CELEBRATING THE QUEEN AND BILL MELDRUM

Since the passing of HM The Queen, there have been hours of tributes, interviews and anecdotes in recognition of her committed service to the Commonwealth on all the major TV channels. Many of these shows have featured archive footage of The Queen and her family, both at work and at play.

Yet, unless I have missed it, I have not been aware of a re-showing of Sandringham Sydney and Co, the wonderful 1970s documentary featuring The Queen’s FTCH Sandringham Sydney and dog trainer Bill Meldrum, showcasing Her Majesty’s evident enjoyment of working gundogs on shoot days. I remember watching it as a schoolchild and a repeat would give people insight into The Queen enjoying well-earned quality time when training her gundogs with Mr Meldrum. Fingers crossed.

T Thompson, by email

The Editor responds: I must try to see that programme. It’s not one I know. As I wrote in my leader last week, it’s a little odd that given how much was said about her love for horses and for dogs, very little — if anything at all — has been said about her love of fieldsports. It was great, however, to see those young keepers at Balmoral acting as pallbearers. A contributor to this magazine, who I won’t name, was telling me recently that he once saw the late Queen picking-up. He remembers her being truly excellent. PG

Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral with Bill Meldrum and three of her dogs