Sue (who had left Terry, her boys and Maisie for a week to look after me) and I made our way to the walk with Abbie and Molly in beautiful sunshine.

When we arrived, there was great excitement at Gill’s Lap as the car park was crowded with bird enthusiasts complete with cameras.

They had heard there was a chance of seeing a short-toed eagle, bigger than a buzzard, only the third in Britain to be seen. We knew on the walk there would be quite a few members missing, either through illness or many being on holiday.

However, we had a new member, Rachel with her boy, Jaffa, who came all the way from Ramsgate to join us. We totalled 15 hounds, plus one honorary hound and owners.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the walk, although I heard that Tony had a fall, and going to help, Luke also fell (I was told it was all Nico’s fault).

After the walk a delicious picnic was laid out, and everyone sat around enjoying the sunshine, generally chatting and appreciating the very up-market food, wine and soft drinks provided.

It was quite late when we left and sadly the keen ornithologists had gone - apart from one gentleman - without seeing the eagle.

N.B Tony: ‘Though low in number of members and hounds, this was a lovely walk and picnic held in ideal conditions (very different to recent years).

Sitting around chatting with friends in the warm evening sunlight – the hounds lazing in groups on the long grass around us– was a real joy.

We disbanded only when dusk descended at 9pm.’