Grafton hunt to meet despite death of 16-year-old apprentice

The Grafton hunt will go ahead with its opening meet tomorrow in remembrance of apprentice Jack Burgess.

The 16-year-old apprentice was found dead from a single gunshot wound at the hunt’s kennels in Paulerspury on Monday, 27 October.

Northamptonshire police confirmed to H&H they are investigating circumstances of Jack’s death but said they are not treating it as suspicious.

Hunt secretary Phillippa White said the hunt had decided to go ahead with its opening meet at Greens Park after “considerable reflection”.

“This is fully supported by Jack Burgess’s family, who firmly believe this would be what Jack would have expected,” said Miss White in a statement.

“None of us will never know exactly what happened on Monday, but it happened, and we see the meet on Saturday as a moment for us all to remember Jack in the context which he undoubtedly loved and to celebrate his life.”

She added: “Our deepest sympathy is with his family”.

A police spokesman told H&H the force was called out to the kennels at 2.45pm on 27 October, and investigations were ongoing to establish what happened. A report is being prepared for the coroner.

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