The Ambridge Socialist
The Glorious Twelfth in Ambridge: Has Brian Aldridge read the 1831 Game Act?
12th August
Game Keeper William Grundy
The 12th August termed ‘glorious’ by some is the start of the annual grouse shooting season. It is a matter of considerable controversy focused around whether grouse moors create rural jobs and boost the economy or simply drain off public subsidies and destroy the environment. That’s without considering the grouse who may cease to exist as a result..
Ten years ago in 2009 Brian Aldridge was found planning a day’s shooting of Partridge later in August. Ambridge has no moorland, or grouse, but it certainly has shooting and game birds to shoot, at least if game keeper Will Grundy has been doing his job and his father hasn’t poached them.
Yet under the 1831 Game Act the Partridge shooting season doesnt start until 1st September.
The Daily Telegraph became quite excited about Brian 2009 faux pas:
After certain events which saw Brian narrowly avoid jail he is no longer Chair of Borsetshire Land and no longer responsible for gamekeeper Will Grundy.
Grundy now reports to the even more dubious Martyn Gibson.
The Ambridge Socialist will be listening to the Archers with particular interest over the next few weeks to see if any shoots of game birds do take place
I am indebted to today’s Guardian Quick Crossword for making me aware that ‘Ambridge’ is an anagram of ‘Game Bird’… and indeed vice versa!