150 years on - D'ye ken John Peel?

Hunt supporters gathered at the weekend to pay tribute to one of the sport's heroes

They were joined to pay tribute to John Peel, the Cumbrian huntsman immortalised in the world's most famous hunting song, D'ye Ken John Peel, on the 150th anniversary of his death.

And the sound of his famous horn could be heard as huntsmen from all over the country gathered.

Event organiser David Stocker said: "In many ways he was a bit like Van Gogh, who never sold a painting while he was alive - nobody really knew much about John Peel until the song became famous 30 years after his death.

"People in Cumberland knew him while he was alive, but it was only when the song became world famous that he did, but in the hunting world he will always be remembered as a legend."

Hunts throughout England and Wales sent floral tributes to the churchyard in the village of Caldbeck in the north-east of the county, and at many hunts taking place around the country, a minute's silence was observed.

Representative's of John Peel's hunt, that evolved over time into the Blencathra Foxhounds, kennelled in Threkeld, and who hunt on foot over the fells of north and north-east Lakeland, were on hand to receive and lay the many wreaths and flowers that were delivered to the churchyard from hunts and hunt supporters around the country.

The Cumberland Hunt who were meeting just outside Caldbeck, delivered wreaths on horseback, before starting their hunt. The small group attending the wreath-laying ceremony was addressed by Dr Jim Cox, a master of the Blencathra Foxhounds who lives in Caldbeck.

He told them about the life and legacy of the man who became synonymous with fox hunting.

Messages received from Cumbrian Lords Bragg, Inglewood, and Cavendish amongst others were read out.

And a hunting horn was blown at the grave by Bobby Hudson, a 90-year-old descendant of Peel, who was the huntsman of the Cumberland Foxhounds for 30 years.

Tom Fell, Countryside Alliance regional director for Cumbria, said: "We are delighted by the response of the hunting community in sending these flowers.

"Hunting remains part of our live culture, and of our heritage, and were Peel alive today he would no doubt be standing alongside the rest of the hunting community, determined to resist any moves by Government to bury hunting."