" OLD GURRY ' 227 



I should think there is no human being who does 

 not like " Old Gurry." There is a quaintness of dry 

 humour in his conversation which is quite unique, and 

 it is worth anything to sit and hear him talk. He has 

 a heart of gold and is always doing good turns for 

 other people. It seems difficult to imagine that Gurry 

 ever trained for the late Abington Baird, but he did 

 at one time, and won the Derby for him with Merry 

 Hampton, in consequence of which his house at 

 Newmarket bears the name of " Abington Place." 



A good many years ago Gurry suffered badly from 

 dyspepsia, and doctors failed to do him any good, but 

 on the recommendation of a friend he took to No. i 

 Bass a small bottle every day with his dinner. This 

 made a new man of him, and he stocked his cellar so 

 amply with it that he had an abundant supply for him- 

 self and occasional visitors all through the war. During 

 that time it was not permitted to brew No. i Bass, 

 but it is now, to the great joy of those for whom it 

 serves as both meat and drink. 



Miss West, who keeps house admirably for Gurry, is 

 another old friend, for she was earlier on a manageress 

 at the Rutland Arms. 



There is an immeasurable wealth of information to 

 be gained from Martin Gurry, and the number of prize 

 bullocks which he has fed is legion. 



My fancy strays northward all the time, and I am 

 bound to think of Dobson Peacock, of the Manor House, 

 Middleham, whom again and again I have met at 

 Abington Place, and whom I remember long before 

 that in Yorkshire. Years ago, in my early days on 

 The Sportsman, I went and stayed with him, and we 

 saw not only his own horses, but went on and saw 



