Hunt_page3
In 1892, Mr. Wright took over the management of the Milton kennel for Mr. George Fitzwilliam, Colonel W. J. F. Ramsden then taking over for three seasons. There followed a notable seven seasons Mastership by Mr. John Fullerton who did some useful hound breeding, and hunted hounds himself, with Dick Counsell, from Lord Fitzwilliam's, as whipper-in.
In 1902. Mr. Fullerton retired, going later to the York and Ainsty. Mr. Charles Brook, son of the Master of the Dumfriesshire then had three seasons in office, before going to the Holderness.
In 1905, Mr. John Hope Barton, son of the former Master, took over. Young and keen, he offered to buy the hounds from the Committee. This not being agreed to he retired in 1908. Mr. James Montague, a large landowner, and descendant of Osbaldeston, then had two seasons as Master.
In 1910, Major Gordon Foster, who later made such a name for himself in the Sinnington country, took over, with Dick Woodward, from the Meynell as his huntsman, and Tom Agutter (later of Milton) as 1st whipper-in. On a guaranteed £1,700 Major Foster undertook to hunt three days a week, but, with two packs, generally managed four. Attempts were then made by Sir Thomas Pilkington to raise extra subscription for a regular four-day-a-week basis, but the War intervened, the Master going on active service with the Lincolnshire Yeomanry. For the first two War seasons his aunt, Mrs. Morgan, kept the Hunt going, and then became Hunt Secretary for the Committee.
The inter-War period was a very successful one in the Badsworth country. Major C. G. Lyon and his brother were in joint command till 1922, followed by Major Lionel Holliday, from the Derwent. Major Holliday, who hunted hounds himself, was joined in 1927 by Mr. Ralph Warde-Aldam. In 1931, Major Holliday went to the Grove, and later to the York and Ainsty, where he remains.
The following season Major Brian Tinker, who had been hunting the Rockwood Harriers, took over the Badsworth with his sister, hunting hounds himself for two seasons, after which he carried the horn for the Committee. Two seasons later held went to the Grove. He was followed in the Badsworth country by Captain George Barker, son of Colonel F. G. Barker of the Garth. He hunted hounds himself for three very successful seasons, hounds going out three days a week.
In 1936, Lord Allendale came in as joint Master and took over the western side of the country previously loaned to Miss Lillo Lumb of the Rockwood, who had been hunting it with her private pack. Every effort was now being made to make the Badsworth a five-day-a-week pack, for which there was ample country. Captain Barker resigned from the joint Mastership in 1937, but continued to hunt hounds for Lord Allendale, the latter now having Mr. Eric Towler as Joint Master.
The Hunt owes a great debt to Lord Allendale for all he did during the War that followed. A reduced pack was kennelled at Bretton Park, and every effort was made to keep the country open, hounds going out as often as possible. Mr. Harry Lyon, as Hunt Secretary, also did his utmost to keep the Hunt alive.
The revival of the Badsworth after the War was due to that feeling of mutual co-operation to which we have referred in our preface, and in which the Badsworth farmers played their part. The late Colonel C. H.S. ("Mouse") Townsend happened to be stationed in the district-joined Mr. Donald Bullock, in the Mastership, and hunted hounds; but after a short spell went to Lord Bathurst's, Mr. Bullock then being joined by Mr. David Brown. Major Brian Tinker came back as amateur huntsman and also acted as Secretary with Miss Susan Armstrong Jones.