J.R. MILLINGTON

1931-2009

An Appreciation

 

 

Rod Millington, who died peacefully after a short illness on January 11 at the age of 77, was one of the “giants” of the Fernie Hunt, who had played an enormous part in keeping our Hunt in the forefront of the hunting world.  He was a very popular figure, whose ability to get on with everyone was legendary.  He was one of those men of whom there are few left, a true countryman who had the ability to make his way equally successfully in the business world where he was a very much respected, successful and well liked figure in Leicester.  He had hunted a few times with the Fernie as a child (there is a photo of him on his pony at a pre-War meet of the Hunt), but then as a young man he took up other sports successfully, particularly rugby and squash.  He always remained a fitness fanatic, playing squash regularly right up to the end of his life.  He became a passionate and very brave rider in the point-to-point field at Dingley and many other Midland courses in the 1960’s and 1970’s, owning and riding such good horses as High Town, and especially Sidney who was the leading national novice point-to-pointer of his year, and went on to win a lot of races for Rod.  He was always a great judge of any horse, and in latter years of a hound too – he had a great eye for beauty in all its forms.

 

He took over the running and management of the Dingley point-to-point course in the late 1970’s and it became his pride and joy.  The success of the course in recent times is due almost entirely to him, ably assisted latterly by his son, Charles.  He continued to run Dingley up to the day he died.

 

He had a very special way with people, which was at once charming and yet so obviously genuine.  The result was that not only was he well respected but very widely liked by everyone as well.  When the Hunt was looking for a new joint Master in 1983, Rod was the obvious and outstanding candidate.  He had already been on the Hunt Committee since 1975 and his proven ability was just what the Hunt needed to take it forward into a new era of success, at a time when some Hunts were finding it difficult to project a positive image.  He got on well with everyone, be they farmers, subscribers, hunt supporters or just the man in the street whom he happened to meet.  Of course he gave a great lead across country, particularly in that part of the Fernie country where he himself lived and which he opened up to cross country riding.  The Peatling area had always been the neglected area – almost the poor relation – until Rod came along.  Not only did he make it very rideable, but the atmosphere he generated amongst the farming community there put the Hunt in very good stead.  He was an amusing, if rather droll, speaker, with a limitless fund of good stories.  But perhaps above all he was phlegmatic and level-headed and never over emotional.  To be his colleague whether in business or as I was for 16 years as his joint Master was indeed a privilege.  He could be delightfully stubborn at times, particularly to ensure what he knew was the correct course came to fruition, but his judgement and his advice were always to be relied on.  He lived a very full and busy life (never a moment was wasted), both in his time as joint Master and afterwards in the last decade of his life, when he remained on the Hunt Committee and also became a Trustee of the Hunt.  He was always encouraging of youth – that was the principal reason he retired as Master, to give younger ones a chance to do as well as he had done (perhaps the last phrase was not how he would have put it).

 

But above all he was a great family man.  He adored all his family and was equally proud of their successes.  It was a source of great satisfaction to him that each of his five children, Patrick, Charles, Zoe, Anthony and Matthew had made a success of their life (each in their own inimitable way which was what pleased him), before he died.  He was twice married, but for the last 30 plus years to Flixie, whom he adored and who created the lovely home at Kilby which gave him the bedrock of his life and the confidence to go out and do all that he did so successfully amongst so many different people.

 

It is trite to say we will miss him greatly, but very true nevertheless.

 

J.C.