“I have always been extremely keen about the E.C.H., and can never forget how much I enjoyed my hunting at Eton. Season 1902-03 A. F. Lambert was Master, I myself was first whip, K. I. Nicholl second whip, and St. J. M. Lambert third whip. Archie Lambert was a fine runner, and won the School Steeplechase, and was a good Master. He was a great athlete, kept the Field in which XI. I played myself in 1902, and was also in the Cricket XI. He died in E. Africa; no better fellow ever lived. As far as I remember, we only had two days’ hunting in the Christmas Half, one of them a good day; we found a hare in the field behind the kennels, and after a good hunt killed her in the Moat which runs round Ditton Park. We had a good season during the Easter Half of 1903, and beagling was then very popular at Eton. I regret I have no diary, but I remember one day from Salt Hill railway bridge. We found on Salt Hill, and killed a good hare after about an hour. We then found again on Salt Hill, and after a turn round the hill crossed the G.W.R. and leaving Chalvey on our left and Butts on our right killed her on the G.W. Railway Slough to Windsor. Time, 1 hour 15 min.
HIS LUCKY DAY.
“I remember another topping hunt from Salt Hill with Dorney Village on our right, and killing a good hare in the Thames above Athens, but I cannot remember if this was 1903 or the year before; I think 1903. Nicholl and St. J. M. Lambert have not hunted, I think, much since. I am at present joint Master and huntsman of the Brocklesby Hounds with Lord Yarborough, who you will know owns them. Of hounds at my time I fear I do not remember very much. ‘Comrade,’ walked by myself, was an excellent hare hunter, and so was ‘Ranter,’ both large hounds. ‘Witchcraft’ was a rare bitch to catch a hare, and ‘Witchery,’ her sister, a good line hunter. We had a very good invitation meet or two, notably with Gilbey at Marlow, and, I believe, with Howard-Vyse at Stoke. I remember running hard one day in 1908 from Remenham to the London Road beyond Colnbrook, where we lost our hare.”
In 1905, Dr. Warre resigned his position as Head Master of Eton to the great regret of everyone concerned with the beagles. However he became Provost and continued his connection with the School. Champion always swears by him. He used occasionally to go to see the kennels, and always took a kindly interest in the hunt. It was a severe blow to the hunt when he gave up, and it could truly say in the words of a contemporary magazine:
“Your road joined ours long years ago,
You found our inmost heart;
The roads diverge again, and so
We part.
We said your work was past, ah no!