S6 JOHN PORTER OF KINGSCLERE 



cultivated. Towards the close of 191 3 I visited 

 Michel Grove and Findon for the first time for 

 forty years. The Michel Grove stables have 

 been extended ; but otherwise I saw few changes. 

 The old stables looked very familiar, and brought 

 back many interesting memories. 



I had, it will have been gathered, a wonderful 

 time at Findon, considering I was only a boy. 

 There was not a house in the place at which I 

 was not a welcome visitor, and all the gentry in 

 the neighbourhood were extremely kind to me. 

 The vicar was Dr. Cholmondeley, a fine old man. 

 He it was who prepared me for Confirmation 

 and afterwards " married " me. 



I am sometimes asked what differences there 

 are between stable life in the present day and in 

 the days of my youth. Perhaps we were rather 

 more regular in our habits fifty years ago. In 

 the summer we were always on the Downs by 

 five o'clock in the morning, and in the winter 

 were out as soon as it was light. I am bound 

 to say, however, that I do not think there was any 

 great virtue in keeping those excessively early 

 hours, especially in winter. But, of course, if 

 you have a lot of horses to exercise, and have to 

 deal with them in batches, a more or less early 

 start is necessary. 



