The remarkable sporting life of Philip Fussell. This fascinating book looks back on a lifetime spent in pursuit of game and wood pigeon, notably in his native west country, where it all began, with working up a business in the catching and sale of rabbits, then moleskins and woodpigon.
He became a brilliant Shot at woodpigeon and game, shot clays for fun and won a world championship. However he has never shot a woodpigeon during their main breeding season. This was when he was fishing the Spey, playing cricket or shooting some clays – without really trying he won a place in the England team. Then when the season gets under way there aren’t many days when he isn’t either shooting partridge or pheasant. He also played cricket for Somerset and took up golf, at which he was almost immediately proficient.
His good humour combined with his exceptional ability with both gun and rod, has ensured long list of invitations. One admirer even treated him to a bespoke sidelock Beretta and made him an foc member of his shoot. Enabling all of this to happen, apart from his considerable charm, was his late wife Jane who ran the Steakhouse restaurant that our man had created in an old building on the family farm, a role which she enjoyed enormously.
Philip, now in his late 80s, is still shooting to a standard which few of us could ever hope to achieve. It all makes for a fascinating read and is very nicely written with author Rupert Godfrey. Sit back and enjoy.
Format: 165mm x 240mm, 144 Pages
Binding: Casebound
Illustrations: Over 50 biographical images.