The Belvoir hunt, for the second year running held its Boxing Day meet at Riverside pastures yesterday.
Traditionally the hunt would be greeted by the mayor but this year Grantham mayor, Adam Stokes said he would not be attending the meet in an official mayoral capacity, although he would be attending as a spectator.
A large gathering of anti hunt protesters demonstrated at the event. A spokesperson for Grantham Against Blood Sports said,
“Grantham Against Blood Sports are pleased with the numbers of people who took time to join us at the Boxing Day protest this year. Once again our numbers have increased and it appears the Hunt Support is dwindling, this seems to be playing out across the country at other demonstrations today. So with that in mind we will be working hard to make the demonstration for 2020 even bigger. Thank you to all who protested”
Earlier this year a motion was put to SKDC councillors to sever ties with the Belvoir Hunt but in a secret vote SKDC councillors voted 22 – 12 against.
The fact is that a highly vocal, organised and determined minority – mainly people not from our area – have succeeded as objectors in sidelining an annual event that is an important, colourful and popular event representing countryside traditions. When held in the town centre it was the only annual event which drew really significant crowds in Grantham. The District Council should not have allowed itself to be cowed into submission …
I’m not sure how many of the people representing the Hunt are local, not many seeing as it is a Leicestershire based business I reckon. As for the protesters, I certainly recognised many of them as members of the Grantham public. If the local government took on board what the true majority of the public thought about hunting the Belvoir Hunt would be banished from the district for ever.
What is important about this so called popular event may I ask other than a large number of people coming out to see something that they really don’t understand other than what they have been told, be that truth or fiction.
Has it has been said many times we live in a democratic society where people can object to those things they feel strongly about and that can include the attitude of the district council who may be thinking more of the votes that may be lost if they were to do otherwise.
It may be wise to remember the words of Oscar Wilde when he penned the words
“The unspeakable in hot pursuit of the unbeatable”
The question really needs to be asked of these so called civilised individuals who for wonton pleasure go out and willingly allow dogs to rip another animal to pieces.
Did I say civilised individuals??? That is a question that is much open to debate.
You might want to check the accuracy of your Oscar Wilde “quote”!!
I have it’s simply a predictive text error, but thank you for pointing that out to me.