Roger Upton

[Lutra Lutra 611]

Hello to all the Falconry guys on the Hunting life forum. Sometime a go I heard the unfortunate news regarding the sad death of the great Falconer (Roger Upton) and I was somewhat saddened to hear of the unfortunate death of such a giant in the Falconry world. I can say from a very early  time   when both my brother and myself, age only 15 and flying Sparrow hawks, that even then i'd heard of this great and stupendously,knowledgable Falconer. It seems to me that we have lost so many greats in the field sports world. 

However, it is with great satisfaction and pride that we've had the chance to meet so many of the great characters within so many types of field sports. And I remember with great fondness and somewhat lucid thoughts when David, a great school friend and myself stood for a considerable time with the also great Hungarian Falconer (Lorant de Bastyai) of which he gave us a lesson of how many sub-species there were related to the Peregrine. "This was at a time when the whole situation regarding field sports was even then so different.

I agree with many members regarding so-called legends. Many of the so called ones i've met have been a major disappointment and it was so embarrassing to eventually realise how little they knew, especially concerning the quarry subject. As many members will know, to be really good, one has to study the quarry of which they intend to pursue.

My main interest has always been the     Fox, Badger and Otter, however, when I was a youngster I had a unhealthy obsession with Rats! And in my opinion to be good at anything one has to put the hours in to the study of the species.

Just back to the subject of Roger Upton's death. If anyone could supply anymore information please, that would of course be warmly received. We also lost another great Falconer who was one of the best Falconer's this country has ever seen, namely Stephen Frank and a great gentleman. However, there's so many people you want to meet but sometimes life doesn't allow one to do so for certain obvious reasons. Just with the same situation of losing very good Terrier men, Huntsmen and even certain great masters within the hunting world, one also sees great Falconer's pass by.

I hope everyone is enjoying the early days of (2018) and to many of the great guys and the ladies who I have had the privilege to call friends I wish everyone a Happy New Year.

  Also enclosed a photo of myself with the great guy David Bradley (Casper) of the wonderful film Kes.         Sincere regards, Lutra Lutra.                                                                                      

Edited January 7, 2018 by Lutra Lutra
Missed out a certain word!