Heroes

Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown (1919-2016) Born in Leith, ‘Winkle’ (on account of his diminutive stature) Brown’s passion for aviation was cemented at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin when a chance meeting with First World War flying aces Hermann Göring and Ernst Udet led to the latter taking the young Brown…

Mauser 25 Pure

The Mauser 25 Pure is an innovative straight-pull design combining Mauser aesthetics with modern German engineering. Cleverly conceived and accessibly priced, it will inevitably be compared with the premium Blaser R8 but impresses in its own right. It is supplied here for test by Blaser UK with a rail-mount Minox…

fatteh

Venison and chickpea fatteh Fatteh is a layered feasting dish from the Levant that is often eaten for breakfast but this version includes venison leg steaks along with the chickpeas, aubergine and spices, making it a perfect dinner centrepiece. Ingredients Step 1 2 small red onions, medium diced 1 aubergine,…

Warwick Hall

Warwick Hall is a great base from which to visit a host of attractions, including Hadrian’s Wall, the Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery, Dalemain House and Lowther Castle & Gardens. Any driving north on the M6 for the Lake District or Scotland tends to breathe a sigh of relief…

Jack Russell terrier

What is it about Jack Russells that the true countryman and woman cannot resist? After all, they can be about as obedient as an angry iguana, are capable of taking on armies of rats with unrestrained glee and think nothing of seeing off dogs seven times their size. But they…

People by Polaris 4x4

The men who worked on my grandparents’ Cambridgeshire farm in the 1950s were a singular breed. My mother recalls Alf the tractor driver, who was never seen without a knotted handkerchief on his head, failing to notice that Northrop had fallen off the baler, had his foot caught and was…

Eton mess ice cream

Eton mess ice cream Ingredients Ice cream base 1 vanilla pod 600ml double cream 300ml whole milk 5 medium free-range egg yolks 100g caster sugar Strawberry swirl 200g strawberries 50ml elderflower cordial 1 tbsp lemon juice 40g caster sugar 25ml gin or vodka 5 meringue nests Strawberry swirl Hull the…

Pheasant salad with kefir ranch dressing

Kefir is a fermented milk drink similar to a thin yoghurt that is usually now drunk plain or flavoured with fruit. I especially enjoy the Original Kefir made by the Dorset Dairy Co as it has a great balance of creamy milk and tangy ferment. For the blue cheese in…

sliced roast venison

Sliced roast venison with herb, caper and mustard sauce Marinade 1 large clove of garlic, peeled and grated 1 tbsp rosemary, finely chopped ½ lemon, juice and zest (removed in strips) 2 tbsp rapeseed oil plus 2 tbsp to cook 800g venison fillet or boned haunch steaks Herb, caper and…