On Sunday 28th
August, the East Kent Hunt opened its gates to supporters
and interested mambers of the public for what has now
become a regular August Bank Holiday Sunday event.
Despite the Hunting Act
that came into force just six months ago levels of
support were undiminished. Indeed, through the afternoon,
nearly 200 people walked up the steep drive to enjoy the
hunt's hospitality. The majority of visitors were
ordinary members of the local community rather than
members of the hunt. One Elham resident commented that
they "wouldn't miss this for the world; it's our hunt,
very much part of our community."
There were produce,
campaign, bric-a-brac and refreshment stalls as well as a
local farrier demonstrating his craft. One young
field-sportsman brought his ferrets but the main
attraction was the pack of hounds and especially two
recent litters of pups.
The public risked being
licked to pieces as they admired hounds which included a
champion from this year's South of England hound
show.
Nick Onslow, a hunt
supporter, commented:
"The puppies are symbolic of our intention to carry on
despite the unprincipled attack by Labour backbenchers.
The East Kent Hounds have hunted this country for the
last 200 years and have every intention of continuing for
another 200. For a while our activities will be
constrained by the Hunting Act but there is no way such
an illiberal and unworkable piece of legislation will
stand the test of time. My prediction is that within five
years we will be hunting in the traditional
way.
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