Both Frankie and our Walks Organiser, Jean, were both unable to attend this walk. Our Secretary was working at Gatwick Airport, and Jean was nursing Cassius who was recovering from an operation.

Although I drove through pockets of quite dense fog on the way to the venue, the Forest itself was clear and sunny.

The prospect of a walk in these lovely conditions seemed to infuse both man and hound with tremendous enthusiasm for the ‘off’.

The group was honoured to be joined by two new members who travelled with their two hounds all the way from furthest Northamptonshire.

Another very special guest at the walk was Amélie - Derek and Miranda’s granddaughter (together with mother and father - Johanna and John).

This lovely little girl seemed utterly fascinated to see so many of these strange, low hounds all in one place - some acting very strangely!

We set off down a wide track in high spirits.

At the bottom of this slope the leading group waited for the slower hounds and handlers to catch up.

Here, we have to traverse a muddy area before arriving at a junction with another track. While waiting, those of us at the front noticed another group - a Collie club - walk across our path. A few rogue Basset Hounds gave chase, but very quickly came back when called.

When the Collies had moved on, we turned the opposite way. After twenty or so yards that I turned around to check that the rearguard of our group was keeping up. Surprisingly, I saw our chairman and webmaster, with heads down and deep in conversation, walking in the opposite direction following the collies!

Now, call me old fashioned, but I would have thought that a fairly minimum expectation of anyone serving on the Branch committee would be that they can recognise their own breed. Even from the rear Basset Hounds and collies significantly differ from each other, don’t they?

Perhaps my expectations are too unreasonable - I don’t know.

Anyhow, our group watched in disbelief as these two figures continued into the middle distance. But, we were all laughing far too much to call out to these wayward walkers. Eventually - like strangers in a strange land - Brian and Derek realised where they were and, rather sheepishly I thought, retraced their tracks and rejoined the rest of us.

It was all very funny and nothing that happened on the rest of this very enjoyable walk matched this notable episode.