ADMIRAL SIR JAMES EBERLE

ADMIRAL Sir James Eberle, or “Jim” to his friends in beagling and wider field sports, died on 17 May aged 90.

He had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy, starting during World War II and rising to commander-inchief, naval home command.

He later became the first non-academic chairman of the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House,

The skills acquired in running the Britannia Beagles as master for a half-century set him in good stead for a career in Cold War diplomacy; negotiations there,

Jim maintained, were as nothing to the travails necessary to the smooth running of a hunt.

Jim was held in high esteem by the farming community in the South Hams hills, over which his beagles ran from their base at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He was chairman of the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles at the time of the enactment of the hunting ban. Articulate in hunting’s defence, he was also a Countryside Alliance board member.

Never without a good story, Jim was the best of company and his easy charm endeared him to all.

He had an affinity with the young; after he gave up hunting his hounds in the 1970s, he encouraged young huntsmen to enjoy the sport as much as he did.

He is survived by a son and two daughters.