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A PROPER INTRODUCTION
It is always a joy to see an article about the reintroduction of the capercaillie [March issue] and I thoroughly enjoyed Joe Dimbleby’s contribution. Obviously there is only so much space available, so I would like to steal a little more here to provide some extra information about Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton. To refer to him as ‘a Norfolk squire’ is like describing The Beatles as ‘just a band’.
An important social reformer, Sir Thomas was key to the liberation of slaves across the British Empire. He also championed the cause of starving people in London, raising £43,369 after delivering a forcible speech at the Mansion House (although this is small beer compared with the £20 million raised to free the slaves). To this can be added support of his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Fry (née Gurney), in her work and serving as MP for Weymouth between 1818 and 1837, to mention a few of his achievements.
Sir Thomas was as passionate about shooting as he was about social reform. So the story goes that when he was exhausted
