Dear Sir

We have been established for over forty years, providing a complete service to the riding fraternity. From very humble beginnings we now employ ten full time staff and have a number of ancilliary suppliers who depend upon us for a livelihood.

We supply a large proportion of the hunts in Great Britain as well as America, with caps, coats, breeches, boots, shirts, waistcoats, stocks, gloves, spurs, whips and saddlery and all the other accessories.

It is estimated that hunting accounts for approximately 30% of our business, with a turnover in excess of £3850,000.

If there was a ban on hunting we anticipate that we would have no option but to make at least three staff redundant. However, it does not end there, for many of our suppliers would be similarly effected. The supplier of caps would be seriously effected, but no doubt would survive.

Our coats are specially made in Yorkshire, so the Mill supplying the 32oz cavalry twill would definitely be forced to close and the coat manufacturer would no doubt have to make redundancies. This clothing manufacturer has stated that his turnover on hunting clothes is £3400,000 per annum

Has the Chancellor of the Exchequer realised how much VAT will be lost!

We are also supplied by other skilled craftsmen, such as an engraver for hunt buttons, a family business making hunting boots and we are also the only producers for hand made hunting horns. All these skills would find it impossible to diversify.

Lastly we use a self employed bridlemaker, which is also a family of three, to make all of our bridlework and a ban on hunting would not only make them redundant but would also force the closure of the tannery where we buy our leather.

I cannot emphasise enough what a disastrous effect a ban on hunting would have on our business and our associated skilled craftsmen.

We are just a cog in the wheel of this enormously enjoyable tradition and an important way of life.

Please let common sense prevail.

Yours faithfully

Calcutt & Sons Ltd
Sutton Scotney
Nr. Winchester
SO21 3RA

I K Compton
Director

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Date uploaded to site 29 May 2000