Biographical Sketch of 

 C. W. B. FERNIE, Esquire, M.F.H. 



Mr. Charles Witherington Bruce Fernie, J. P., of 

 Keythorpe, Leicestershire, married in igoo Edith R., 

 younger daughter of Mr. Thomas Hardcastle, of Blaston 

 Hall. 



In the brevity of this statement — which I take from that 

 useful handbook " Who's Who " — all will recognize at 

 least one prominent characteristic of the present Master, 

 viz., his essential modesty and self-effacement ; and whilst 

 gratefully acknowledging the trouble which Mr. Fernie has 

 taken in affording me all other information, I regret I 

 have been unable to induce him to favour me with his 

 own personal reminiscences of his Mastership, with which 

 I had hoped to supplement this fragment. 



I feel therefore that I shall best respect Mr. Fernie's 

 wishes by refraining from any attempt to give a detailed 

 account of his long, honourable, and highly appreciated 

 connection with the Hunt ; and will confine myself to the 

 fact that the first " Meet" of the hounds under his Master- 

 ship, took place at Saddington, on Monday, November 5th, 

 1888. For evidence that during the long period which has 

 since elapsed, Mr. Fernie has fully maintained the praise- 

 worthy level of sport attained by his predecessors, Mr. 

 Tailby and Sir Bache Cunard, the reader may, with 

 confidence, be referred to the file of the " Leicester 

 Journal," where a full account of Mr. Fernie's historic runs 

 will be found, contributed by the correspondent who wrote 

 under the nom de plume of ' Shangton Holt.' A few 

 examples of more recent date are inserted in these pages, 

 from the pen of that excellent sportsman, Mr. H. Mostyn 

 Pritchard. 



Sir Bache Cunard, in returning thanks for the testimonial 

 presented to iiitn in 1888, expressed a wish that Mr. Fernie 

 might increase the average number of years during which 



