112 MEMORIES OF THE SHIRES 



left, and with them the glories of Adam's Gorse have 

 departed. 



On looking over my notes I see that this was 

 George Gillson's first season with the Cottesmore, 

 and it will not be out of place to quote a paragraph 

 written then. 



" Gillson, the new huntsman, appeared always 

 to be in the right place at the right moment, whilst 

 he seems to know when to handle hounds and when 

 to leave them alone." This was written on about 

 the first occasion I hunted with the Cottesmore that 

 season, and the opinion then formed was never 

 changed ; but I have always looked upon George 

 Gillson as the best kennel manager I knew. 

 His hounds not only worked well, but were always 

 fit. In my humble opinion a good pack of hounds 

 that are really fit should require very little assistance 

 from their huntsman. Gillson, although, of course, 

 not such an artist as Tom Firr, was a very good 

 huntsman, but in the latter part of his time he 

 suffered from ill-health. 



The Cottesmore had been unfortunate on the 

 Saturdays near Melton, but 22nd December made 

 amends for previous disappointments, and was 

 probably the run of the season up to that date. 

 The fox was found in Wymondham Roughs, and 

 was pulled down in the open near Woodwell Head 

 after an hour and ten minutes. A big loop into 

 Belvoir country had been made before hounds 

 swung round by Coston to Severston, where prac- 

 tically the first check occurred. This run estab- 

 lished Gillson's reputation on a firm basis, and also 

 gave him the necessary confidence. Surtees hit 

 the mark when he put into Jorrocks' mouth on the 



