THE FARNDALE. 169 



the Farndale Hunt, and be it said to his credit he succeeded 

 with the aid of those whose sympathy he demanded. He 

 was a man who " rode on a bit," and was as keen about pro- 

 curing the brush, or endeavouring to do so, as any man who 

 came out with the pack. With trencher-fed hounds the 

 huntsman and the whip where there is one reserve to them- 

 selves the right to claim the trophy if they have succeeded in 

 arriving first at kill. He got his first hunting horse, I believe, 

 out of Danby Dale or Fryup, John Boyes, who had a little 

 pack of his own at Castleton, telling him of it. I was with 

 the old man on one or two occasions when he hunted hounds, 

 and well remember him saying in reply to something I had 

 told him regarding one or two Yorkshire packs having good 

 sport, " I'm varry glad. I alius like to hear of other packs 

 having good sport." This tells us something of the man. 

 On this day he " brushed " the fox, and I shall never forget 

 his natural pride and excitement. Possessed of a good voice, 

 he had a knowledge of the science of the chase, which assisted 

 him not a little in hunting, what is, a difficult country. 

 Dick Shaw followed his father as huntsman, and deserves 

 every credit for the manner in which he has shown 

 sport. He has always received great support from 

 the Castleton side of the country, and particularly 

 enthusiastic was the late Tommy Nicholson, of Castleton. 

 He was the largest subscriber, and was always anxious 

 to make up any deficit should such occur. I remember 

 seeing him at one of the hunt dinners at Castleton, and when 

 the famous " John Peel " song was sung he stood up and 

 was much moved. 



The " Whitby Gazette " thus referred to the veteran's 

 death : — 



An Aged Sportsman's Death. — The death took place on Friday 

 (May 13th, 1904), at his residence, ' Ashfield,' Castleton, of Mr. T. 

 Nicholson, who for many years was associated with the Farndale Hunt, 

 and was well-known in the locality as a true sportsman. He had 

 attained the age of 79 years, but maintained to the last his love for his 

 favourite pursuit, for which he had ample leisure, as he followed no 

 occupation, although formerly interested in agriculture. 



I have brought the history of the hunt up-to-date, and 



