(cont)

Today its hounds are leggier, and after over 40 years of training under Jim, are impeccably trained and exceptionally well behaved. They can also boast extremely good noses as the increasing use of sprays has meant the hounds have had to develop the ability to differentiate between and ignore the scent of sprays and other agrochemicals.

Having spent seven years working with father Sam Lang at the Cornish Fourburrow Hunt, Jim moved to Derbyshire’s Meynell and Lecestershire’s Quorn hunt as second whipper, before moving to the county in 1966 as first whipper then huntsman and has loved the county ever since.

“Banter and the ability to be sociable is a huge part of the job.” He says. “I know every farmer in the area and they’re all brilliant. It’s a way of life, not a job, and I’ll miss it immensely… the hounds have been my life for over 40 years.”

Both Jim and Julie are moving to Cammeringham, where, Julie says, Jim will potter and will under no circumstances get under her feet… whether there’s any truth in the latter we can’t say, but there is at least certainty in the claim that Jim is one of the finest huntsmen in the country and will remain a legend in the hunt’s history for years and years after what we hope will be a long and happy retirement.