Some say that being a hunt secretary isn’t just a job, it’s an art. It is an art of juggling, of memory and of organisation.
The hunt secretary has been referred to as “the glue that holds the very many aspects of the hunt together”, often providing much-needed continuity with long-serving tenures in the role whilst overseeing many changes in other hunt personnel.
So, what is a hunt secretary? Hunt secretaries play an important role in the running and management of a hunt. They are responsible for many tasks, often including collecting subscriptions and day caps, minuting committee meetings, collating and providing meet information, organising parking details, working with masters at meets, managing fallen stock paperwork, communicating with the masters, hunt staff, farmers and landowners, and much more.
A thick skin, a sense of humour and a huge memory are amongst the many traits you would hope to find in a hunt secretary. They may also require the skills of a bloodhound to track down those who seek to avoid paying a cap. But with modern day money handling such as pre-payment and card machines, not many tend to escape.
Historically, most hunts had one honourable secretary who managed the whole area of the hunt, however, having multiple secretaries – or a support network - which divide the responsibilities is not uncommon these days. With other work, shift work and families, it can be a huge task to take on alone.
Gail Taylor, from the Countryside Alliance, who spent two seasons as honourable hunt secretary for the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase revealed:
“In my own experience, being a hunt secretary takes a huge level of personal management; your role is part head teacher and part mother hen. Taking phone calls, remembering who’s who, greeting visitors, arranging parking at meets, arranging the never-ending task of gate shutting and ensuring a harmonious relationship with landowners and the hunt whilst working with a great team of masters. It has often been known as the role within the hunt that has all the guts and not a lot of glory. Perhaps, though, it is different for modern-day hunt secretaries and I hope that people recognise the level of work and commitment that goes into this voluntary role.”
As times change and technology advances money handling has changed considerably too. From collecting cash and cheques and doing the twice a week bank run, now a hunt secretary must manage the incoming BACS transfers, tallying who has paid what and when and for which meet.
Susie Beecroft who has been hunt secretary for the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase for over 10 years has seen many changes in her time in the role. She recalls having put “extra rings on my saddle and using small saddle bags to put all the cash in.”
Susie explained: “Technology has made life easier, for example, the advent of What3Words has made a terrific difference for directions for parking, medical help and reporting broken fences etc.”
The Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase is an example of a hunt that has a team of secretaries. Susie continued: “I have a team of secretaries which is fantastic, as we can cover for one another. We share the areas and secretarial tasks both in and out of the hunting season. We also have a lot of fun at meetings and communicate daily by our WhatsApp group.”
Being a hunt secretary may be tough at times but it is equally rewarding emphasised Susie:
“I enjoy welcoming visitors, encouraging everybody, from children to novice adults, teaching them the hunting terms and etiquette, persuading them that they can jump ‘that enormous rail’ and helping them to progress to seasoned members of the hunt. We have whole families from small grandchildren to grandparents hunting together which is so wonderful to see."
Lead image: Atmospheric Imagery