Douglas Mann died peacefully on 18th January 2021 aged 98
Douglas was a consummate countryman, sportsman, farmer and horseman; he was also a brilliant fisherman and photographer. Born in Bolebroke, the youngest of four brothers, he inherited his love of hounds from his father, who founded the Bolebroke Beagles. The four boys were educated at Marlborough – Alistair, the eldest went into the Brewery, Watney Mann, and was Master of the South Oxfordshire; Jock farmed and took the VWH and Thomas died in France during the War. Douglas was injured twice during the war and whilst recovering from his second injury was nursed by Evelyn who he married in March 1946.
After the War Douglas and Evelyn moved to a dairy farm at Etchilhampton, Wiltshire, from where Douglas hunted with the Beaufort and Avon Vale. He evented his two homebred, half-brother horses and rode at Badminton, Burghley, Tidworth and numerous other three day events. When offered a large sum for his Badminton Horse, Tinker Taylor to go to the 1968 Olympics he replied ‘I am certainly not selling him, I should not have anything to hunt.’
Douglas and the family moved to Bowerchalke in 1968 where he farmed Knowle Farm with his son Angus who took on the Wilton Mastership and hunted hounds while Douglas joined the Mastership of The South and West Wilts. Douglas was a popular and successful Master and an intrepid field-master from 1969 to 1976 and opened up a lot of country through his great relationship with farmers and his extensive agricultural knowledge.
Douglas was a determined, entertaining and very kind man who was always the same to everyone: greatly respected in his local communities, a valued friend and adviser to so many. He was a wonderful father to Angus, Nicky and Elfie and a much-loved grandfather.
Rachel Jowett