Been About a Bit, Hunting Travelling Hunting

Been About a Bit by Rachel Green is an autobiography which also vividly shows the changes in the world of fox and hare hunting (now banned) as well as the vast changes in travelling. The author's first adventure was hitch-hiking from UK to India!

Rachel was the first female professional hunt servant in the UK. She was never daunted by this, but equally by no means considers herself a ‘feminist’. Her first job was with an irascible racehorse trainer in her home county of Devon. 1957 saw her start in hunt service, a few years later, she was the first female professional hunt servant to tread the 'hallowed flags ' at Peterborough Foxhound Show. One summer she took time out to work in a racing yard in Vienna.

Rachel has worked in hunting in both the USA and Canada, the latter makes for incredulous reading. In Australia she had jobs as diverse as canning peaches, sorting laundry and being a Jill of all trade in a ski lodge. This volume ends in 1976 when she vows to finish in hunt service, and ends up doing what in Ireland! (But that’s another volume.)