208 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



From the Field of February Sth, 1896 : 



THE DEATH OF STEPHEN DICKINS. 



We regret to announce the death of Stephen Dickins, a member of a well- 

 known hunting family, who has for something like twenty-five years discharged with 

 every credit to himself the duties of huntsman to the North Staffordshire Hounds. 

 Tn 1856 the deceased whipped-in to the Atherstone, during the Mastership of Mr. 

 Selby Lowndes, who himself carried tlie horn, having William Dickins — pre- 

 sumably father to Stephen — as kennel huntsman. On Lord Cur?;on succeeding 

 Mr. Lowndes, after a few years William Dickins became huntsman, Stephen 

 first whip, and Thomas second whip; and so things went on till 1866 or 1867, 

 when Stephen succeeded William as huntsman. Lord Curzon still remaining the 

 Master. On Mr. Anstruther Thomson taking the country in 1870 or 1871, he, 

 following the steps of Mr. Selby Lowndes, acted as his own huntsman, Stephen 

 becoming first whip and kennel huntsman, and in 1871 he went to the North 

 Staffordshire under Captain Trench Nugent, who then had the country. From 

 that year down to the date of his death Stephen Dickins has been with the pack, 

 through all its changes, and succeeded in showing a good deal of excellent sport, 

 especially in the Woore country. His hounds were always in capital condition, 

 he was popular with the farmers (whose interests he consulted), with his field for 

 the sport lie managed to sliow, and with his employers for his uprightness. 

 The hodnds have been kept in kennel till after tlie funeral out of respect to his 

 memory. 



Ou Dickins's lamented death it was felt by the Master, 

 and cordially endorsed by the Hunt Committee, that Will 

 Boxall, who had been the able and popular first whipper- 

 in since 1877, and who had gained the esteem and regard 

 of the members of the Hunt by his good conduct and fine 

 horsemanship throughout the whole of that period, had 

 well earned his promotion, and when the Marquis of 

 Stafford handed over the horn to Boxall, every one felt 

 that the right course had been taken. No one can deny 

 that Boxall was well bred for a huntsman's post. His 

 f^randfather — also named William Boxall — was formerly 

 huntsman to the Warwickshire, and is favourably men- 

 tioned, not only in Nimrod's "Hunting Tours," but in the 

 " Annals of the Warwickshire Hunt," by Sir Charles 

 Mordaunt, and the Hon. and Rev. W. R. Verney. 



Nimrod says of W. Boxall the elder, wluo was then Mr. 

 Hay's first whipper-in, " I very much like the appearance 

 of Mr. Hay's first whipper-in. Will Boxall. He abounds in 

 zeal, without which nothing can be done wxU." In the 

 Warwickshire Hunt book. Will Boxall, who became 



