Few people mixed a love of looking and racing in addition to William Pitcairn Nunneley, who died on 23 April, aged 77.
William was born in Wuppertal, West Germany, on 23 March 1948 to Main David Nunneley (Gordon Highlanders) and his spouse Rosemary, who turned a well known secretary of the Cotswold Hunt. He was introduced up in Gloucestershire. William’s father had been a prisoner of conflict of the Japanese and his early dying aged 53 was attributed to the therapy he suffered on the notorious railway.
William’s early looking days have been with the New Forest Beagles, whose grasp and huntsman Bryan Day mentored the passion of his schoolboy whipper-in. Thwarting his father’s enthusiasm for the Military, William went as a farm pupil to the Scottish borders and Africa however his love of the foxhound steered him to his first mastership of the Tedworth in Wiltshire.
His early “tutors” have been Sir Hugh Arbuthnot Bt MFH on the Cotswold {and professional} practitioners similar to Ronnie Colbeck (Cotswold) and Sidney Bailey of the VWH. These educated hunters taught him professionalism in the way in which hounds have been produced. In addition they inspired his desire for utilizing a Köhler Countess of Lonsdale, a looking horn hardly ever seen at the moment.
After two seasons, in 1970 he moved to Northumberland and commenced seven memorable years looking the Morpeth with Ron Mackay as his kennel-huntsman. Staff Nunneley/Mackay bred Morpeth Dragon 75, most likely the perfect working doghound of William’s looking profession.
When not looking the Morpeth hounds he watched northern houndmen similar to Martin Letts MFH (Faculty Valley/North Northumberland) and George Fairburn MFH (Tynedale). In 1976 he married Fiona Grant, then working in Northumberland.
His spouse had Yorkshire connections and by 1977 they moved additional south; William taking the horn with the Bedale and later with the Middleton. William and Fiona had three kids; Andrew, Miranda and Olivia.
William’s love of racing grew along with his appointment as a full-time decide in 1979. Largely owing to his friendship with Tor Lane Fox of Bramham Park, William took the Bramham Moor hounds in 1983.
Growing racing meant his looking was restricted to bye days and his appointment as a key stewards’ secretary resulted in him retiring from that mastership in 1990. Changing into the top of stewarding in 2002, William retired in 2013 after greater than 30 years of constructing an enormous contribution to British racing.
In 1990, William married distinguished sculptress Caroline Wallace (née Doyne-Ditmas). They’ve one son, Fergus. He inherited a son and daughter; Harry and Philippa, often known as Pea, Wallace.
All through his life William had a way of humour arguably inherited from his soldier father. Described by Nationwide Hunt coach Kim Bailey as “of the old-fashioned, however exercised that with attraction and would take you on one aspect for a phrase relatively than throw you in entrance of the stewards”.
His wit was seen at an early age when a pack of beagles ran via a convent backyard being tended by nuns. The sisters have been alarmed however younger Nunneley approached stating: “I’ve despatched the Almighty a card and His secretary mentioned it was all proper.” Calm prevailed.
His views on most topics tended to be black or white. Possessing excessive requirements, he by no means misplaced his attraction however was crucial when crucial. He was truthful and nicely revered on and off the racecourse. William was enjoyable and a terrific host particularly whereas dwelling on Exmoor, and latterly in Naunton, Gloucestershire. The Nunneley home was by no means empty and his legendary decency remained with him all through his brave struggle.
William Nunneley died at house. Adored husband, father, grandfather, correct foxhunter, and eager racing man, he’s survived by his spouse Caroline, sister Fiona Dwyer, his kids and grandchildren. William’s step-sister, Susan Hawksley, predeceased him.
There will likely be a thanksgiving service at St Andrew’s Church, Naunton, at 11am on 7 June. These wishing to attend please contact household at WPNmemorial@gmail.com.
H&H information editor
Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Captivated with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all facets of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of selection is showjumping, wherein she competes her personal horses, and she or he additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping reveals via to worldwide championships.
