MR. J. W. PHILIPS. 16D 



too has joined the majority a good many years ago, being 

 a veteran at the time in question, although it was some 

 years before his own finish. He will be remembered by 

 some of the older members of the Hunt as generally ac- 

 companied by a little granddaughter on a pony, and 

 attending the meets regularly on the Draycot and Sandon 

 side of the country. George Swift, of Hanchurch, another 

 of the Sutherland tenants, who died only a few years ago, 

 should be mentioned as a typical fox-hunting farmer of 

 North Staffordshire, a genial sportsman and good sup- 

 porter of the Hunt, besides being a thoroughly up-to-date 

 agriculturist. 



Amongst present members of the Hunt no one is 

 entitled to a more honourable place than Mr. John William 

 Philips, of Heybridge, who has for years not only been 

 one of the most consistent supporters of the Hunt, and 

 one of the largest subscribers to the Hunt funds, but has 

 long been known as a staunch preserver of foxes on his 

 side of the country, an influential and valuable member 

 of the Hunt Committee, and one who can always be relied 

 on to promote the sport in every way. He has not only 

 planted a gorse on his estate near Heybridge for the 

 North Staffordshire Hunt, but has planted another near 

 Bramshall for the Meynell Hunt, w^hich has provided some 

 historical gallops from time to time, as recorded by Mr. 

 Randall in his excellent history of the Meynell Hunt. 

 Mr. Philips is almost, if not quite, the doyen of the 

 North Staffordshire Hunt, but he still follows hounds with 

 little, if any, diminution of his old fire. We are sure we 

 only echo the wish of every member of the Hunt when we 

 say that we fervently trust he will long be spared to enjoy 

 his favourite sport, and to give the Hunt the benefit of 

 his kindly presence and support. He has generally plenty 

 of good horses in his stable, and is always ready to mount 

 the rising generation, several of whom worthily follow in 

 their relative's footsteps. 



The Coyneys, of Weston Coyney, belonged to one of 

 our oldest Staffordshire families, and both of them — father 



