Gunville

At all events, and at the worst even, if you do attempt to realize the scheme of going to and remaining at Gunville, for God's sake, my dear dear friend, do keep up a correspondence with one or more; or if it were possible for you, with several.

Reminiscences of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Robert Southey Cottle, Joseph 1847

On opening it, it contained my letter from Gunville, and a small parcel of 'Bang,' from Purkis.

Reminiscences of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Robert Southey Cottle, Joseph 1847

Now I had better take the small parcel with me to Gunville; if I send it by the post, besides the heavy expense, I cannot rely on the Stowey carriers, who are a brace of as careless and dishonest rogues as ever had claims on that article of the hemp and timber trade, called the gallows.

Reminiscences of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Robert Southey Cottle, Joseph 1847

Forty years on she remains a major player, not only in village life, which survives despite the all too common death of shop, school and pub, but also in the organising and putting on of the magnificent Tarrant Gunville Horse Show and Gymkhana, a thriving and continuing annual countryside event.

Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph 2011

The serious, professional ones are neither local nor retired and it is their calibre that gives the Tarrant Gunville Horse Show and Gymkhana an importance within the equestrian community that goes beyond the friendly family day out with children's ponies.

Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph 2011

But as many, many wet summers have proved, it takes more than a bit of damp discomfort to keep the people, horses and, not least, Mrs Spooner's dogs away from the Tarrant Gunville Horse Show and Gymkhana.

Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph 2011

She and her late husband moved here to Tarrant Gunville in north Dorset from West Africa in 1954 and built their home at the top of a sloping field.

Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph 2011

We both know absolutely that the founders of the Gunville show were John and Molly Brown Mr and Mrs Brown to me, obviously, who in 1945 were looking for something for their pony-loving children to do in the summer hols.

Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph 2011

Serious horse people follow the judges from show to show; they take 'green' novice horses to Gunville and other events like it, not only to get them used to the noise and bustle but also to get them known by the judges, who tomorrow might be at Wembley and next week at the NEC in Birmingham.

Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph 2011

But the two most key Gunville show figures were the Browns.

Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph 2011