THE name of Sir Winston Churchill is synonymous with inspiring wartime leadership and the implacable defence of freedom. He was recently voted Greatest Briton of all time on the BBC2 series Great Britons and his name has been in evidence during the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

At a time of unprecedented political attack on hunting with hounds it is therefore worth remembering that Sir Winston was also one of its staunchest defenders.

On November 30, 1948, his 74th birthday, during the first serious parliamentary attempt to outlaw hunting, he hosted a regular meet of the Old Surrey and Burstow Hunt at his Chartwell home and took part.

Reports and pictures showed him resplendent with giant cigar and homburg hat astride his large bay hunter and following hounds for over two hours. It was this sort of overt support which prompted the then government of Clement Atlee to commission the Scott-Henderson inquiry. The inquiry report vindicated hunting with the words: "Foxhunting makes a very important contribution to the control of foxes and involves less cruelty than most other methods of controlling them. It should therefore be allowed to continue."

The matter was quietly dropped. Fifty-five years later it is to be hoped our present Government will have the courage and wisdom similarly to stand up to prejudice and do likewise.

PETER PRESLAND

General Secretary

Hunting For Tolerance