Gamekeepers snare top honour (From Gazette & Herald)

Gamekeepers snare top honour

TWO of Yorkshire's best known gamekeepers, each with more than 40 years service to the countryside, are among seven national winners of the Country Land and Business Association's (CLA) long service award.

They are Harold Carr, of Lord Halifax's Garrowby Estate in East Yorkshire, and Mike Richardson, of Lord Feversham's Helmsley Estate. Their awards will be presented on the first day of the CLA Game Fair, Europe's biggest countryside event, at Harewood, Leeds, August 1-3.

Mike Richardson has been a gamekeeper for almost 42 years and at Lord Feversham's Duncombe Park estate since 1964 as beatkeeper of the famous Helmsley (Beckdale) pheasant shoot. Now working at the estate part-time, he is also a familiar figure at neighbouring shoots.

Mike hails from Rievaulx, where his brother and sister still live. He and his wife Pamela live in Helmsley and their youngest son, Steve, is now gamekeeper at Newby Hall, near Ripon.

Mike plays bowls for Helmsley, is a keen angler and a bingo enthusiast.

Harold Carr recently retired as head keeper at Garrowby, having served two generations of the family.

"Harold is every inch a countryman," said the estate's agent David Lord.

"He is admired for his skill in dealing with people at every level, from royalty to trainee underkeepers, and for his part in developing the Garrowby shoot into one of the best in Europe.

"We are delighted that his outstanding contribution has been recognised in this way."

Harold is a keen follower of horse racing, will continue to live on the estate and be involved in the shoots.

Updated: 10:52 Wednesday, July 30, 2003