Captain Ian Farquhar
Legendary joint master of the Beaufort and breeder of foxhounds sought after for his knowledge
CAPTAIN IAN FARQUHAR, who has died aged 78, was one of the great post-war breeders of the modern English foxhound, and joint master and huntsman of both the Bicester & Warden Hill (1973-85) and The Duke of Beaufort’s foxhounds (1985-2019) for a total of 46 seasons.
Farquhar was also, as a young Army officer, a convivial equerry to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. A highlight of their year was staying at Royal Lodge, Windsor, for racing at Royal Ascot where Bobby Corbett, Master of the Eglinton Foxhounds, was another favourite. When Corbett fell asleep at dinner one night, Farquhar offered to wake him up. “No,” the Queen Mother said, “we will all speak softly and let him sleep.”
Farquhar’s Army years took him to the jungle of Malaya and to Aden in his father’s old regiment. There was a stop-off in 1967 to play polo as a member of the Army interregimental team in Tehran against the Shah of Iran’s Persian army team and again, with (later Brigadier) Andrew Parker Bowles in Kenya in 1971.
Ian Walter Farquhar was born in Dorset on December 11 1945, the third son of Sir Peter Farquhar, Bt. The baronetcy was created in 1796 for Walter Farquhar, physician to the Prince of Wales, later George IV.
Ian’s father, Sir Peter, commanded the 3rd King’s Own Hussars in North Africa, was sunk in Lancastria at Dunkirk, awarded a DSO at El Alamein and a Bar for an attack near Perugia. He became a noted MFH and hound breeder and was appointed OBE for his work with the National Association of Boys’ Clubs with, among others, fellow MFH Jimmy “Wack-o!” Edwards.
Ian was brought up at Turnworth, a Dorset Jacobean mansion, with ponies, shooting spaniels and a pet fox called Vicky who lived with 10 terriers in the dog room. He was taught to shoot by the family keeper, Jack Churchill, to milk the cows, and make straw stooks from the harvest.
His first pony, Judy, came from Bertram Mills Circus. Once, he took her up the back stairs to enjoy nursery tea: “Judy did what every horse does when they are worried. Nanny was not amused.”
Before Ludgrove prep school, Ian was sent locally to Croft House School in Dorset, travelling daily by chauffeur-driven Bentley with Martin Scott, his lifelong friend, future MFH and hound breeder. At Eton, Farquhar “messed” with Robert Cecil, now Marquess of Salisbury, Johnny Grimond, whose father Jo Grimond was leader of the Liberal Party, and the noted biographer (Sir) William Shawcross, which “made for interesting conversations,” Farquhar remembered.
Farquhar’s interview for his father’s old regiment harked back to the style of earlier times. He was summoned to White’s to meet the regiment’s colonel, Sir Douglas Scott. “How’s your father… Have another glass of port old boy?” the colonel said after lunch. “I must be off . Do tell me why you’re here?” “You’re interviewing me for the regiment, Colonel.” “Am I? OK, that will be fine. Give your father my best. Goodbye!” A keen polo player, Farquhar also won point-to-points, notably on (the future 11th Duke of Beaufort) David Somerset’s Cuddle Up.
But hunting was always going to be Farquhar’s first love, and with it came marriage in 1972 to Pamela-jane Chafer, the beautiful and brave hunting daughter of the Derwent master and huntsman Charles Chafer. In 1973 they moved to the Bicester country in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, where Farquhar became master and huntsman with the seasoned professional kennel huntsman Bryan Pheasey. “We never had a cross word in all our time together,” Farquhar said.
Pammie-jane, one of the finest foxhunters to cross the stiff Bicester Thursday country, whipped in to her husband. At Twyford Mill, their farming interests and infectious hospitality won them many friends in the hunting community. But it was the move to Badminton in 1985 that set in train a golden period for the Duke of Beaufort’s foxhounds. On Captain Farquhar’s retirement meet, the 11th Duke, his joint master, said: “I have made many mistakes in my life, but the one thing I have never had cause to regret is appointing Ian as my joint master.”
In all his hunting career, Ian Farquhar had only two kennel huntsmen, Charles Wheeler and Tony Holdsworth – testimony to the loyalty and devotion he inspired.
Always on hand for support were a phalanx of experienced field masters, often challenged with a mounted field of 200 riders, the deeply diplomatic hunt secretary Nigel Maidment, and Jo Aldridge, who looked after the public relations of the hunt.
Farquhar’s influence stretched far beyond the glorious Gloucestershire countryside, though, and there were many happy visits to Wales, Cornwall, the Shires and Yorkshire, where beautifully bred modern English foxhounds showed that they could operate in any country.
The Badminton kennels were first port of call for any master wishing to breed top-quality hounds, and Farquhar was generous with his time and knowledge of pedigrees. The blood of Beaufort hounds may be found across Britain as well as in north America, Germany and France.
Nor were the hounds slow to attract the eye of the judges at the premier hound shows. Under Farquhar’s breeding programme at Badminton they won 17 championships at the Royal Peterborough Foxhound Show.
Farquhar, who was appointed LVO in 1972, played a key role in Countryside Alliance marches, as he did for many years as vice chairman of the Masters of Foxhounds Association. “In the end, I did it for the English Foxhound,” he said, citing New Forest Medyg (’69) and Vale of Clettwr Fairy (’73) as being of particular importance to his breeding programme for their drive, stamina, nose and cry. He published his memoirs, The Way It Was, in 2023.
Farquhar is survived by his wife Pammiejane and their three daughters.
Ian Farquhar, born December 11 1945, died March 6 2024