

It is apparent from that rather muddled letter that he thinks that the hunt servants only work for six months of the year, namely in the winter, and that they spend the summer holidaying abroad on social security!

On the contrary, all the hunt staff are employed through the whole year looking after the hounds. They also spend much of their time providing a service to farmers by collecting fallen farm stock, and also, in the summer, taking the hounds to many agricultural shows at which the appearance of the hounds gives a great deal of pleasure, particularly to the children, who always race into the ring to see them.

Some might think that you should only write to the papers on subjects about which you have some knowledge.

Gabriel Hutton, Chairman, Berkeley Hunt, Chestal House, Dursley