Benjamin Burton

The former apprentice of Capt Farquhar who has given so much to hunting all around the country

- Frank Houghton Brown

THE oldest son of a hunting farmer in the Bicester and Warden Hill country, Benjamin Burton’s first hunting experiences were when Capt Ian Farquhar was hunting the hounds.

“I would come home from Brymore School in the West Country and when I went hunting, Farquhar would ask me to ride up with him,” says Benjamin. “He always said that what he liked about me was that he could give me a good bollocking and I never took it to heart.”

Benjamin joined his father in the farm partnership after school, but at the age of 25 he decided to follow his dream and hunt a pack of hounds, so he took his money out of the partnership and headed to Devon. His grandfather — also called Benjamin — had been a master of the Hertfordshire before moving down to Devon to join the Dulverton East mastership, and Benjamin followed in his footsteps.

FIVE FANTASTIC SEASONS