The Bucks Otter Hunt Staff
Waddy Wadsworth was a follower of the Bucks Otter Hunt and in the book Vive la Chase provides a useful account of the typical responsibilities of the staff employed by a hunt. A kennel boy (though no such specific person has been identified with the Bucks Otter Hunt) would lead the terriers, carry hunting tools (otters were frequently dug out if they went to ground) and also carry a short crop so as act as an extra whipper-in should the need arise. In 1908, the earnings of kennel boy would be in the region of 5 to 10 shillings a week.
Wadsworth describes the role of a kennel-man and whipper-in as to, “do everything.” He must be devoted to his dogs, but be a jack of all trades, able to drive, maintain the van, be able to skin and even stand in for the master when needed. A whipper-in was the person tasked with standing by to marshal hounds that had strayed from the pack, but Wadsworth also adds that he must be personally clean, tidy, have a pleasant manner and be an early riser.
The following men have been identified as employees of the Bucks otterhounds.
The Howards: Thomas, Thomas Jnr and Henry
Thomas Howard had been born circa 1834, possibly in the village of Southburgh in Norfolk, though this is by no means certain, as conclusive records of his early life are yet to be found. He was however living on the High Street of Great Linford in 1891. His occupation is described as, “attends to pack of hounds”, so he must have been one of the earliest paid employees of the hunt. Although he was married (as indicated by the 1891 census record), he had none of his family with him when the census was conducted but was lodging on the High Street with a Henry Colton, the estate woodman. By 1901, Thomas was still living on the High Street (though no longer lodging) and had been joined by 3 children, Thomas Jnr born 1871, Henry Arthur born 1875 and Annie born 1877. Thomas Snr is now described as a widower and a “Retired kennelman”, but his sons have continued in his footsteps; Thomas Jnr is a “kennelman”, and Henry a “Whip Otter Hounds.”
Thomas Snr passed away in 1902, and in 1908 we find both his sons listed in the book Otters and Otter Hunting by Louis Charles Richard Duncombe-Jewell; Henry as the huntsman and Thomas Jnr as the kennelman. Thomas Jnr had stepped away from the Bucks Otter Hunt by the time of 1911 census, but Henry Jnr continued to be employed by the hunt for some years more. We can follow his life and career from a number of sources. In 1905 the Field newspaper mentions that he is the whip, and in 1911 we find him on the Great Linford census, married to Annie and with 2 daughters, both of whom were born at Great Linford. He now describes himself as, “Huntsman to Bucks Otter Hounds.” Cross-referencing to the 1911 tax map we can pinpoint the family’s location to the house on the High Street now known as “The Old Bakery”, which was then owned by Gerard Uthwatt, the brother of the Lord of the Manor. Gerard was himself not unnaturally a prominent member of the Bucks Otter Hunt.
A rather amusing story concerning Henry comes to us from the North Bucks Times and County Observer of Saturday July 4th, 1914, which recounts the story of a lost dog, identified in other accounts as a terrier bitch. When last seen by Henry, the dog had been out exercising in a field near the canal. Exactly what had happened then is a matter of hearsay, but when next spotted, the dog was at Watford near Rugby, having been recovered from a canal barge by a policeman. John Higgins, the boatman on whose vessel the dog was discovered found himself facing two charges, stealing a dog worth £3, the property of Gerard Uthwatt, and a dog’s collar worth one shilling, the property of Henry Howard.
Higgin’s defence argued that the dog had followed his children along the tow path to Cosgrove, and thinking it was a boat dog, Higgins had innocently taken it aboard. Since he could neither read nor write, the dog’s collar which was inscribed with the owner’s details was a mystery to him, but he assured the bench that having found someone to read the collar, it was his intention to arrange for a letter to be sent to Great Linford. Unfortunately, he had been apprehended before he was able to do this. This testimony was backed up by a witness, and the bench ruled there was insufficient grounds to prove his guilt.
Henry has switched profession by the time of the 1921 census, when he is described as a sawyer for a timber merchant, though still residing at Great Linford.
Thomas Snr passed away in 1902, and in 1908 we find both his sons listed in the book Otters and Otter Hunting by Louis Charles Richard Duncombe-Jewell; Henry as the huntsman and Thomas Jnr as the kennelman. Thomas Jnr had stepped away from the Bucks Otter Hunt by the time of 1911 census, but Henry Jnr continued to be employed by the hunt for some years more. We can follow his life and career from a number of sources. In 1905 the Field newspaper mentions that he is the whip, and in 1911 we find him on the Great Linford census, married to Annie and with 2 daughters, both of whom were born at Great Linford. He now describes himself as, “Huntsman to Bucks Otter Hounds.” Cross-referencing to the 1911 tax map we can pinpoint the family’s location to the house on the High Street now known as “The Old Bakery”, which was then owned by Gerard Uthwatt, the brother of the Lord of the Manor. Gerard was himself not unnaturally a prominent member of the Bucks Otter Hunt.
A rather amusing story concerning Henry comes to us from the North Bucks Times and County Observer of Saturday July 4th, 1914, which recounts the story of a lost dog, identified in other accounts as a terrier bitch. When last seen by Henry, the dog had been out exercising in a field near the canal. Exactly what had happened then is a matter of hearsay, but when next spotted, the dog was at Watford near Rugby, having been recovered from a canal barge by a policeman. John Higgins, the boatman on whose vessel the dog was discovered found himself facing two charges, stealing a dog worth £3, the property of Gerard Uthwatt, and a dog’s collar worth one shilling, the property of Henry Howard.
Higgin’s defence argued that the dog had followed his children along the tow path to Cosgrove, and thinking it was a boat dog, Higgins had innocently taken it aboard. Since he could neither read nor write, the dog’s collar which was inscribed with the owner’s details was a mystery to him, but he assured the bench that having found someone to read the collar, it was his intention to arrange for a letter to be sent to Great Linford. Unfortunately, he had been apprehended before he was able to do this. This testimony was backed up by a witness, and the bench ruled there was insufficient grounds to prove his guilt.
Henry has switched profession by the time of the 1921 census, when he is described as a sawyer for a timber merchant, though still residing at Great Linford.
Harry "Doggy" Robinson
Harry "Doggy" Robinson, photographed 1921.
The next name we find associated with the Bucks Otter Hunter is one Harry “Doggy” Robinson; quite clearly a quintessential village character, as a story published by the Northampton Chronicle and Echo on May 22nd of 1913 makes clear. It is not however an especially complimentary one. It reports that Herbert Peach, the publican of The Nags Head in the village, had attempted to eject Harry Robinson, “kennelman, Great Linford” after he became quarrelsome with other drinkers and had refused to leave. A police officer was summoned and after further persuasion, Harry was ejected. He was fined 5 shillings and costs for his troubles.
Harry was employed by the Bucks Otter Hunt in 1906 (this according to his obituary) and had continued almost uninterrupted as kennelman and whipper-in until his retirement, though he had continued as a follower of the hunt until his death in 1960. We find him recorded as a resident of the village on the 1911 census, which provides the surprising information that his abode was, “the kennels.”
Only a few indistinct photographs have thus far come to light of the kennels (now demolished and replaced by the modern buildings of the Arts Centre), but it is clear that it in its heyday it was a substantial thatched block, so it seems entirely likely that there may have been some (possibly rudimentary) accommodation included for a kennelman.
Harry was employed by the Bucks Otter Hunt in 1906 (this according to his obituary) and had continued almost uninterrupted as kennelman and whipper-in until his retirement, though he had continued as a follower of the hunt until his death in 1960. We find him recorded as a resident of the village on the 1911 census, which provides the surprising information that his abode was, “the kennels.”
Only a few indistinct photographs have thus far come to light of the kennels (now demolished and replaced by the modern buildings of the Arts Centre), but it is clear that it in its heyday it was a substantial thatched block, so it seems entirely likely that there may have been some (possibly rudimentary) accommodation included for a kennelman.
By 1916 Harry is serving in the Army, but an article in the Buckinghamshire Advertiser and Free Press of August 26th provides the information that he was continuing to hunt while on duty in Dublin. It also adds that in a letter to his friends he had asked, “Leave a good old dog otter for a hunt when I return.”
And return he clearly did, but sadly not entirely unharmed, having been gassed in France. This had left him with a distinctively gravelly voice. Waddy Wadsworth, an authority on hunting of all kinds and a regular follower of the Bucks Otter Hunt has this to say about Harry Robinson in Vive La Chase, a collection of writings on hunting published in 1987 by Dickson Price. The visit described below would have occurred circa 1950.
And return he clearly did, but sadly not entirely unharmed, having been gassed in France. This had left him with a distinctively gravelly voice. Waddy Wadsworth, an authority on hunting of all kinds and a regular follower of the Bucks Otter Hunt has this to say about Harry Robinson in Vive La Chase, a collection of writings on hunting published in 1987 by Dickson Price. The visit described below would have occurred circa 1950.
‘Doggy’ was an old Cumberland lad who had left the area as a youngster and had gone as kennelman to the Bucks Otter Hunt, and he stayed there for some 50 years. At the time of this visit he was just about 75. Very often he could be quite a liability. If you took ‘Doggy’ into a pub for a quickie you could be sure that in a few minutes the pub would either be in an uproar with everyone laughing their heads off, or ‘Doggy’ would have to be taken away because he wanted to fight someone. You could never tell which it was going to be, the only certainty was that it would never be dull. With a direct approach, ‘Doggy’ would either be singing John Peel at the top of his voice, or he would be under the table baying at someone’s boots to show how an otter gets bolted by the terrier.
As the above account reveals, Harry Robinson was born in Cumberland, to be more precise (as he declared on the 1911 census) in Cockermouth, though he was actually registered at birth (June 26th, 1880) as Henry rather than Harry. Harry (as seemed to be his preferred alias) was the son of Thomas Robinson, a husbandman (tenant farmer), and Mary Barnes. In 1901 we find twenty-year-old Harry, his parents and five siblings residing at Sunny Howe in the parish of Arlecdon. Harry was then a coal miner (as was one of his brothers) so that he came to fetch up in bucolic Great Linford looking after the otterhounds can be considered an extraordinary escape from a hard, hazardous and frequently short life below ground.
Harry married in 1912 to Margaret Collier, who appears to have been a Great Linford native, though a confirming record of birth has yet to be found. They had at least four children between 1913 and 1921, all born at Great Linford, the last of whom Thomas was just a month old when he was captured on the 1921 census, held on June 19th. Harry is not to be found in Great Linford that day, though exactly where he had been has yet to be determined. The obvious thought is that he was travelling with the otterhounds on a hunt, but William Uthwatt, the master of the hunt was at home at Great Linford that day, which on the face of it, seems to discount that possibility.
1921 was a bad year for the hunt, as William Uthwatt passed away on July 5th, after a short illness. Harry is listed amongst the mourners at his funeral.
The next available public record throws up something of a surprise. The 1939 Register (conducted on the eve of the 2nd World War) places a Harry Robinson and his family (wife Margaret and son Thomas) on the western side of the High Street, but Harry is described as a “general labourer (electrical)”, a rather surprising departure from his career of many years. It does appear that this is the same Harry Robinson, the names and years of birth all match, so perhaps Harry had a side-line. He was definitely still hunting in one capacity or another, as that same year, he was reported to have taken part in a badger hunt in which a boar weighing 35lbs was killed after being located by his terriers. We know from a story in the Wolverton Express of August 24th, 1934, that one of Harry’s terriers was then called Crash, another we know to have been called Tinker.
Rather curiously, Harry won the “shortest hair” contest at a fete organised in support of the church fund, which was reported on in the Wolverton Express of June 16th, 1933; the same report also mentions that a Mrs Robinson was in charge of the “clock golf” stall.
Writing in his book A Sporting Life, Waddy Wadsworth provides a rather humorous vignette of the relationship between Harry and his “master”, William Uthwatt, as well as the usefulness of having a man on the hunt with local knowledge. The hunt had descended on a hotel in Cumberland, but William (known to his friends as Rupert) was aghast at the poor accommodation offered the hounds by the hotel, and was threatening to turn the whole hunt around and head for home. Harry had a solution.
Harry married in 1912 to Margaret Collier, who appears to have been a Great Linford native, though a confirming record of birth has yet to be found. They had at least four children between 1913 and 1921, all born at Great Linford, the last of whom Thomas was just a month old when he was captured on the 1921 census, held on June 19th. Harry is not to be found in Great Linford that day, though exactly where he had been has yet to be determined. The obvious thought is that he was travelling with the otterhounds on a hunt, but William Uthwatt, the master of the hunt was at home at Great Linford that day, which on the face of it, seems to discount that possibility.
1921 was a bad year for the hunt, as William Uthwatt passed away on July 5th, after a short illness. Harry is listed amongst the mourners at his funeral.
The next available public record throws up something of a surprise. The 1939 Register (conducted on the eve of the 2nd World War) places a Harry Robinson and his family (wife Margaret and son Thomas) on the western side of the High Street, but Harry is described as a “general labourer (electrical)”, a rather surprising departure from his career of many years. It does appear that this is the same Harry Robinson, the names and years of birth all match, so perhaps Harry had a side-line. He was definitely still hunting in one capacity or another, as that same year, he was reported to have taken part in a badger hunt in which a boar weighing 35lbs was killed after being located by his terriers. We know from a story in the Wolverton Express of August 24th, 1934, that one of Harry’s terriers was then called Crash, another we know to have been called Tinker.
Rather curiously, Harry won the “shortest hair” contest at a fete organised in support of the church fund, which was reported on in the Wolverton Express of June 16th, 1933; the same report also mentions that a Mrs Robinson was in charge of the “clock golf” stall.
Writing in his book A Sporting Life, Waddy Wadsworth provides a rather humorous vignette of the relationship between Harry and his “master”, William Uthwatt, as well as the usefulness of having a man on the hunt with local knowledge. The hunt had descended on a hotel in Cumberland, but William (known to his friends as Rupert) was aghast at the poor accommodation offered the hounds by the hotel, and was threatening to turn the whole hunt around and head for home. Harry had a solution.
“Put ‘em oop at farm, Master” he said. “Farm” said the master. “What bloody farm?” Any bloody farm” said Doggie. The master roared “If you think you know of a farm that will put up twenty five couple of hounds and feed them, you go and find it.” “Aye, I will and all” says Doggie. “Give us a lift oop the road someone and I’ll soon have them fixed oop.” Doggie disappeared in someone’s car and fifteen minutes later he was back.” “All right, master” he said. “First farm on the left. The building is ready, the boys are putting the straw down and the farmer had gone off for a couple of sheep in for tonight’s food.” “Do you mean that?” asked Rupert. “Of course I do” says Doggie. “Any farm in Cumberland will be glad to put up the hounds, it’s a privilege – you only have to ask.
Another story that mentions Harry only tangentially seems to confirm that he had a way of getting under people’s skins. A charge of being drunk and disorderly had been brought against two Newport Pagnell men in March of 1922, one of whom was alleged to have been so inebriated that he was offering to fight anyone, but specifically singled out Harry (it is not even suggested he was there on the night in question), saying, “If I can get hold of Doggie Robinson I will smash his head in.”
Harry died at Great Linford on December 22nd, 1960, at the age of 79 (though the Bucks Standard reported it as 80). Obituaries were carried in several local newspapers, and record that his son Tom was at the funeral (Harry’s wife having predeceased him a decade earlier) as were two of his brothers. His funeral at St. Andrew’s church boasted a considerable turnout of friends, family and notables from the Bucks Otter Hounds, including Stella Uthwatt. As a final interesting note, Harry’s final place of abode was in the old schoolhouse, at the centre of the Almshouse complex within what is now Great Linford Manor Park. Sadly, Harry was discovered there by his son Tom on his return from work, having passed away of influenza in his absence.
Harry died at Great Linford on December 22nd, 1960, at the age of 79 (though the Bucks Standard reported it as 80). Obituaries were carried in several local newspapers, and record that his son Tom was at the funeral (Harry’s wife having predeceased him a decade earlier) as were two of his brothers. His funeral at St. Andrew’s church boasted a considerable turnout of friends, family and notables from the Bucks Otter Hounds, including Stella Uthwatt. As a final interesting note, Harry’s final place of abode was in the old schoolhouse, at the centre of the Almshouse complex within what is now Great Linford Manor Park. Sadly, Harry was discovered there by his son Tom on his return from work, having passed away of influenza in his absence.
George William Cousins
George William Cousins, reproduced by permission of the family.
George William Cousins was born May 1st, 1902, at Handley, Towcester. Exactly how he came to be looking after the otterhounds is (as with the previously named persons), something of a mystery. The 1921 census finds him at Paulerspury, aged 19 and out of work, as are two of his brothers, However, by the time of the 1939 register (conducted on the eve of the Second World War) he is living at number 10, Station Terrace at Great Linford. He is lodging with the Chamberlain family and is described as a “Kennelman.”
We know with certainty that this job was in connection with the Bucks Otter Hunt, as we have independent confirmation from his family. He later lived at number 27 Station Terrace with other members of the family, and where a stuffed Otter’s head adorned a wall. He later became a greengrocer, plying his trade from the back of a horse drawn cart; the horse was stabled in one of the pavilions in the manor park.
It is recollected that on VE day (May 8th, 1945) he loaded haybales into the back of the cart and transported people down to the manor park for victory celebrations. Sadly he died very young, at just 44 years of age, and is buried in St. Andrew’s church yard.
We know with certainty that this job was in connection with the Bucks Otter Hunt, as we have independent confirmation from his family. He later lived at number 27 Station Terrace with other members of the family, and where a stuffed Otter’s head adorned a wall. He later became a greengrocer, plying his trade from the back of a horse drawn cart; the horse was stabled in one of the pavilions in the manor park.
It is recollected that on VE day (May 8th, 1945) he loaded haybales into the back of the cart and transported people down to the manor park for victory celebrations. Sadly he died very young, at just 44 years of age, and is buried in St. Andrew’s church yard.
Frederick Charles Hayfield
18-Year-old Frederick Charlese Hayfield is captured on the 1939 Register aged 18, where he is described as a kennelman, presumably with the Bucks Otter Hunt. He was born February 6th, 1921, to a Arthur Frederick Hayfield (a cowman born in Bradwell) and Mary Seamarks, a family well known in Great Linford. Of Frederick we know nothing more, other than that at the time of the 1939 Register the family were residing at 7 Council Houses, on the High Street, and that he passed away in Luton in 1990.
Lionel Douse
Lionel Douse was born August 15th, 1933, at Dorking, Surrey to Leigh and Alice (nee Woodman) Douse. Lionel’s father was a well-known member of an otter hunt based in Hampshire, so Lionel was following in his footsteps as a huntsman for the Bucks Otter Hunt. Lionel was pictured in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News of June 5th, 1963, in which it was stated he had been huntsman for 9 seasons, so we can infer he assumed the role circa 1954. He was married in 1957 at New Bradwell to a Phyliss Draper; this is notable as the account carried in the Wolverton Express of November 1st, mentions that the bride and groom left the church to a fanfare of otter hunt horns. The couple set up home at 26 High Street in Great Linford.
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