Stan Luckhurst, huntsman for the West Kent Foxhounds from 1967 to 1999, departed this world on April 26, just a few days before his seventy-seventh birthday. Stan served in the British Army as a mounted Lead Gunner with the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery at St Johns Wood in London, where he performed in all Ceremonial Duties of State, including the world famous Musical Ride.
Stan entered hunt service with the Ashford Valley Hunt in Kent, where his family lived. In 1957 he was put on as second whipper-in to the Master, Col. A.S. Gaselee, at the West Kent Hunt, under kennel huntsman Harry Lenthall. When Harry moved to the Axe Vale Harriers in 1962, Stan was promoted to first whipper-in/kennel huntsman in his place.
When Richard Thorpe took the Mastership in 1967, Stan was made huntsman, a position he kept until his retirement in 1999, when the West Kent amalgamated with the Old Surrey & Burstow Hunt.
The West Kent achieved the greatest accolade in 1973 when they took the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show Bitch Championship with their Payment.
Stan gained many friends in Canada and the USA, when his son Paul hunted the Hamilton Hounds in Ontario.
Posted May 23, 2011
