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Gamekeeper's long service for estate earns its reward
ONE of Yorkshire's most respected and long-standing game keepers has been rewarded by the Country Land and Business Association.
John Masterman, head keeper on the Helmsley Estate in North Yorkshire, received a CLA Long Service Award for his 40 years of dedicated service from the Duke of Rutland and CLA President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher.
The awards are given to individuals who have dedicated a lifetime to looking after vast tracts of countryside and are designed to celebrate and recognise the hard work which is carried out daily, in all weathers, by these unsung heroes who maintain Britain's countryside.
Mr Masterman began working for the historic estate straight from school, in 1969, when the Helmsley Shoot was let by the Helmsley Estate to Prince Stanislas Radziwill.
He took to the work with gusto and his aptitude was recognised when at the age of 22 he was promoted to head keeper, a role he holds to this day.
Under his direction the estate's shoot has continued to be one of the finest and most respected pheasant shoots in the country and has developed a strong partridge shoot under his direction.
Mr Masterman is active in every stage of the estate's shooting process, from the rearing of pheasants and partridges for shooting right through to actual shoots.
He said: "We incubate the eggs, hatch them out and rear them out to release. We buy in partridge and get them ready for September.
"We also have a grouse moor of around 1,000 acres which we burn and grit out for the grouse."
Mr Masterman said he still maintained a strong affection for the estate and enjoyed his work thoroughly.
"It is a truly lovely place and a lovely estate," he said.
" I would not have worked here for 40 years otherwise, would I?
"Shooting remains very popular – there are a lot of shoots around Helmsley – in Winter you can have three or four parties shooting around here. It is good for the area. After 40 years I know my way around a bit. After all keepers and farmers look after the countryside."
In presenting the award the CLA's president, Henry Aubrey-Fletcher said: "These awards provide the perfect opportunity to say a public thank you to the people who have given all, or the best part, of their working lives to managing and caring for the countryside, its habitats and the traditional sports."
The CLA's Yorkshire Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn echoed his words, saying: "We congratulate John on his magnificent contribution over the last 40 years, in which time his role has evolved."
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 11 February 2012
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