Last week we were delighted to receive a letter from a member, Roger Lerpiniere, who told us about what made him choose to join the Game Conservancy, as we were then, 50 years ago. It’s a lovely story:
April 1973, very cold and inappropriately dressed but thoroughly enjoying myself. I was at Fordingbridge attending what I believe was the Game Conservancy’s first three-day keepers' course, organised by a young Ian McCall. I don’t come from a shooting family but being a friend of a farmer's son, was called upon to beat on a walked-up afternoon with the farmer and bank manager on Sheppey marshes. The bag was nine partridges, plus hares and rabbits. Eight years old and I was hooked.
Fifty years on I run a small shoot for a few friends aided by my son and grandaughter. Over the years I have used acquired knowledge to help various shoots and syndicates, always emphasising the importance of science and the role played by GWCT to answer those who are intent on attacking our sport. Unfortunately, it is difficult to persuade others to join the GWCT; even guns who think nothing of buying 200 bird days are reluctant to pay the fee!
But I'll keep pushing and am confident that GWCT will ensure continued sport long after I'm gone.
We would love to hear your stories about what first brought you to support the GWCT. You don’t need to have been a member for as long as Mr Lerpiniere to share your story. You might be one of the many people who made the decision to join to help get us through the uncertainty of the Covid pandemic, you might have been to a dinner, a Game Fair or, like the letter above, a training course.
Please get in touch to share your story. Email us at editor@gwct.org.uk and tell us what made you one of the 20,000 people who support the science underpinning an active countryside.