Old Berks hunt auctions off ‘butlers in the buff’
Four cheeky hunt supporters are to strip off to show their support for the Old Berks.
Whipper-in Harry Chance, farriers Ben Elcock and Jamie Goddard and subscriber James Blanchard have all agreed to discard their clothes to be “butlers in the buff” to help swell hunt funds.
The men raised nearly £1,000 at an auction of promises on 25 September.
When a bidding war hotted up between two determined ladies, the brave butlers agreed to serve at dinner parties for both, with subscriber Vanessa Marment and lady master Annabel Saunders paying just under £500 each.
The four men will serve canapés, drinks and dinner — wearing just aprons and their Patey hats.
Ms Marment hosts the first dinner party on 15 October.
“I hope it will be a huge amount of fun,” she said.
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And “butler” James Blanchard said they are also looking forward to the party. “It will be a laugh,” he said.
This article was first published in Horse & Hound (14 October, ’10)
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.