The weekly column by ‘Felix’ Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald for 19th February 1927 included the following:
The foregoing reminds me that at one time the officers comprising members of the Shorncliffe Drag Hunt were wont to give a dinner to farmers whose lands were hunted over by the “Drag.” Those farmers, with their friends, were right royally entertained on such occasions. One such gathering occurs to me as I mention community singing. It was at that period when that splendid sportsman, the late Hon. A.S. Hardinge, was Brigade-Major. That gallant gentleman was a real favourite with the sturdy yeomen. His jet black hair, his dark flashing eyes, and his lithe, dapper figure come before me as I wield my pen. Probably there were 400 or 500 guests present at the particular dinner I refer to. After the good things had been properly attended to by the sons of the soil, the full band rendered some delightful selections. Suddenly there were cries of “Catt, Catt,” from all parts of the great building. ” Catt,” be it explained, died several years ago. He was a short sturdy man with a jolly countenance. He was not a great singer. He did not pretend to be. His repertoire was limited to about three songs, and one of these was “John Peel.” I well remember how the hero of the moment was greeted when he appeared on the platform. Catt had just the good old rollicking style for the song, but it was the community singing, as represented by the chorus of “John Peel,” that brought down the house, or rather, lifted the roof. The memory of the rendition of the song and chorus remains with me. Rough and ready it may have been, but Catt, who was a jolly farmer and poultry raiser at Ham Street, exactly fitted the song.
‘Felix’ returned to this theme a few years later, in his column for 3rd March 1934:
It was in the early days of the “Folkestone Herald,” when I was present at the a annual dinner of the Shorncliffe Drag Hunt. The great building was beautifully decorated,
and the farmers over whose land the “Drag” hunted were present in large numbers from this part of East Kent, including the Marsh. The officers comprising the Hunt, attired in their picturesque mess jackets, were there to welcome their guests. A full regimental band provided music of the right sort.
The hero of the evening was no doubt the then Secretary of the Hunt (Major the Hon.
A. S. Hardinge, Brigade Major). This gallant soldier and splendid sportsman was a rare favourite both with the farmers of the countryside and his brother officers of the Hunt.
What a night that was! I recall, amongst other things, during the “after dinner” proceedings, how Tom Catt, a sturdy farmer from Ham Street, sang “D’ye ken John Peel?” and how between three and four hundred guests nearly lifted the roof off in the rollicking chorus. Catt, known far and wide, was equally successful in “The Farmer’s Boy.” Singing! Rough and ready it might have been, but what a treat to hear those yeomen “go it.”
The Herald commenced publication in 1891, so “the early days” of the newspaper might be assumed to be the 1890s. There does not seem to have been a farmer in the Ham Street district around this time named Thomas Catt, but “Tom Catt” could very well be a nickname, probably for Robert Catt, who was indeed a poultry farmer at Ham Street for several decades.
Robert Martin Catt, 1846-1903
He was baptised at St Mary the Virgin, Orlestone on 30th March 1846. His parents were Sarah née Martin, and Robert, who worked as a carrier. In 1861 Robert Senior’s occupation was given as “Dealer shop keeper”, but in 1871 both father and son were listed as “Poulterer”.
It was probably the elder Robert Catt who appeared as the plaintiff in a couple of court cases reported on in the local press:
Joseph Cobb, lately a master wheel-wright, of Warehorne, appeared to answer a charge of stealing a mutton chop and a piece of suet, valued at 1s., from the van of Robert Catt, carrier, Ham-street. The prisoner, who in the first instance said he took the meat in a joke, now alleged that the meat produced in court was pork and not, mutton. This, however, was disproved, and he was committed for 21 days’ with hard labour.1
At the Dymchurch quarter sessions on Wednesday, Thomas Cobb, 16, was charged with stealing about a hundred of bloated herrings, the property of Mr. Robert Catt, of Hamstreet, Warehorne, on Nov. 27th. The prisoner it may be remembered, was convicted and sentenced to a month’s imprisonment for stealing an overcoat at Hamstreet in October last. As he had been grossly neglected by his parents a great deal of pity was felt for him, and Mr. Catt kindly employed him to sell herrings when he came out of prison. The lad rewarded this by embezzling 7s. he had received for herrings entrusted to him by Mr. Catt to sell, and afterwards getting into the herring hang and taking the herrings he was charged with stealing. He pleaded guilty, and the Recorder sentenced him to four months’ hard labour.2
The younger Robert married Emily Ann Wanstall at Orlestone on 21st May 1873, and by the time of the 1881 census they were living at Ham Street with two daughters and a son – plus two of Robert’s brothers, and Elizabeth and Henry Law who worked as domestic servants. Robert’s occupation was “Poultry merchant”. In 1891 and 1901 he was shown as “Farmer & poulterer”. In the latter year his sons Robert and Alfred were listed as “Poultry dealer” and “Farmer’s son” respectively.
On at least two occasions Robert Catt was mentioned in local newspapers as a singer, both times in relation to concerts held at the Warehorne Board Schools: on 23rd November 1888 the Kent County Examiner and Ashford Chronicle listed “the Misses Catt”, Mr S. Catt and Mr R. Catt as vocalists at a recent concert; while the Kentish Express, 26th January 1889, carried a report where, among numerous other performers – including a Mr Bridger and a Mr Lonkhurst – Mr R. Catt sang “Four jolly smiths”.
Robert Catt died at the age of 56 and was buried at Orlestone on 8th July 1903.
Songs
- D’ye ken John Peel? (Roud 1239)
- The Farmer’s Boy (Roud 408)
- Four jolly smiths (Roud V5558)
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