Countryside Alliance - love the countryside

Tom Masters, 28, Gamekeeper.

For many people getting out of bed for work on cold, dark winter mornings is an extra struggle, so consider Tom Masters, who routinely rises at four in the morning for his job. Having grown up on a dairy farm in rural Buckinghamshire, he realised from an early age the satisfaction of working with the land and milking the benefits. As a boy Tom spent his weekends ferreting, shooting and beating on neighbouring farms and shoots, in addition to helping on his father’s farm. While he wanted a countryside career he decided not to take over the farm and followed in his great-great-grandfather’s footsteps – to become a gamekeeper.

Unlike many young people, Tom was focused on his chosen career early in his education. “I never saw myself spending hours behind a screen and living in a city. Gamekeeping was perfect for me - outdoor, hands-on, rural work.”  While studying for his GCSEs he gained practical gamekeeping knowledge by undertaking work experience at the 16,000 acre Thurlow estate in Cambridgeshire – which sealed his decision to become a gamekeeper. He then completed a B-tech diploma in game and countryside management and a national certificate in game and water-keeping at Sparsholt College in Hampshire. Cambridgeshire then called again and he returned to spend three years working as one of a team of keepers on the Thurlow estate. But Tom decided to downsize and now works as one of two gamekeepers on the 1,000 acre Bosmore Park estate which is nestled among the Chiltern Hills of rural Buckinghamshire.

The shoot at Bosmore Park operates two days a week during the season, culminating in the much appreciated beaters day – which is a highlight for Tom. “It’s a great way to thank people for their hard work. Everyone is up for a laugh and no one minds if the day isn’t perfect which makes it very relaxing.” However, when the shooting stops, Tom doesn’t. “For me the silly season starts in May when I’m rearing the pheasant and partridge chicks. On top of this, I’m preparing the release pens, planting cover crops and staying on top of the vermin control.” During the spring months Tom is up at four in the morning and returns home at 11pm – but it doesn’t faze him. “Only the local wildlife is mad enough to be up at that time with me, so I’m privy to seeing the deer and sometimes the escapee wallabies’ morning routine which is very special.” But for Tom the most rewarding part of his job comes from good shoot days, which are testament to his hard work. “There is nothing better than having the boss shake your hand and thank you for a good day – it really motivates me to constantly improve the shoot.” Even on the weekends he can’t stay away from country pursuits and uses his spare time to follow the Bicester and Whaddon Chase hunt.

Tom isn’t the only beneficiary of the shoot; the local community also gets a slice of the action. “Throughout the season we hire local labour for estate maintenance and once the shooting starts we also employ beaters from the local area. A lot of the local shoot lads also enjoy a beer or two in the surrounding pubs - they’re real winter social hubs and the landlords appreciate the trade. “While Tom couldn’t see himself anywhere but the countryside, he understands why many young people are opting for urban alternatives. “Most of my friends still live in the area, but the ones who have moved out of home had to buy in the nearest town – house prices round here are ridiculous. With the increasing cost of fuel they’re finding it even harder to live here on rural wages.” However with the shooting season well underway, Tom looks forward to crisp mornings, high pheasants and counting the days till he gets his lie in.

Rupert Blackwall, 25, gunmaker.

Rupert got into shooting through his father, who has always had an interest in it and has been involved in rural industry, having worked for Massey Ferguson Agricultural division, for over 20 years. However Rupert confesses he’s probably got a bigger passion for it than his dad. His interest in shooting began when he was asked to help on his farming neighbour’s small shoot. He grew up beating and helping out with other aspects of the shoot before he began to take part himself.

Like most young people Rupert faced choices about what career he wanted to pursue after school. “I didn’t want to be a paper pusher. I considered the Army, but I wanted a hands-on job based in the countryside.” I decided on and completed a higher GNVQ in engineering which allowed him to combine his passion for shooting and his ambition to pursue a practical based career in the form of gunmaking. Rupert then completed a five year apprenticeship with world renowned gunmakers E.J. Churchill’s and is now a highly skilled gunmaker who has worked in the sector for eight years.

Rupert’s work is fascinating; he handcrafts pieces of metal into intricate complexes which form the working parts of guns worth tens of thousands of pounds. “It can take 1000 man hours to produce a gun because so many people’s specialist skills are required. It’s an amazing feeling to put the finishing touches on a gun worth anything up to £50,000.” The most rewarding part of his job is the sense of freedom he feels in his work location and working in an industry that highly values his skills. “Working for a small rural company has meant I’ve developed a broader range of skills because the firm can’t afford to employ lots of people to do different jobs - it’s allowed me to become a master of many skills.”

Rupert is an anomaly compared to many of his friends because he hasn’t moved away from the countryside. It saddens him that changes in farming have altered the economic face of the countryside - mechanisation and economies of scale mean that fewer people are employed on farms today. But he also laments the burdens of increased red tape, “Increased bureaucracy throttles creativity and rural business. Rather than increasing the number of boxes people have to tick, government should be doing all it can to unlock our economic potential.”

For Rupert the future is bright though. Having just completed a business management degree and taking inspiration from his father’s journey through farm diversification to starting his own landscape architecture business, Rupert opened his own rifle-making and gun repair business, based at Rangers Lodge, Cornbury Park, Charlbury Oxfordshire, in September 2008. “I found the perfect location for my workshop through a friend. The building is a newly converted barn into offices and workshops, which is helping attract new rural entrepreneurs.” The start of the shooting season this year is doubly exciting for Rupert who spends his first season as a businessman in an area close to his heart – rural England.

Rebecca Chambers, 20, Event organiser

For many people not having the relevant qualifications can hold them back from their dream job - but not for Rebecca Chambers. Having lived in rural Buckinghamshire all her life, she was exposed and involved in country sports from an early age through her family, taking part in riding and beating at the local shoot with her father. While she always appreciated rural life, it took her a while to realise that her dream job existed in the countryside within the shooting sector - as an events organiser.

Rebecca completed her A-levels and like all young people faced choices about her future, but unlike many decided that university was not her preferred choice. She began her working life in an accountancy firm, but quickly realised it didn’t suit her career aspirations. “I wasn’t happy behind a computer screen for eight hours of the day. I really pinned for outdoor-based, hands-on work. I had considered events jobs but felt my lack of experience would hold me back.” However she was willing to try her luck and her self-belief paid off when she responded to a corporate events organiser job advertised by her local shooting ground. "The job description was perfect – a variety of responsibility and work. The managing director was impressed by my enthusiasm and determination to succeed and was willing to let me learn the job within the company.” Rebecca has never looked back and has never been more satisfied in her work.

She now works as one of three staff in the corporate entertainment team at E.J. Churchill who is based in West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The E.J. Churchill group is located on a 5,000 acre estate and is home to world famous gunmakers, the largest shooting ground in the UK, a game shoot and unrivalled shooting knowledge. Set among mixed woodland and rolling chalk hills they offer a variety of activities from clay pigeon shooting to go-carting. However they don’t limit themselves at E.J. Churchill. “The beauty of the company is that we have so much space we can pretty much cater for any client request, which makes working in events so much fun.” Variety is the spice of life in a typical day for Rebecca, who can be doing anything from creating a bespoke agenda of multiple activities for clients to running a 50 person charity clay pigeon shoot. But she also deals with a couple of odd requests, “We run dragon boat races and now offer gnat shooting, which is basically a radio controlled plane that an individual or team of guns try to shoot down. You don’t know how the plane will fly, so it’s a real test of shooting skill.”

The outdoor nature of the job isn’t the only bonus for Rebecca. The client development and social sides of the work make it even more special, “It’s very satisfying working with clients to create their perfect day, and always great to see a big smile on their face when they’re involved in the activities. But the most rewarding aspect is when they keep returning year on year - you know you must be doing something right.” While the company is busy all year round, attracting business from across England, it’s during the winter months where the game shoot brings together the local community. “We employ local beaters and sub-contractors to help with shoot lunches. But I really enjoy the after-shoot gatherings at the local pub; it gives me a chance to catch up with local friends and get to know new people. I know the landlord appreciates the trade.” Although very positive about her future, Rebecca laments the perceived superiority of urban life among her peers. “I don’t believe city life is better, yes there are more jobs, but countryside enterprise is growing and there are rewarding jobs in rural areas - I’m proof of that.” And with the start of the shooting season well under way, Rebecca looks forward to wrapping up and exchanging banter down on the shooting line with her friends.