A terrific Twelfth

A kestrel hovered above us as the shoot briefing began. Edward Bromet, our host, welcomed in the new season, the Twelfth and the Guns to Bingley Moor under the management of the Bingley Moor Partnership.

Guns pulled from a deck for pegs and, under the watchful eye of headkeeper Simon, the beaters, flankers, underkeepers and dog handlers took flight to ready the first drive. A two-minute drive landed us on a gently sloping edge. In the valley below lay Bingley and on the horizon loomed the dark shape of Pendle Hill.

I was going to be sharing my day with Philip, one of the shoot’s old hands and, on the opening day of the season, the only man brave