From the Registers

Funerals.
Terence Coverdale, M.B.E. Terence was Churchwarden of Leake for 15 years (1975 to 1983) and a very dedicated servant of the Church. After a career in the Army - Lt.Col., Kings Own Scottish Borderers - including P.A./M.A. to General Montgomery at the Normandy landings in 1944, and afterwards - he entered the wine trade with due aplomb and distinction. He and Nancy moved into Knayton nearly 50 years ago. Terry had a final battle with cancer during these summer months of 2002 and succumbed on Saturday 3rd August. We wish Nancy and the sons, Andrew and Jonny, all the very best. The funeral and burial was held privately at Leake, 8th August. Service of Thanksgiving for his life, St Mary Leake, at 11.30 a.m. on Friday 6th September.

On the 1st March 1998 I "closed" the Hillside Parish Churches and departed for London, with about a dozen busloads of parishioners organised by the local Hunts and Estates in and around our parishes. Colonel Consett was left to read Matins at Leake as a token Sunday Service. I had taken a service of Communion at Felixkirk on the previous evening - this was attended also by various media camera crews. I thought it important for the local church to be seen supporting locals and their activities, and I fully expected most of my regulars to be going to Hyde Park for the Countryside March anyway. This year, because Felix is too small for a long day in a bus, Liz will stop at home ...........

Why go? Firstly, to support their claims and their interests. Secondly, it is poor government that rides slipshod over our freedoms and culture, and, worse too, a government that will not listen and offer the support to legitimate minority interests - this is what should be expected of a genuine democratic Government. Thirdly, to endorse that there is a perspective of God's Creation and Purposes that is compatible with hunting and to which I subscribe. In part nature is harnessed to control nature. In part the involvement in that cycle of hunting, collecting food via the chase and protecting domestic stock, which draws the individual very closely into what I would call "natural man" is about. Our ancient roots as people lie in the trapping, snaring and hunting of animals for food, or reducing the predators on our own conserved stocks. We need to beware of losing touch with that side of ourselves, albeit that some may do it for others to observe. It is part of our subduing creation as a response to God's Providence. The fact that many Anti's now hunt the hunting fraternity bears out my point that our instincts need proper channels!

Many folk are turned off hunting by either the behaviour and arrogance of those who do, or because it involves the death of a fox. Oscar Wilde observed: "The Unspeakable in pursuit of the Uneatable" - this should not become a real soubriquet. Happily, the order and control of country folk marching in London opened the eyes of many to our discipline and care. And the lack of litter, left behind, spoke of other caring values, with the suggestion that much of country litter comes via visitors. On death: we need to be more realistic about the subject but since death is less part of the everyday scene - barring accidents - we have less taste of it and for it. Now that so few of any family die at home, death is removed from our experience. It has become clinical. Chests full of wrapped lumps of meat or poultry no longer remind us that, before a trip to the abattoir or butcher, those animals mooed, baaed, grunted or clucked ...........

When it comes down to control of vermin, very few realise that the fox does go on killing sprees amongst poultry or lambs. One way of finding him is with hounds. To keep up with hounds you need four legs, so a horse helps. Dress is for recognition - pink coats for Hunt Staff - and respect for the fox. The death of a fox from a hound is instantaneous - so do not believe the R.S.P.C.A. and other Animal Rights (do they respect any rights?!) propaganda, such as "the fox is torn apart whilst still alive".

I have written on the Theologies of Hunting, Shooting and Fishing as the three are linked, and part of our experience if we wish to plumb that part of ourselves*. I hope many will go marching on September 22nd in London as supporters of Liberty and Livelihood, because both are under threat from a government that has become polarised as Townies v. Countryfolk. I hope many will come to Kirby Knowle 10.30 a.m. on Thursday 24th October when we have a service to celebrate country sports before the opening meets. I hope, also, that the Countryside Alliance organisers will heed my suggestion for a series of 20min. Services, on the hour from 12 noon to 4 p.m., to give people a chance to stop, pray, and show that all of this is part of us as part of God's Creation, that we can be objective about what we do, and give thanks to God for it. I hope that there will be these short services so that there is something more than the anti-climax of arriving, at last, at Hyde Park - because it was missing last time and no one was listening ........... Wear comfortable shoes, to walk the best way!

* "Beyond my Parish Boundaries" (Shooting). £4, to go to Gamekeepers Benevolent Fund, and 60p. postage. "The Wagging Tail" (Hunting) and "The Catch" (Fishing), one volume £2-50 to go to Hunt Servants Benefit Society, and 50p.postage. Orders with cheque to T.H., please!