Former member of hunt staff celebrates 100th birthday with Kimblewick hounds

A former member of hunt staff, who recently celebrated his 100^th birthday surrounded by many hunting friends and family, enjoyed a visit from the Kimblewick hounds at a party held to commemorate this milestone birthday.

Steve Stephens, fondly known as ‘Little Steve,’ joined hunt service as a professional whipper-in after serving in the army. He began his career with the Suffolk Hunt, then moved onto the East Essex, followed by the Old Berkeley Hunt and the Worcester. He returned to the Old Berkley to continue in hunt service before his retirement.

Wearing the Old Berkeley’s distinctive yellow livery, Steve served for nine seasons under renowned professional huntsman Jim Bennett and with their pack of English Foxhounds they were a formidable team. Steve created many lasting friendships with farmers in the Central Vale country which have lasted into his 100^th year, many of which were present at his celebrations.

Polly Portwin, our Director for the Campaign for Hunting who was present at the birthday party added:

“Steve epitomises all that we admire about professional members of hunt staff – hard working, active, dedicated and devoted to both hounds and hunting, even long after retirement. Steve’s passion and enthusiasm for life, his strong work ethic and his unfailing ability to remain cheerful are an inspiration to all who know him. The celebration of his 100^th birthday was a very special event and highlighted the important role that hounds and hunting continue to play within communities and across different generations.”

Steve was born to a large family near Cricklade, Gloucestershire in 1924. Living close to the VWH Kennels in Meysey Hampton, Cirencester, this was just the beginning of his love affair with the hunting world.

Before he was 10 years old, he was adopted by the local vet who lived at the top of his road. He was sent to school like most but soon moved into the world of horse dealership. He drove the cart for the local horse dealer and spent many days on the road, sleeping on the go, often straight under the cart.

At the age of 18, Steve joined the army. During his time in the forces, he was one of the first wave of men to reach Gold Beach, Normandy in 1944. For this he gained the Legion of Honour. After an injury he re-joined the fighting against the Germans and although he gained more injuries, in his words his “luck did hold” when he was sent on a troop ship from India to Japan.

The Old Berkeley amalgamated with the South Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire Hunts to form the Vale of Aylesbury Hunt in 1970. A later union with the Garth and South Berks took place in 2002 to become the Vale of Aylesbury with Garth and South Berks Hunt, which later went on to be renamed the Kimblewick Hunt in 2010.

After retiring from hunt service, Steve became a book binder in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. He still resides with his family in Aylesbury and is a familiar and friendly face not just within the hunting community in the Kimblewick countryside but also whilst out walking his dog around where he lives.