A: I grew up on Catton Estate where my father, Wilf, was a gamekeeper.
I would help my father after school and during school holidays. So, I quite naturally fell under his wing as an underkeeper right after I left school. it was quite natural when I left school, I joined my father as his underkeeper.
Naturally, my father inspired me to become a gamekeeper. He showed everything he knew about the countryside and so did other keepers in the area. And helpfully, so did other gamekeepers in the area.
Life seemed slower and more relaxed in them days. ‘Keepers regularly met to catch up and I was keen to learn from them all.