From Surtees to spectres

Rory Knight Bruce scours his library for hunting fiction to while away the cold winter nights

- Rory Knight Bruce

OUTSIDE a small Northamptonshire country church, on a cold February day in 2017, two Pytchley foxhounds wait patiently with their then huntsman, Daniel Cherriman, in full Padua livery.

Filing past them were figures from the worlds of politics, arts and literature, the actress Anna Chancellor, Charles (now Lord) Moore, biographer Patrick Marnham, Oldie magazine editor Harry Mount and the Daily Mail satirist Craig Brown. They were there to attend the funeral of former Spectator editor Alexander Chancellor.

But why were the hounds in attendance? They were there by request of the family because Alexander, apart from having a beautiful home that recorded one of the great hunting days in the era of legendary huntsman Frank Freeman, was baptised Alexander Surtees Chancellor. He was a relative of Robert Smith Surtees, the doyen of hunting fiction.

“It was a day to remember Alexander but also to celebrate Surtees, the Pytchley, literature and foxhunting,” former Warwickshire master Robin Smith-Ryland told me.

“THE COUNTRYMAN’S DICKENS” 

THAT there is a thriving RS Surtees Society in the author’s memory speaks volumes for the lasting charms of his creations; Soapy Sponge, Mr Pigg, Facey Romford, Mr Jorrocks, even Pomponius Ego.

Those of his novels to reread or come to for the first time should be: Mr Facey Romford’s Hounds, Mr Sponge’s Sporting Tour, Mr Jorrocks’ Thoughts on Hunting, and Plain or Ringlets. Surtees has every reason to be considered the countryman’s Charles Dickens and his wisdoms ring true to this day.