A True Countryman
My Pappy always taught me every season has a blessing in its own way and for me all the colours of Autumn and the anticipation of a seasons hunting is by far my favourite season. The November Moon brings a special time as the woodcock start to fall and the late January early Febuary brings wildfowl from far off distant lands to my neck
of the woods. With all the whistles quacks and pops that sends a shiver down my spine as I hear the ghostly sound of the ghost riders the wild geese. So for me as a countryman of the old school every season has a special place in my heart and if I can share this passion with the young sports and beyond ,I think we can save but a few from going the wrong way in life and give them a passion to be an ambassador for fieldsports agriculture and conservation. 
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Growing up in a farming and fieldsports family on one side and a city family on the other, I got to see both sides of the fence. With all my city friends I grew up in one of the roughest places in Bristol and really was a little scally wag, but then there was my Pappy (granddad) ,my Dad and Uncle Dave all countrymen of the old school, it was the allure of mother nature that pulled me away from my city playground. A passion began in me for all fieldsports, right from my first outing ferreting at 2 well almost 3 years old, I was hooked but always had to go back home to the city when all I wanted was to live on my uncles farm. Well as the years went on I spent more time out with ferret/dog/snare/gun/catapult or fishing rod and sometimes all of them at the same time making friends with lots of the village boys, and well some of the girls too when I was older, graced many a hay loft ;-)
As you can see I have had an amazing upbringing right from day dot, I have had to fight for everything I do but with amazing great mentors like my Pappy (granddad) my old dad and my uncle dave and many other old school countrymen and not forgetting country women I have been a lucky Ole Hedge Creeper. But I aint done yet as all the kids still need inspiring, I believe that’s why the great spirit has given me this task to get Pass It On Young Sports out there. He has given me life's experiences from the inner cities to the high hills of my beloved North Somerset and beyond, my Pappy taught me no matter what colour, class, race or religion anyone is there is good and bad in them all you just have to get past the rubbish. So with the kids I don’t see a bad kid or wrong un, I see a kid that needs guidance you just have to find out what makes them tick. I am passionate about respect towards others and lives within this sport not to disimilar to martial arts, it teaches kids self respect and respect for others and discipline as well as fitness. But also my beloved fieldsports and conservation walk hand in hand, when you are inspired in these you have no interest in getting in touble etc and if guided properly these kids turn out as true ambassadors not only for fieldsports and conservation but in a wider life too, My final words are that within traditional fieldsports agriculture and conservation. I found some of the most awe inspiring sights and sounds and life lessons that a countryman of the old school could have ever wished for. My cup truly runeth over with a full heart and a soul filled with heart tokens as I call them from days and nights out in mother natures pantry, I have been truly blessed to see some of the most amazing sun sets and sunrises, witnessed wildfowl flights that took my breath away, hunted trapped fished and shot all over the world and all over my beloved North Somerset. Been there when new life is born and often needed my help from all sorts of farm animals and fowl to puppies of which I was/am a renowned gun dog breeder, running dog and terrier man. Ferrets and traditional rabbit control being a passion that runs through my veins and also just sitting and watching wildlife gives me such pleasure, |
