Sidney Westcott MH
Sidney Westcott, a veritable Exmoor Man
By the Hon. Caroline Clifford
Sidney Westcott with Robin Leach
Sidney Westcott has retired after a remarkable 18 seasons as Master of the Minehead Harriers.
He was born in 1934, the youngest of three children: his parents Cyril and Dora Westcott were farmers. They lived at Wilmersham Farm which is situated high up on the moor, across the valley from the beautiful but isolated Stoke Pero church, a few miles from Porlock in Somerset.
It was at the tender age of five that Sidney, armed with a bag of chaff and his satchel, was popped up behind his sister Hazel to ride the three & a half miles from Wilmersham Farm, to Porlock School. There were only two ponies, so his brother Roy being the oldest, usually rode alone. However, there were days when they only had one pony, so all three would ride in tandem, first Roy, then Hazel and lastly Sidney. He would often arrive at school with bruised shins after Hazel, wanting him to see something of particular interest, kicked him hard to capture his attention! They stabled the pony at the Rectory and ran to school. Luckily for them, the Rector’s gardener fed and watered the pony until their return. During their seven mile daily ride they had plenty of time to see and hear all the delights of the moor. And so began a lifelong love of riding on Exmoor.
By the age of six he was accompanying his father out with the Devon & Somerset Staghounds, just occasionally hunting with the Minehead Harriers; the family farm being within both their countries. He found hunting much more fun than being at school and once Roy and Hazel had left Porlock school, there were many days when his mother suggested that he should ride out with the D&S alongside his father. He saw no reason to complain!
In 1953 Sidney married Margaret Ford. The story goes that she had not been out hunting before and didn’t think that she’d like it (Sidney says that she was an anti!). However, after a few days out following the D&S she was hooked, and as she didn’t ride became a tireless car follower, as knowledgeable as anyone on the moor.
They were living in a cottage at Wilmersham with Sidney working on the farm for his father, except of course for hunting days. In the mid 1950’s they moved to the neighbouring Pool Farm, where he also worked part time for Major Sanford earning just £3.50 per week. In 1956 his father bought the next farm along from Pool, Bucket Hole Farm, where they brought up their three children. They all hunted with him, alongside the many other children that would surround him to hear his wise words of advice, and have a thoroughly enjoyable day. Imagine their parent’s relief when seeing their little darlings riding alongside Sidney: they too could have a very enjoyable day.
It was in 1990, after decades as an indomitable stag hunter, that Sidney was invited to become joint-master of the Minehead Harriers along with Commander Jim Collins. Most people were amazed when he accepted knowing his love of Stag hunting, but Sidney was up for the challenge. Moreover, in 1993 he became master and huntsman.
His was another golden era for the Harriers, although some things had to change. Autumn hunting started in early August, not at dawn but late in the afternoon, as he had a full campsite at Pool Bridge to sort out in the mornings. He also sensibly knew that there would be more followers later in the day. On setting off the scent was often dismal, but as dusk came and the evening temperature fell hounds would speak and off we went - galloping into the sunset. It swiftly became dimpsy and then, more often than not, we would get back to our trailers in the dark!
Sidney parading hounds
Sidney had wonderful control of his hounds, and woe betide the couple that strayed from his heels for a “just in case sniff” on the way home. His passion for stag hunting had been over taken by his new fervour for fox hunting. Everyone was able to join in with this and a great time was had by all. The farmers of the Minehead Harriers country are simply marvellous. If they weren’t Sid’s first cousins - as many of them are - they were close childhood friends. What fun they all had in those days, but they would have had to make sure that “Uncle Sid had a fox for Saturday”.
Jim Collins, who had been the Exmoor Park Ranger, and like Sidney, knew every bit of the moor and the surrounding areas, retired in 2000. Then sadly, in 2001, heart trouble stopped Sidney hunting hounds, but he continued as sole Master until 2005 when there became a Joint Mastership again.
The Minehead Harriers have long been known as one of the friendliest of packs with which to hunt - Sidney and Margaret always being first in the queue to welcome our visitors.
A genial master
The country, though small, is diverse, with dramatic views looking north across the sea towards Wales. Many coombes have bubbling streams running through them, no need to worry about water for hounds or horses. The moor drops steeply through paths in ancient woodland down to the sea between Dunster and Porlock Weir: the inspiration for Coleridge’s Kubla Khan. It’s not just the visitors who have their cameras out: but the goose pimples are kept for when our little Harriers lay on the line of the trail - the music they make is stuff of legends. These are some of the many things that have kept Sidney at the helm for all these years.
He and Margaret have helped the very successful Hunt Club to organize some tremendous fundraising events over the past eighteen seasons. ‘Midsummer Madness’ will come to most locals minds. It was massive fun for everyone, going on until the early hours, with many a tale to tell. The list of events that they came up with was endless, but all made much needed funds towards keeping the hunt going.
Since the Hunting Act 04 came into force in February 2005, Sidney has done a wonderful job steering the Harriers forwards into trail hunting. However, most of us will remember our first day out after the ban and his hysterical attempt at trail laying.
After liberally applying scent, he set off across the moor fifteen minutes ahead of us. Hounds instantly laid on the trail and we swiftly caught up with him after a very fast gallop across open moorland, thus came the first check of many that day; along with desperate mutterings of being “too old to keep up” and “we’ll all need more than second horse to do this trailing lark”. From henceforth, he was duly relieved of that duty.
Sidney has been instrumental in breeding hounds at the kennels in Wootton Courtenay, having great success with Champion Doghounds & Bitches all over the West Country. At Peterborough in 2007, he won the West Country Harrier Bitch Championship; a fitting end to a fabulous eighteen seasons.
He and Margaret are now living in the charming hamlet of Bossington with all their children and grand children living within three miles of them. Sidney has a busy season ahead of him and we look forward to seeing him out with us. After all, they are the Minehead Harriers!
Caroline Clifford MH