The aristocrat locked in court duel over his noisy shooting parties
THE owner of one of Britain’s most prestigious shooting estates has been hauled into court by his millionaire neighbour in a row over noise.
Aristocrat William TyrwhittDrake is said to have disturbed the ‘tranquil’ South Downs with his hugely popular game and clay shooting events.
The 76-year-old nobleman is fighting a noise abatement order filed by his neighbour, pharmaceutical executive Dr Charles Gillies O’Bryan-Tear.
Tyrwhitt-Drake’s stunning 2,500acre Bereleigh Estate, nestled in the heart of Hampshire’s countryside, is in the picturesque South Downs National Park.
The English sea captain Sir Francis Drake was godfather to Tyrwhitt- Drake’s ancestor, Richard Drake, an equerry to the court of Queen Elizabeth I in the late 16th century.
Together with his relatives Thomas and Edward, TyrwhittDrake hosts a variety of shooting events at the estate, which is considered one of the finest in the country.
Groups, parties and businesses flock from cities – many from London – to the prestigious rural retreat in East Meon, near Petersfield, so they can enjoy country pursuits.
It is regularly described in articles as being one of ‘the 20 best pheasant shoots in the UK’, while the estate boasts that it offers ‘ unrivalled’ game and clay pigeon shooting.
Sitting on the edge of TyrwhittDrake’s land is Dr O’Bryan-Tear’s £2million sevenbedroom home. The 63-yearold Historic links: Tyrwhitt-Drake has worked for more than 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry and now acts as a leading expert adviser to huge firms across the world specialising in the field.
He served as chief medical Popular: The estate hosts a variety of shooting events officer for a Norwegian biotech company – later bought out for more than £2billion – where he worked on the development of a drug for prostate cancer.
The complaints relate to noise between July 2016 and January 2017. Acoustic expert Peter Rogers told Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court that he considered there had been a disturbance to the ‘tranquil environment’ after making 15 visits to the site during game and clay shooting.
Mr Rogers said: ‘It is important to consider whether the impact is intolerable and causes considerable disruption to what people endure.
‘People don’t know when the shooting will start or stop and when they will have to stop what they are doing and go inside.
‘ The level of intrusion is substantial and this is my view following my 25 years’ experience carrying out sound measurements.’
He added: ‘ To give an example, planning permission would not normally be granted at the level of noise from the gun shooting. I conclude there is a nuisance in my opinion.’
But Tyrwhitt- Drake’s own sound expert, John Grant, said that the noise was within reasonable levels.
The aristocrat, who started shooting at the age of about 12, previously told a magazine that ‘game shooting had never been more popular’. He said that a ‘growing number’ of groups and businesses ‘ want to spend money’ on a day’s shooting.
Edward Tyrwhitt-Drake, 31, runs Bereleigh Sporting, which offers simulated game days from £300 per person where clients shoot clay pigeons.
Thomas Tyrwhitt-Drake runs The Sporting Agency, a separate business which uses the estate for sought after shoots.
In 2016, the Tyrwhitt-Drake family made headlines after announcing they were selling a painting of Elizabeth I – 400 years after it was first owned by Sir Francis Drake.
The Art Fund fought to keep the famous painting in the UK by trying to raise £10million.
The stately Georgian house on the estate has been home to the Tyrwhitt-Drake family for more than half a century. Bereleigh also offers camping and ‘glamping’, has residential lettings and produces beef.
The case continues.