mr. vickerman bids p^arewell to essex 457 



Notes, 1875-1876. 



Weather was tantalising in mid-winter, nearly one-half of 

 December and January was lost to hunting by frost, and yet 

 the frost was not decided or permanent enough to give much 

 compensation in skating. November was very stormy in 

 Pembrokeshire, and yet the last run I saw there was on one of 

 the most stormy days. Sport was about an average. Ark- 

 wright had some good days, but I was unlucky, only one good 

 out of thirteen. The Essex Union (late Offin), under the 

 Mastership of and hunted by " Captain White," had a very 

 good season, and I had three good days out of six. The 

 staghounds showed their usual good sport, and, as usual, I 

 never missed a chance of joining them, and generally took 

 charge of the hounds on their homeward journeys. 



At the close of the season I resigned the treasurership 

 and secretaryship, an office which I had filled for just twenty 

 seasons, having first secured a very good, capable and popular 

 successor in Charles Paoe Wood. We o-ave a Hunt breakfast 

 at Thoby Priory on my retirement. Everyone gives me credit 

 for what is really the fact, that " staghunting " in Essex w^ould 

 have been defunct but for my exertions and assistance during 

 that long period. It is to be hoped that now it has struck its 

 roots deep enough not to be endangered by my retirement 

 preparatory to leaving the county altogether and bidding 

 farewell to "old Essex" and its pleasant hunting grounds, "the 

 Roothings." 



From the Chelmsford Chronicle, April 8th, 1876. 



Thoby Pnory was on Tuesday last the scene of a most interesting 

 gathering in connection with the Hon. H. Petre's Hounds, Mr. C. R. 

 Vickerman making this, the last meet of the Hunt for the season, the 

 occasion for inviting its supporters to a breakfast at the Priory to mark 

 his retirement from the position he has held in connection with the Hunt 

 for the past twenty years as Treasurer and Secretary. This position Mr. 

 Vickerman has relinquished on account of his intention to give up the 

 Priory and live altogether at Hean Castle, near Tenby, in Wales, which 

 is nearly completed. 



A goodly company of members responded to the invitation, though 

 many were unable to be present, among these being Sir Charles Du Cane 

 and Mr. J. Round, M.P., who wrote expressing regret at their inability 

 to attend. At half-past twelve Mr. Vickerman led the way into a fine old 

 room, a relic of the original Priory, which served as a refectory to the 

 monks, and which is 40 feet long by 26 feet wide and 25 feet high. Among 

 those present were the Hon. H. Petre, the Master ; Mr. Osgood Hanbury, 

 Mr. ColUnson Hall, Mr. R. Price, Mr. E. Courage, Mr. A. Trollope, Mr. 

 Colley, Mr. W. Whitfield, Mr. E. Percy Saunders, Mr. M. W. Crawley, 

 Mr. R. Cotton, Mr. C. L. Hope, Mr. James Christy, Mr. A. Crush, Mr. R. 

 Christy, Mr. E. Marriage, Mr. C. H. Vickerman, Mr. Jones, Mr. J. 



