Some 50 years ago, an advert was placed in the papers. The 17th-century blanket company Early’s of Witney was about to celebrate 300 years in business and was wondering if there were any other family firms out there of similar longevity; if there were, a free lunch was on offer. Geoffrey Durtnell, the then-chairman of Kent-based builders R Durtnell & Sons, saw the advert and, conscious that his family business was some 425 years old, responded and a jolly good lunch was duly enjoyed. Indeed, it was such a success that the men agreed to meet again the following year and, lo, the Tercentenarian Club was born.
Such tenacious survival in the commercial world is no mean feat. Three hundred years ago Britain was a very different place indeed. Society was still largely agricultural, with the Industrial Revolution some half a century off. George I was on the throne, and pretty unpopular, too, derided for his wooden manner and inability to speak English. Catholics and Protestants were still pitted against each other, with Whigs and Tories at loggerheads in Parliament, which was about to have its first de facto prime minister as Robert Walpole was propelled into office by the financial ruin of thousands of investors in the South Sea Company. Robinson Crusoe was the contemporary bestseller and George Frideric Handel topped the Georgian charts.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2020 من The Field.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
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هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2020 من The Field.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Going over old ground
Forget modern tractors and minimum tillage - there is something glorious about the sight of farmer, horse and vintage plough in perfect harmony
Return of the natives
There is nothing as satisfying as creating a magical miniature woodland or conservation hedgerow using our native trees - and now is the best time to start.
Tagging the Cornish tunny
Enormous Atlantic bluefin tuna are once again making waves in UK waters almost a century after their showstopping appearance in the North Sea
In it for the long haul
It may have fallen out of favour at the elite level but long-format three-day eventing is still proving popular with grassroots riders
Unpicking the story of hunt buttons
These treasured tokens are bestowed only upon those who go above and beyond in service of their hunt but the rules around them can be complex
A place of tradition in the heart of town
Cordings has helped shape the sartorial landscape of Britain for 185 years, with its classic country tailoring a firm staple of many sporting wardrobes
Don't play it by ear
Hearing loss can have a devastating impact on day-to-day life, making ear protection a non-negotiable piece of field kit
Back to base-ics
Britain's famously unpredictable climate can make staying comfortable in the field a challenge but the right under layers can be a game changer
Stand and deliver
A good stance provides the platform for shotgun marksmanship and is fundamental to consistent success in the field or breaking clays
Heaven is a High Four
A team of guns enjoy a day of the finest sport Devon has to offer, courtesy of the GWCT and a quartet of generous shoot owners