West Sussex County Times - Saturday 03 May 1884

CUCKFIELD.

DEATH OF A VETERAN HUNTER.

The death is announced, in his 79th year, of Mr. Peter Gard, an old and respected inhabitant of Staplefield Common, Cuckfield, after an illness of only a few days, on Saturday morning.

Mr. Gard was well known with the Crawley and Horsham Foxhounds, of which he was for many years a staunch follower and ardent supporter, but for the last few seasons not being able to mount "shop board" and go the pace cross country after his noted fashion in years gone by, generally sported the scarlet in his pony trap at the available meets, and knowing every road or lane, highways and byeways, as well as the covers for miles around, being also, from long experience, up to the tricks and turns in the "run of a fox," was mostly "there or thereabouts." and handy at the finish, except when the hounds were led far away into a distant country by a straight-necked varmint, and then he would cheerfully give in beat.

He was one of the remaining few of a generation now passing away, but who rode the Weald and Downs of Sussex with the hounds before the iron horse came screaming through, thinking nothing of a ride home in the dark of 20 miles along muddy lanes and in all weathers.