Stowe is one of the very few schools in England that is still home to a pack of beagles. The beagles were founded in 1962, largely due to the determination of Rosemary Hill, who was secretary to Stowe's founding Headmaster, JF Roxburgh. Beagling is an activity open to all at Stowe, and it is fitted in around sporting commitments. There is a large and dedicated group of boys and girls involved, who take on every aspect of kennel management, from breeding litters of puppies, through feeding, cleaning and exercise of the pack. The hounds and pupils go out in our "country" roughly from Padbury to Daventry, north to south, and Banbury to Towcester, west to east, on Mondays and Wednesdays, for legal hound based activities. These are drawn from trail or drag hunting, rabbit hunting and hunting or retrieval of wounded hares following a shoot. It was a trying time as the hounds were converted from hare hunting, but this was carried out before the hunting ban came into force. In the Summer term the Beagle Puppy Show hosted on the South Front at Stowe is one of the highlights of the beagling calendar. As well as the prizes awarded, it is a very social day where the beagling team have the opportunity to thank the puppy walkers, many of whom are parents, and all those who have helped during the season. Master in charge: Mr Philip Kennedy
