Top award for young keeper

A teenager from the Midlands has been named the Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust (GWT) Young Gamekeeper of the Year. Fifteen-year-old Esme Daubrah received the prize from Sir John Scott

Bt, the charity’s honorary president, at the Yorkshire Shooting Show & Game Fair.

Esme’s father, who nominated her for the award, said: “As I was looking for photos, it struck me that most of the photos were taken from the back of her as she was striding ahead getting stuck in, with me trying to keep up with her, which is typically her.”

Esme is a dedicated and hard-working member of the estate team, involved in every aspect of the shoot from feeding birds through to beating and picking-up. She has also introduced her father to social media and its many benefits and pitfalls.

The GWT’S Helen Benson said: “Gamekeeping is a lifestyle as well as a livelihood, and it’s always a pleasure to see young people in the family enjoying getting stuck in and [for us] to be able to reward their work.”

Congratulations to Esme Daubrah, seen here with Sir John Scott Bt