A news story regarding poaching brought back memories of 60 years ago.

Rodmarton was where poachers had been encountered and their vehicle seized.

The quiet lanes between Rodmarton, Cherington and Hazleton were where my father and brothers attempted to thwart this rural crime.

Poaching then was different, it meant pheasants being taken for personal pocket money, or the Christmas roasting dish.

Now it is different.

There is an increasing deer population, especially of the Muntjac variety and these are sought by the modern countryside criminals.

Game is cheaply available so poaching of pheasants is scarcely done.

Dad was in charge of woods, game keeping and gardening on a medium sized estate.

He received a bonus for every pheasant shot at the Boxing Day shoot so a pheasant poached was taken as a personal theft.

We were fighting a losing battle until one Saturday evening close to Christmas.

Some spent cartridges, obviously used by poachers had come into dad’s possession.

He took them to Trouble House, then a busy and cheerful pub. At the time Perry Mason was a popular TV programme with Perry winning many unlikely court cases.

In typical Mason style dad placed a cartridge firmly on the bar.

With all paying complete attention he said “Exhibit for the people 27a” someone in the pub got the message.

Poaching ceased for one year.

The stealing of Christmas trees was more problematical.

This could be quietly and affectively undertaken.

No noisy gun was needed, a small saw could be used and it was quiet and efficient.

Even then a Christmas tree was more valuable than a dozen pheasants, and the loss of a growing tree was galling in the extreme, and it was several years before one could grow properly in its place.

I remember being on cycling missions around quiet lanes post homework and before bedtime.

I would remove my cycle lamp and shine it into woodlands.

What would I see?

No criminal activity was ever spotted, thank goodness.

I would not have known what to do.

Today it is different.

Well done the Rodmarton farmer who alerted the police and full marks to officers for responding.